Power Tool Accident Claims – A Guide to Claiming Compensation

There’s no doubt that power tools like angle grinders, drills and chainsaws can make many jobs much easier. However, they can cause serious life-changing injuries if they are faulty or not used correctly. In some cases, power tool accidents can lead to personal injury claims against employers if it was their negligence that caused the accident. This guide will set out when you could claim compensation for a power tool accident at work, how much compensation you could receive and the types of evidence you could collect to strengthen your claim.

As well as the information within this guide, we can help you to get a better understanding of your options. During a no-obligation telephone consultation, your case will be reviewed by one of our specialist advisors. They’ll examine any evidence, listen to what happened and explain your legal options for free. If they concur with your version of events and believe that you should be compensated, you’ll be connected with one of our solicitors. Crucially, all accepted power tool claims are managed on a No Win, No Fee basis.

To check if you could be entitled to start a claim, you can:

• Phone 0333 241 2519 to speak with a legal advisor.
• Use our 24/7 free live chat service.

Read on for more guidance on when power tool compensation claims are possible or feel free to contact us with any questions.

Types of Power Tool Injuries We Can Help With

Some of the power tool injuries our solicitors can help with include:

• Lacerations.
• Broken bones and fractures.
• Eye injuries.
• Internal injuries.
• Crush injuries.
• Amputations.
• Burns.
• Fractures.
• Hearing damage.

Please let us know about your injuries so that we can work out whether you have grounds to begin a claim.

Can I Make a Power Tool Accident Claim?

Several laws place a duty of care on employers regarding the use of power tools at work. We won’t go into detail here, but they include:

• The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
• The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005.
• The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
• The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992.

This set of laws means employers must take steps to try and ensure that you are as safe as possible when you use power tools to perform work-related activities. For instance, they should:

• Ensure that all power tools are fit for purpose, well-maintained and in good working order.
• Train you on how to use power tools safely.
• Provide free Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as safety gloves, eye protection and “anti-cut” clothing where required.
• Conduct risk assessments regularly.
• Provide an adequate level of supervision where needed.

If your employer fails to take such steps and you are injured as a result, you could be entitled to compensation. We may be able to help you claim if you can show that:

• Your employer owed you a duty of care at the time of the accident.
• That duty was breached, resulting in a power tool accident.
• You suffered an injury as a result of the accident.

All of the above generally need to be true if you’re to be compensated.

What Types of Negligence Can Lead to Power Tool Accident Claims?

Essentially, you could claim for any injuries caused by power tools if you can show that your employer was negligent. Here are some examples:

• You badly cut a finger while using an angle grinder because your employer hadn’t provided you with safety gloves.
• While using a lathe in a factory, you suffered facial injuries after being hit by debris because of a missing safety screen.
• You suffered a serious leg injury while using a chainsaw because your employer failed to provide protective trousers or chainsaw chaps.
• You have been diagnosed with Vibration White Finger (VWF) because you used power tools at work for prolonged periods without proper rest breaks.

Whatever type of power tool accident you’ve had, please let us know and we’ll assess your chances of being compensated for free.

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

If you’ve suffered an injury caused by a power tool at work, taking the right steps can help protect your health and support your claim:

• Seek medical attention from A&E or your GP as soon as possible so your injuries are properly assessed and treated.
• Report the work accident to your employer, explaining how the power tool was involved and what injuries you sustained.
• Ensure the incident is recorded in your employer’s accident report book.

These steps can help support a power tool injury claim and may also prompt your employer to review workplace safety policies to prevent future accidents.

What Evidence Can Be Used for Power Tool Injury Claims?

To prove that you were injured in a power tool accident at work (and that your employer is to blame), you will normally need to collect as much evidence as possible. This could include:

• Photographs and videos of the power tool that confirm any defects or problems that caused the accident.
• Medical records from a GP surgery or hospital to prove your injuries.
• An accident report form to confirm where and when you were injured.
• Details of any witnesses to your accident who may be required to provide a statement during the claims process.
• Video footage of the accident from CCTV cameras or similar.

