Can I Claim Compensation for Falling Through a Roof at Work?

If you’ve fallen through a roof at work due to some form of negligence by your employer, you may be entitled to compensation. In this guide, you’ll read about how to claim after falling through a roof and how the claims process works.

If you’d like free advice on how to claim, please get in touch. Our advisors offer a free consultation where the merits of your claim will be reviewed. You’ll benefit from no-obligation legal advice and you could be partnered with a specialist accident-at-work solicitor if a claim is feasible. Crucially, you’ll only pay a fee if you are compensated because of our No Win, No Fee service.

To see if you could claim compensation because you fell through a roof at work, you can:

• Contact our legal advisors by calling 0333 241 2519.
• Use our 24/7 live chat option to contact a member of our team.

Read on for more information on how to start your claim or call the number above if you have any questions.

Can I Claim for Falling Through a Roof?

In 2023/24, falling from height caused 8% of all reportable workplace injuries according to government statistics. Sadly, falls from height were the most common cause of workplace fatalities in 2023/24 with 50 workers killed.

Some of the ways employers can prevent staff from falling through a roof at work include:

• Carry out a risk assessment before work at height is performed.
• Only carrying out work at height where alternative methods are not possible.
• Providing equipment (scaffolds, ladders, platforms) that are fit for purpose, properly maintained and installed correctly.
• Training staff on how to work at height safely.
• Providing staff with free Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as harnesses and hard hats where needed.

If your employer has not taken steps to try and keep you safe and you have fallen through a roof as a result, you could be entitled to claim compensation for any subsequent suffering.

As such, a solicitor from our team may offer to help you claim if you can show that:

• Your employer owed you a duty of care; and
• That duty was breached causing you to fall through a roof.
• You sustained injuries as a result of your fall.

Please feel free to call now if you’d like us to check your eligibility to claim.

What Types of Negligence Can Lead to Falls Through Roofs at Work?

There are various situations where falling through a roof could occur due to negligence. Below are a few examples that might entitle you to make a compensation claim:

• If you fell through a fragile skylight while working on a roof because it wasn’t properly marked or cordoned off.
• Where you were walking on a roof made of asbestos or corrugated material and it gave way beneath you because you weren’t told the surface was unsafe to walk on.
• If you fell through a roof while carrying out maintenance work because no proper risk assessment had been carried out and no safety harness was provided.
• While working on a warehouse roof, you fell through an open void that should have been covered or guarded according to health and safety regulations.
• If you were instructed to carry out roof repairs without being given crawl boards, edge protection, or fall prevention equipment.
• Where a section of the roof collapsed beneath you due to known structural weaknesses that your employer failed to fix or warn you about.

Even if your specific situation isn’t listed here, you could still be eligible to claim. It’s best to speak with a legal advisor who can assess your fall and run through your options.

What Should I Do if I Fell Through a Roof in the Workplace?

Just like your employer, you have responsibilities when it comes to health and safety at work. If you’ve fallen through a roof while working, here are some important steps you should take:

• Get medical attention immediately, whether it’s calling an ambulance or going to A&E. Your injuries should be assessed and treated by professionals, even if they don’t seem serious at first.
• Report the accident to your employer and make sure they know exactly what happened so they can take steps to prevent the same thing happening to someone else.
• Make sure the incident is recorded in the accident book so a formal record of what happened exists. This could be useful if you decide to claim compensation later.

Taking these steps is important not only for your recovery but also if you later decide to claim for your fall through the roof.

What Evidence Can Be Used for a Compensation Claim?

If you decide to seek compensation from your employer following a fall from height at work, you must be able to prove what happened, how you were injured and why your employer was to blame for the incident.

The types of evidence you could use to prove you fell through a roof at work and the injuries you sustained include:

• Video footage of the accident if it was captured on a mobile phone, CCTV camera or bodycam.
• Medical records from the hospital that treated your injuries.
• Contact details for anybody who could provide a witness statement.
• An accident report form to confirm the date and time of your accident.
• Photographs of your injuries and accident scene pictures where available.

Additionally, your solicitor could request copies of a Health and Safety Executive investigation report or other forms of evidence to prove why you fell.

No matter what evidence you have, we can review your options with you for free and help you decide whether there are grounds to proceed with a compensation claim.

How Long Do I Have to Claim Compensation for My Fall?

