Broken Chair Accident Claims – A Guide to Claiming Compensation

You might think that having an accident on a broken chair is just one of those things. However, falling from a broken chair and other incidents can lead to painful injuries. As employers have a duty to provide safe work equipment (including chairs and seating), you could be entitled to claim compensation for any injuries caused by a broken or defective chair. In this guide on broken chair claims, you’ll read about the types of accidents that can happen and when you could be compensated.

If you do want to claim compensation for injuries caused by a broken chair at work, we can help. Our team offers a free initial consultation where you can discuss your case and learn more about the options available to you. If the advisor deems that your employer was to blame, you could be partnered with one of our accident-at-work solicitors. Any broken chair claim they take on will be managed on a No Win, No Fee basis.

To talk to us right away about starting a broken chair injury claim, you can:

• Call our legal advisors on 0333 241 2519.
• Use our 24/7 live chat service to discuss your claim online.

Please read on for more about how broken chair accident claims work, or call our team if you think of any questions along the way.

I Was Injured By a Broken Chair at Work Can I Claim?

Several pieces of employment legislation place a duty of care on employers when it comes to the safety of their staff, including The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

Essentially, these laws mean that employers should:

• Check chairs regularly for damage and repair any faults (or replace the chair).
• Ensure the right type of chair is provided.
• Train staff on good posture if using a chair for prolonged periods.
• Ensure chairs are maintained properly.
• Conduct workstation assessments to ensure that the chair and desk set-up is suitable for computer workers (or those in similar roles).

This essentially means that you may be entitled to compensation when:

• You were legally owed a duty of care by your employer.
• You had an accident with a broken chair because of your employer’s negligence.
• Were you injured due to that accident.

Although we use the word chairs in this guide, the same duty of care could apply to benches, seats, ergonomic seats and conference table seating.

If you believe you’ve been injured as a result of a broken chair at work, call our legal advisors to see whether you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

What Injuries Can Be Caused By Broken Chair Accidents?

If your claim meets the eligibility criteria described above, you could effectively claim compensation for anything other than the most minor injuries.

Some typical injuries that can be caused by broken chairs at work include:

• Back injuries.
• Tailbone (coccyx) injuries.
• Neck strain or whiplash.
• Shoulder injuries.
• Wrist or hand injuries (from trying to break a fall).
• Elbow injuries.
• Knee or leg injuries.
• Sprained or twisted ankles.
• Bruising and soft-tissue injuries.
• Cuts or lacerations (from sharp or broken parts).
• Head injuries or concussion (if someone hits their head when falling).

Whatever injuries you’ve sustained because of a broken chair at work, please let us know, and we’ll assess your chances of being compensated.

What Should I Do If I’m Injured By a Broken Chair at Work?

Some simple steps you can take if you are injured while using a chair at work include:

• Seek medical attention for any injuries. In many cases, you should seek professional medical attention rather than relying on first aid, as not all injuries are immediately obvious.
• Remove the broken chair so it cannot be used until it has been fixed or replaced.
• Inform your employer about the accident.
• Ensure that the incident is logged in the company’s accident book so that there is a record of what happened.

These steps can help you to meet your health and safety obligations at work, and they could also prevent similar accidents from occurring in future. They could also provide you with some of the evidence you’ll need to help prove a broken chair accident claim.

What Types of Evidence Can I Use for a Broken Chair Claim?

Evidence is crucial if you’re to be compensated for an injury at work claim. As such, if you are injured because of a broken chair at work, you should typically:

• Take photos of any obvious defects or damage to the chair or seat that caused your injuries.
• Visit A&E or your GP so that your injuries are treated and documented in your medical records.
• Speak to potential witnesses and ask for their contact details in case you need witness statements to try and prove your case.
• Obtain copies of CCTV camera or mobile phone recordings as video evidence can be a key way of proving what happened.
• Report the broken chair accident and ask for a copy of the accident report form.

We realise that in many cases, it’s not always possible to obtain all of the information listed here. So, please don’t worry about any missing evidence at this stage, as one of our accident-at-work solicitors could still agree to help you make a broken chair accident claim and search out any required evidence on your behalf.

