Chainsaw Accident Claims – A Guide to Claiming Compensation

There’s no doubt that chainsaws can make a lot of work-related tasks much quicker. However, they are also inherently dangerous and, if something goes wrong, they can cause life-changing injuries. Crucially, if you’ve had a chainsaw accident at work, it may be possible to claim compensation for any injuries you’ve suffered. As such, this guide aims to show you when compensation for a chainsaw accident could be claimed, how to begin the claims process and what evidence you could use to build as strong a case as possible.

To help you understand your options, we offer a free initial consultation. During the call, a specialist will examine how your chainsaw accident occurred and how you’ve suffered as a result. They’ll offer free legal advice and let you know if your claim is feasible. If it is, you could be partnered with a No Win, No Fee accident-at-work solicitor from our team.

For more on how we can help with chainsaw injury claims, you can:

• Call our legal advisors on 0333 241 2519.
• Connect to our live chat service right away.

There’s lots of useful information about claiming compensation for chainsaw injuries throughout this guide. If you have any questions whilst reading, please feel free to get in touch.

Types of Chainsaw Injuries We Can Help With

Various injuries can be sustained from chainsaw accidents at work with some being more obvious than others. So long as your claim meets the criteria set out in the next section, our solicitors could help you to claim for:

• Serious cuts and lacerations.
• Limb and digit amputations.
• Noise-induced hearing loss.
• Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) and similar conditions.
• Fractures and crush injuries.
• Eye injuries.
• Head and facial injuries.
• Internal injuries.

Whatever type of injury you have suffered following a chainsaw accident at work, please let us know and we’ll review whether you could be compensated.

Can I Make a Chainsaw Accident Claim?

To make a successful chainsaw accident claim, you’ll need to establish that your employer owed you a duty of care and that this duty was breached, leading to your injuries. Various laws exist to help demonstrate an employer’s responsibility for your safety, including:

• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER).
• Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992.
• Work at Height Regulations 2005.

Establishing a duty of care is the first step. Next, you’ll need to prove:

• Your employer breached this duty, resulting in a chainsaw accident due to their negligence.
• You suffered injuries because of the accident.

Proving these elements is essential for a successful claim. For tailored advice on your claim, our legal advisors are available to review your situation and provide guidance.

What Types of Negligence Can Lead to Chainsaw Accident Claims?

Here are a few scenarios involving chainsaws that might allow you to claim for an accident at work:

• If you suffered a laceration to your leg following a kickback while cutting a tree stump because you had not been trained to use a chainsaw safely.
• When you fell from a tree and sustained a spinal injury while using a chainsaw because you hadn’t been provided with a safety harness.
• If you lost your toes while using a chainsaw at work because your employer failed to provide safety boots with protective guards.
• Where a poorly maintained chainsaw began cutting erratically, resulting in a severely lacerated arm injury.

If your chainsaw accident is not listed here, don’t worry—you could still be entitled to start a claim. Simply call the number above to get in touch and we’ll check if you have grounds to start the ball rolling.

What Should I Do If I’m Injured by a Chainsaw at Work?

If you’ve been injured by a chainsaw at work, there are several steps you should take to ensure your safety, document the incident, and support any potential claim:

• Visit A&E or your GP promptly so your chainsaw injuries can be treated without delay.
• Inform your employer about how the chainsaw accident happened, giving details of the chainsaw’s fault and any injuries you sustained.
• Make sure the accident is documented in your employer’s accident report book.

Following these steps can not only help support a chainsaw injury claim but also encourage your employer to address the issue to prevent similar accidents.

What Evidence Can Be Used for Chainsaw Injury Claims?

To help prove how your chainsaw injury at work occurred and how your injuries have affected you, it is a good idea to present as much evidence as possible. Without it, your claim could be dismissed or you might not receive as much compensation as you’re entitled to.

The types of evidence that can support chainsaw accident claims include:

• Witness statements from anyone else who saw the chainsaw accident.
• Medical records to prove your injuries.
• Video footage (from CCTV cameras for example) of the accident.
• A copy of an accident report form (or HSE investigation report).
• Photographs of any problems or defects that caused the chainsaw accident.

In addition to the above, a solicitor could request copies of the chainsaw’s maintenance record or other forms of evidence that could prove why you were injured at work.