Legally, the time limit for personal injury compensation claims in the UK is 3 years. This time limit (set by the Limitation Act 1980) starts from either:

• The date that you fell through a roof at work; or
• Your date of knowledge of your accident and injuries.

The latter could be relevant, for instance, if your fall left you with a brain injury that left you in a coma, meaning you were unaware of your injuries for some time.

In cases where the injured party lacks mental capacity (perhaps linked to a traumatic brain injury following the fall), there is no time limit for claiming and a responsible adult could seek compensation on behalf of the claimant at any time.

To find out how long you have to claim compensation after falling through a roof at work, please contact a friendly legal advisor on our team.

What Compensation Can I Claim for Falling Through a Workplace Roof?

Settlement amounts in successful claims are usually based on two main elements:

• General damages – for the physical and psychological pain, suffering, and loss of amenity caused by the fall.
• Special damages – to cover any financial losses or expenses directly resulting from the fall, such as lost income, travel costs, or medical expenses.

If you claim compensation for falling through a roof, your solicitor will begin by collecting medical records and independent reports to help clarify your injuries.

They could then compare your injuries to those detailed in the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to calculate general damages.

The special damages element of your compensation could cover all of the following:

• Medical treatment and rehabilitation costs.
• Travel expenses i.e., car parking and fuel costs for hospital appointments.
• Any loss of income.
• Care and support costs.
• Future reduction in earnings.
• Home and vehicle modification costs to help you deal with any permanent disability sustained after falling through a roof at work.

Our team of solicitors have decades of experience in accident-at-work claims. Therefore, if your case is taken on, your solicitor will work hard to ensure that any compensation you are offered fully covers all aspects of your suffering.

Can I Claim If a Loved One Died From a Fall Through a Roof at Work?

Falling through at work can sadly be fatal. We completely understand that compensation will not make it any easier for you to deal with your loss. However, we also know that losing a loved one can have a massive financial impact which you might decide to claim compensation for.

If you’ve lost a loved one in a fatal workplace accident, one of our solicitors may be able to help you claim for:

• The deceased’s pain and suffering prior to their death.
• Funeral expenses and other costs associated with your loss.
• Any financial dependence on your loved one’s income or benefits.

Please feel free to get in touch if you’d like more information. The call is free as is any advice we offer regardless of what you decide to do next.

Will I Need a Solicitor for a Workplace Accident Claim?

Hiring a solicitor to help you claim after falling through a roof at work could make the claims process much more straightforward and may result in a fairer settlement if your claim is won.

Some of the services our solicitors may offer (on a No Win, No Fee basis) if your claim proceeds include:

• Ensuring that your claim is processed correctly and filed on time.
• Finding the evidence needed to prove why you fell from a roof at work.
• Handling any enquiries or objections raised by your employer’s representatives.
• Sending regular updates about the progress of your case.
• Fighting to try and secure the maximum amount of compensation possible.

Crucially, you will only pay for your solicitor’s work if you receive a compensation payout.

When using a Conditional Fee Agreement, you’ll have a success fee deducted from any settlement you are paid. This success fee is a fixed percentage of your compensation (capped legally at 25 per cent).

To check if you’re able to make a No Win, No Fee claim after falling through a roof at work, please call our legal advisors.

How Long Will My Claim Take?

The time it takes for personal injury claims to be processed varies from case to case due to several factors. Here are a couple of examples:

1. Quick resolution: You’re a construction worker who fell through a roof on a building site and suffered relatively minor injuries. You recovered quickly, and your employer didn’t dispute the claim. In this scenario, you might receive compensation within 4 to 5 months.
2. More complex case: You’re a roofer who fell through a skylight at an office building leaving you paralysed from the waist down. While your employer accepted liability, medical experts need time to assess your long-term prognosis and future care needs. In this situation, your claim might take several years to fully settle.

In the latter scenario, you might be paid interim compensation payments while your case is ongoing. These could be used to cover lost earnings, care costs and other immediate expenses.

Contacting Us About a Fall Through a Roof at Work

If you believe that you should be compensated after you fell through a roof at work, please reach out to us. To request a free initial consultation about your claim, you can:

• Contact our legal advisors by calling 0333 241 2519.
• Use our online chat service to ask questions 24 hours a day.

Our team is ready to help and provide free legal advice about your next steps. After your case has been reviewed, you may be connected with an accident-at-work solicitor on our panel. If they offer to take on your claim and you agree to proceed, your case will be processed on a No Win, No Fee basis from beginning to end.