How Long Do I Have to Claim for a Broken Chair Accident at Work?

In most cases, you have three years from the date of the accident to start a claim for a broken chair injury. This follows the standard time limit set by the Limitation Act 1980. If your injury only becomes apparent later, for example, if symptoms develop over time, the three-year limit may start from the date of knowledge, which is when you first realised your injury was linked to the faulty chair.

There are some exceptions, such as cases involving children or people who lack mental capacity, but for most workplace accidents, the three-year limit applies.

To confirm how long you have to claim for broken chair injuries, please get in touch now.

How Much Broken Chair Accident Compensation Can I Claim?

Compensation levels for injuries caused by a broken chair at work can vary a lot. Each case is unique and must be assessed on its own merits. If your claim is successful, compensation may be paid to cover:

• Pain, discomfort and any suffering caused by your injuries (including psychological pain) as well as any loss of amenity linked to your injuries.
• Financial losses, out-of-pocket expenses and costs caused by your injuries.

Solicitors and those valuing accident at work claims use figures from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to help value settlement amounts for general damages. Before doing so, they will gather medical records and independent medical reports to gain a proper understanding of how you have suffered.

In addition to any compensation paid for general damages, your settlement could cover any of the following costs and expenses:

• The cost of a carer at home (including family support).
• Medical and rehabilitation costs.
• Lost income.
• Travel costs.
• The cost of adapting your home to make life easier if your injuries have led to permanent symptoms or disabilities.
• Future loss of earnings.

Crucially, you should carefully consider any settlement offer received in a defective chair accident claim, as once the claim has been settled in full, you cannot normally request further compensation later on down the line.

Do You Need a Personal Injury Solicitor When Claiming for a Broken Chair Accident?

If you decide to seek damages for injuries caused by a broken chair at work, you’re likely to have to deal with an insurer rather than your employer directly. This means that you might have to deal with legal procedures and medical queries that can, at times, be quite complex.

As such, you may decide that a broken chair accident claim will be easier if it is managed by a specialist accident-at-work solicitor.

Some of the ways a solicitor on our team could help to make your claim easier include:

• Providing legal advice throughout the claims process.
• Securing evidence and filing the claim on time.
• Arguing your case if liability for the accident (or your injuries) is contested.
• Providing you with regular updates so that you’re aware of how your case is progressing.
• Fighting your corner to try and secure as much compensation as possible.

To see if a solicitor can represent you during a broken chair accident claim, please call our legal advisors.

Can I Make a No Win, No Fee Broken Chair Claim?

If your claim is accepted, you won’t have to pay anything for their work unless you receive a compensation payout. Also, you don’t need to pay for their services upfront.

Crucially, once you’ve signed a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), you’ll know exactly what percentage of your compensation (the success fee) will be deducted if the claim is won. Legally, this is capped at 25 per cent, so you’ll normally keep the majority of any settlement paid for your injuries.

To check if you could make a No Win, No Fee broken chair claim, please call us.

How Long Do Broken Chair Injury Claims Take?

Realistically, no two accident work claims are the same. Consequently, we can’t really say how long your claim will take until it has been assessed thoroughly.

However, we can provide a couple of basic example scenarios to give you some idea:

1. If you fell from a chair after a damaged leg gave way and sustained a minor wrist injury, your case could be settled in as little as 4 to 6 months after making a quick and full recovery.
2. If you have suffered spinal damage that resulted in a long-term injury, your chair accident claim could take as long as a year (or more in some cases). That’s because extra time might be required to allow time for your prognosis to be properly understood.

If your case is going to take a while, your solicitor might be able to secure interim compensation payments (before the claim is fully settled) once liability for the accident has been agreed upon.

Contacting Us About a Broken Chair Accident Claim

Are you ready to claim compensation for injuries caused by a broken chair at work? If you are, please get in touch by:

• Phoning 0333 241 2519.
• Connecting to our free online chat service.

It is worth reiterating that we provide free advice on broken chair accident claims as part of a no-obligation consultation. What’s more, if your case is accepted by a solicitor from our team, they’ll manage the whole claims process on a No Win, No Fee basis, so you really have nothing to lose by contacting us.