26/04/2012

Making a claim

The basics on making a claim

The best thing that you can do to help us along at an early stage of the claim is to collect as much information as possible:

When?

The date of the accident is obviously important. If you cannot find the exact date try and be as clear with us as you can.

If you have an accident at work, it must be recorded in your employer’s accident book. Make sure it is entered if it has not been.

Check the entry: has it got the correct time and date? Is the accident described accurately?

If you have started to develop a disease or condition caused by your workplace make sure you tell someone in authority . Make sure that your complaint is recorded.

Where?

We shall need to know exactly where the accident happened. A road name, address and name of the place where you had your accident.

Why?

We will need to discuss with you exactly what happened. If you have details of any witnesses or anyone who might be able to support what happened or why the accident happened you should let us have those details as soon as you can.

Your employer is required to investigate accidents because of their duties under health and safety law. The purpose of that investigation should be to identify what went wrong and decide what can be done to prevent it happening again. Your manager is likely to want to interview you as part of the investigation. You should co-operate with any reasonable investigation. Stick to the facts about what happened and avoid discussion about who is to blame.

See your doctor

You should see your doctor about your injury as soon as possible after the accident. This is important so that there is a record of the injury and to make sure you get the right advice about treatment.

Don’t suffer in silence! If your injury continues to give you trouble, make sure you go back to the doctor. Your doctor’s notes will be looked at by the court and the medical experts involved in your case.

We explain the claims process here.