Crush injury claims

Crush injuries at work can have serious and sometimes life-changing consequences. If you have been injured in a crushing incident in the workplace, you may be able to make a crush injury compensation claim.

Your employer has a duty of care to protect you from injuries at work. Suffering a crushed finger, hand or limb can have serious implications on your ability to work in the future. A life-changing injury such as amputation may mean that you can never work in your chosen field again.

The most common types of crush injury involve unfenced or unguarded machinery, for example in a factory or on farms where hands or limbs can be drawn into mechanisms such as balers.

Our workplace injury team has represented many people following a crushing incident. Contact us as soon as possible to investigate a crush injury claim.

What is a crush injury compensation claim?

A crush injury occurs when a body part is crushed by another object or sustains severe external pressure. They can range from crushing fingers in a door to injuries that result in amputation or paralysis through contact with workplace machinery or vehicles.

A crush injury compensation claim can help secure compensation after suffering a crushing incident at work that wasn’t your fault.

Types of crush injury claims

Crush injuries commonly occur in the workplace and in road traffic accidents. They can involve:

• Heavy objects falling from height – leading to head injuries and crushed body parts, such as legs and feet.
• Unfenced or unguarded machinery – hands can be crushed if caught inside unsafe and exposed machinery.
• Faulty equipment – defective machinery can cause accidents and crush parts of the body.
• Improper training – if your employer fails to provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), training and information for manual handling and machine operation.
• Unsafe working environment – your employer must conduct thorough risk assessments to provide safe and secure working conditions.
• Contact with vehicles – motor vehicles as well as industrial lifting equipment vehicles can exert significant forces and severe crush injuries.

Crush injury rules and regulations

Your employer is responsible for providing a safe workplace for employees and contractors by following workplace rules and legislation. However, crush injuries can occur when health and safety regulations are not met.

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

This is the primary legislation protecting occupational health and safety and includes :

• Training
• Display of safety information and signs
• Risk assessments
• First aid
• Workplace facilities
• PPE
• Health and safety policy
• Business insurance.

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013

RIDDOR holds you and your employer accountable for reporting serious workplace accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences (where a major incident could have happened but did not).

When can I make a crush injury compensation claim?

Crush injuries can put your life and livelihood at risk. If you have suffered a crushing accident and can prove your employer failed to comply with health and safety regulations, then you may be able to make a crush injury claim.

For example, if your employer failed to conduct appropriate risk assessments or training, then they will be found liable for any physical and psychological injury as a result.

Our injury claim experts need as much information as possible to prove that the organisation, employer or on-site contractor responsible for health and safety was negligent at the time of your accident.

However minor, a crush injury compensation claim can give you the support you need to help recover from traumatic crushing accidents at work.