Accidents at work abroad

Injuries at work affect thousands of people every year. They can be stressful and even life-changing.

If you live in England and Wales and you have been involved in an accident whilst working abroad, you might be entitled to claim compensation.

Your employer should not treat you less favourably because of a claim.

Get in touch with our specialist personal injury lawyers to see how we could help you with your accident working abroad claim.

Types of workplace accidents abroad

The type of work accident abroad that can occur often depends upon the nature of your role and the setting where it takes place.
It is increasingly common for people to travel overseas for work and typically, those industries attracting the greatest risk are:

• Construction
• Mining and quarrying
• Transportation
• Fishing

We frequently encounter:

• Crush type injuries – to the hand, digits or limbs usually as a result of machinery
• injuries caused by defective equipment
• Falls from height
• Slipping or tripping accidents
• Accidents during transit by land, sea and air. 

If you live in England and Wales and you suffer any injury whilst working abroad, it may be possible to bring a claim against the company or companies who were responsible for your health and safety in your local court.

How do I make a claim for an accident at work abroad?

Before you start a claim for a workplace accident abroad, make sure your accident is recorded and that the record is accurate. This may help strengthen your case, as it serves as an official record.

To start your accident at work abroad compensation claim, speak to a specialist personal injury solicitor in our team about your case. We offer a free initial consultation. A specialist accident at work lawyer from our personal injury team will listen to your case and advise you on your options.

To support your workplace injury abroad claim, we may need to gather additional evidence. This can include:

• Medical records and documents – to establish the nature of your injuries and what rehabilitation needs you might have.
• Witness statements from colleagues and anyone who saw the accident.
• Financial records and documents – to establish what losses you have suffered and any expenses you have incurred due to your accident.
• Photographs of your injuries, the accident location, any equipment involved or other relevant items.

Compensation for accidents at work abroad

The amount you could receive for an accident at work claim will depend on the circumstances of your case. Every claim is handled individually and possible compensation varies due to the extent of your injuries.

Compensation might include awards for:

• General damages – related to any physical or psychological pain caused by your injuries.
• Travel costs – to and from hospital appointments.
• Medical expenses – for any treatment and medication costs.
• Loss of earnings – for the time that you are unable to work due to your injuries.
• Care claim – The cost of any care which you required following your accident.

Our work with workplace accidents abroad

Settlement for a disabled cameraman

We represented a TV cameraman who was left permanently disabled following an explosion during the course of an assignment abroad. We successfully argued that he was not provided with the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to reduce the risk of harm to the lowest possible level.

Following negotiations, we achieved a high settlement for the injury as well as past and future losses including aids and equipment.

Manual handling injury abroad

We successfully represented a young marketing executive who sustained a life changing back injury following a manual handling injury while working in Turkey.

Compensation for loss of hearing

We successfully represented a man who lost the hearing in one ear and suffered a permanent hand injury, as a result of exploding work equipment while working in the United Arab Emirates for an English-based company.