We take on and win a great deal of accidents at work claims that involve scaffolding, but what about those injured by scaffolding or contractors who are not suing their employer as it wasn’t an accident at work?
If you have been injured by scaffolding in a non-work environment, there is still the possibility of making a claim for personal injury compensation. Read on for more advice.
Common scenarios are injuries caused by dangerous scaffolding where a member of the public has to access the area. Of course, if you were injured breaking and entering in to a building site, then these rules don’t always apply.
Examples can be:
- Trips over scaffolding poles protruding in walkways or access areas
- Cuts caused by sharp protrusions form the scaffolding
- Impact injuries caused by scaffold poles not being readily visible enough or wrapped enough in protective foam
- Being hit by a falling object from the scaffolding or from a worker on the scaffolding, or from a section on the scaffolding itself
- Slips on dangerous boards on the ground, or from spilled substances from workers using the scaffolding
There is of course a duty on the company responsible for the workers and / or scaffolding to take all reasonable steps to prevent anyone being injured. Whether this comes down to a lack of risk assessments and policies to prevent dangers arising, or the negligence of an employee working on the scaffolding, you may have a claim for personal injury compensation.
If we can show that too little was done to prevent an accident then we can win a claim. Sometimes there may well be watertight procedures and policies to prevent such incidents and it’s down to employee failures that cause an accident. Ultimately the negligence of an employee falls on to the employer; known as vicarious liability. So even in these circumstances you still may have a claim.
The best thing to do is instruct a law firm right away for a case if you are injured due to negligence involving scaffolding. Taking photos of the cause of the injury can be vital evidence in proving the claim, so make sure you do this where applicable. Reporting the incident to the scaffold company can help as well.
If you are injured and you need help, call 0800 634 7575 today.
Important note – due to recent legislation changes, there are law firms out there who are prepared to rip you off with high charges and massive deductions. Speak to us for peace of mind as we give it to you straight so you know exactly where you are and what you should and shouldn’t, in our opinion, be charged.