Even if you don’t yet have all of the evidence needed to prove your case, please get in touch and let us review your claim for free.

How Long Do I Have to Claim Compensation?

Under the Limitation Act 1980, you generally have a 3-year time limit to make a chainsaw accident claim. This period typically starts from the date of your chainsaw accident if you sustained immediate injuries, or from the date of knowledge if you were diagnosed later with a condition related to chainsaw use.

Starting your claim as soon as possible is often beneficial, as waiting too long could mean your claim is refused if it’s filed after the limitation period. Acting within this timeframe ensures you don’t miss out on any compensation you may be entitled to.

How Much Compensation for Injuries Caused by a Chainsaw Accident?

The amount of compensation for injuries sustained in a chainsaw accident at work can vary greatly from case to case. If your claim is successful, any compensation awarded should cover two main areas:

• Firstly, general damages, accounting for the level of suffering your chainsaw injury has caused, including any loss of amenity.
• Secondly, special damages, which aim to reimburse you for financial losses, costs, and expenses directly related to your chainsaw injury.

When valuing the general damages part of your settlement, the extent of your injuries needs to be confirmed. This is normally achieved by medical records and independent reports.

Examples of special damages that could be paid in a chainsaw injury claim include:

• Support and care costs.
• Lost income.
• Travel expenses.
• Medical expenses (and rehabilitation costs).
• Home modification costs e.g. to make wheelchair access easier if you’ve been permanently disabled.
• Future loss of earnings if you’ll be unable to earn at the same level in the future because of your injuries.

As part of their service, your solicitor should ensure that all aspects of your suffering are covered by any settlement offer you receive.

Can I Claim for a Fatal Chainsaw Accident?

There have been 5 deaths in arboriculture and forestry linked to the use of chainsaws in recent years.

While we know that being compensated will not help you recover after losing a loved one in an accident at work, we are here to help if you do decide to claim.

If you make a successful claim for a fatal accident, you could receive damages to cover:

• The deceased’s pain and suffering before they passed away.
• Funeral expenses and other similar costs.
• Your financial dependence on the deceased’s income.

For free advice on how we could help and whether you’ll be eligible to claim, please call our legal advisors now.

Do You Need a Solicitor to Make a Work Injury Claim?

Making a claim for a chainsaw accident at work can be a complex process. It’s not only about proving that your employer’s negligence led to the accident but also about ensuring you receive fair compensation for your injuries. Working with our specialist work injury solicitors can make this process easier by guiding you through each step and advocating for the compensation you deserve.

Some of the ways our solicitors can help if your chainsaw accident claim is accepted include:

• Finding the evidence needed to prove what happened.
• Following the pre-action protocol for personal injury claims to ensure that your claim is filed correctly.
• Fighting your corner to try and prove your case if it’s contested.
• Updating you regularly about any progress.
• Aiming to secure the maximum amount of compensation to cover your suffering.

Crucially, our solicitors handle accepted chainsaw accident at work claims on a No Win, No Fee basis. This means that you will only have to pay for your solicitor’s services if you are paid compensation.

If we take on your claim and it’s successful, a success fee will be deducted. The maximum success fee percentage allowable is 25 per cent according to the Conditional Fee Agreements Regulations 2013. As such, you can be sure that, if you are compensated for a chainsaw injury at work, you’ll retain the bulk of your settlement.

How Long Will the Claims Process Take?

It’s not easy to say for definite how long chainsaw accident claims take because they can be affected by:

• The seriousness of your injury.
• Whether your injuries will affect you in the future.
• Whether your employer agrees that they caused your chainsaw accident and injuries.

For instance, an uncontested claim for minor injuries could be settled in under 6 months. However, chainsaw claims for amputations could take more than a year because it can take that long for doctors to understand your prognosis. However, in these longer-term cases, you could be paid interim compensation while your claim progresses.

Contacting Us About a Chainsaw Accident Compensation Claim

If you have been injured in a chainsaw accident at work and wish to claim compensation, please feel free to contact us by:

• Calling our legal advisors on 0333 241 2519.
• Using our 24/7 live chat option to discuss your case online.

There’s no risk in contacting us because we offer no-obligation legal advice as part of a free initial consultation. Furthermore, if your chainsaw accident claim is taken on, you’ll only pay for your solicitor’s services if you are compensated because of their No Win, No Fee service.