After suffering an accident at work, many victims worry about the repercussions of making a personal injury claim against their employer. Will I get fired? Will it stop me getting promoted in the future? Will they make life so difficult for me I will be forced to leave?

However the simple response to this is no, you cannot get fired for pursuing a claim, nor can your employer treat you any differently because of it. If this happened then you would likely be able to make a claim for unfair or constructive dismissal.

You should also remember that all employers will have insurance policies in place to cover any such accident at work claims. The insurer will usually conduct the claim and pay your compensation, not the business itself. Sensible business owners will recognise your claim against them is not personal.

If you have been injured at work and are wanting to make a claim, you need to be sure that you have a legitimate injury claim and that your employer has been negligent.

There are various health and safety regulations that employers should follow. All employers have a duty of care to ensure the safety of their employees. This means that the employer must:

Provide safe premises and a safe place in which to work

Provide sufficient and safe plant, materials and equipment

Undertake risk assessments to ensure working procedures and equipment are safe

Provide sufficient training

Take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe working environment

Accident at work claims can often last for months or even years, particularly if liability is disputed. With this in mind, it is advisable to instruct a professional and experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Ideally they would be accredited by APIL (Association of Personal Injury lawyers) and the Law Society, such as GA Solicitors in Plymouth.

Your solicitor will guide you through the process and ensure there is sufficient evidence of negligence and provide a steer as to the value of your claim. Calculating damages can be difficult as it takes into consideration a number of factors such pain and suffering, loss of amenity and special damages (quantifiable financial losses such as loss of earnings, cost of care, adaptations to your home, etc.).

There are time limits in place within which you must begin legal action so you should seek legal advice urgently should you want to claim compensation.