In some cases, further evidence such as a Health and Safety Executive investigation report might be available to further strengthen your case. This is something an accident-at-work solicitor could request if your case is taken on.

If you’d like us to check if you have enough evidence to proceed with a claim, please call the number above today.

How Long Do I Have to Claim Compensation?

The legal time limit for accident at work claims in the UK is defined by the Limitation Act 1980. It sets a 3-year limitation period which, in most cases, will begin from the date you were injured.

We suggest that you start the claims process as soon as it is possible to do so as several tasks will need to be completed before your case is filed. These include collecting evidence, arranging medical assessments and speaking to any potential witnesses.

To see how long you have to claim for a work-related power tool accident, please call now.

How Much Compensation for a Power Tool Injury?

As you might expect, compensation for power tool injuries can vary and usually depends on two main factors:

• The severity and impact of any physical and psychological trauma (general damages).
• The financial impact caused by your power tool injuries (special damages).

If liability is proven in your case, the claims process will move on to putting a value on your injuries. As such, your solicitor is likely to book an appointment with an independent medical specialist to assess you and provide a report about the long-term prognosis of your injuries.

Additionally, if you have been left out of pocket by your power tool injuries (or you will be in the future) your settlement should include special damages. This part of your compensation could cover:

• The cost of private medical treatment including plastic surgery.
• Care costs to cover nursing at home or support from a family member.
• The cost of adapting your home to make it easier to cope with any permanent disability caused by your accident.
• Lost income and future loss of earnings.
• The cost of prosthetics or disability devices to help you cope with an amputation sustained in a power tool accident.
• Travel costs to cover the cost of alternative travel arrangements if your injury leaves you unable to drive (temporary or permanent).

As you can see, there is a lot to consider before you file a power tool accident claim. If you work with one of our specialist solicitors, they’ll assess all aspects of your suffering during the claims process to try and ensure that you receive a fair settlement if your claim is successful.

Can Subcontractors Claim for a Power Tool Injury?

In industries like construction, the use of subcontractors is fairly common. While this can benefit employers by avoiding full-time contracts, they still owe subcontractors a duty of care under health and safety laws, just as they do for permanent employees.

Therefore, if you’re a subcontractor, self-employed, consultant or zero-hours worker and you’ve sustained a power tool injury at work, please get in touch. A workplace injury solicitor could help you to claim compensation for any suffering you’ve endured.

Do You Need a Solicitor to Make a Workplace Accident Claim?

Starting a compensation claim against an employer can involve months of dealing with insurers who might try to limit how much compensation you receive or dismiss the case so that you aren’t compensated at all.

This is when you might decide that you have a better chance of success if you instruct a solicitor who specialises in claiming workplace accident compensation.

If a solicitor on our panel offers to help you make a power tool accident claim, some of the services they might provide include:

• Finding the evidence needed to support your claim.
• Contacting your employer and their insurers to tell them about your allegations.
• Dealing with all negotiations and communications on your behalf.
• Ensuring that you are kept up to date throughout the claims process.
• Trying to secure as much compensation as possible to cover all of your suffering.

It’s worth pointing out at this stage that you’ll only have to pay your solicitor for their work if you are compensated. That’s because all accepted power tool claims are managed on a No Win, No Fee basis.

Therefore, once you have signed a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), you won’t need to pay your solicitor for their work upfront. The only time you will pay for their efforts is if you are compensated.

If that happens, a success fee will be deducted from your settlement. This is a legally capped percentage of any compensation you are paid that is listed in your CFA before you sign up with your solicitor.

To see if you could make a No Win, No Fee power tool accident claim, call us now.

Contacting Us About a Power Tool Accident Compensation Claim

If you or a loved one has been injured in a power tool accident at work, you can:

• Call us on 0333 241 2519 to discuss your case with a legal advisor.
• Connect to our 24/7 free online chat service.

All calls are handled on a no-obligation basis and you’ll receive free legal advice about your options. If you wish to proceed to a claim and your case is feasible, a solicitor may offer to represent you on a No Win, No Fee basis.