A fall from height claim can be made where you have suffered an injury, or multiple injuries, due to your employer not adhering to health and safety regulations. Whether the height that you have fallen from is from the top of a ladder or from a malfunctioning window cleaning ledge at the top of a building, these accidents can be traumatic and result in severe injuries. Therefore, if someone else’s fault has caused the accident to take place, you deserve to be compensated for the pain that you have endured and the financial losses that it has led to.
Your accident at work claim will need supporting evidence and needs to be started within the 3 year time limit. The stronger your evidence, the higher the chance of your personal injury claim succeeding.
The solicitors on our panel at Public Interest Lawyers want to use their knowledge and expertise in personal injury claims to gain the compensation that you deserve. With a fantastic success rate and welcoming approach, they can make the claims process as stress-free as possible for you, so your main focus can be your recovery.
Our advisors are on hand 24/7 for you to make your call and get connected with a solicitor on our panel to begin the claims process, so contact us today using the details below:
- Call us on: 0800 073 8803
- Visit our contact page and complete the online form
- Use our free live chat function
Frequently Asked Questions
- How To Make A Fall From Height Claim
- Common Fall From Height Compensation Claim Examples
- What Injuries Could Be Sustained After Falling From A Height?
- How Much Fall From Height Compensation Can I Claim?
- Can A Fall From Height Claim Cover Financial Losses?
- The Process Of Claiming After Falling From A Height
- Why Claim For A Fall From Height With Our Panel Of Solicitors?
- Fall From Height Claims On A No Win No Fee Basis
- Learn More
How To Make A Fall From Height Claim
To make a fall from height claim, you must firstly check your eligibility. The criteria that you must meet to prove that you are eligible is detailed below:
- You Were Owed A Duty Of Care – A duty of care is met when the person that owes it to you has taken the reasonable steps to ensure your health and safety. This may be an employer who has run all of the necessary maintenance checks to ensure that scaffolding is safe to go on before you begin working on it.
- That Duty of Care Was Breached – If your employer has failed to take all reasonable steps to ensure your health and safety despite owing you a duty of care, then there has been a breach. Perhaps you have tripped on a hazard while working at a tourist attraction, causing you to lose your balance and fall from a high platform while taking photographs for the brochure. As your employer had not run risk checks leading to this hazard going overlooked, there has been a breach of their duty.
- You Suffered an Injury – If this breach led to your injury, then eligibility will be proven and you can progress with your claim. It may be that your fall at work has led to you breaking your arm. X-rays of this injury will prove your eligibility.
Claiming For A Loved One After They Fell From A Height
You can claim on behalf of someone else after they have fallen from a height under certain circumstances. It may be that the victim who has fallen is under 18 and therefore not old enough to bring their own claim yet. Or, they lack the mental capacity as their fall has left them with severe brain damage (or did not have the capacity to manage a claim themselves at the time of the accident). If you are in a similar situation with your loved one, you may be appointed to act as their litigation friend. This means that you will direct the claims proceedings for them, acting with their best interests at heart.
Fatal Fall From Height Claims
In the devastating event that a fall from height has resulted in the fatal injury of your loved one, the estate may be able to claim compensation to compensate for the pain and suffering that they experienced before their death. We know that no amount of compensation will cover the grief that you have suffered but we want you to gain some justice for your loved one and your loss.
The estate has up to 6 months to bring a compensation claim that will compensate for the pain and suffering that they experienced before their eventual death. You will also gain compensation for the dependents of the deceased. However, certain dependents can start a claim after this 6 month period and for up to 3 years following their death.
You can find more information on making a fatal fall from height claim in our dedicated fatal injury guide.
For an assessment of your eligibility or to discuss making a claim on behalf of your loved one, get in touch with one of our advisors today.
Common Fall From Height Compensation Claim Examples
A fall from height accident can occur in many different situations, all of which can lead to extremely severe injuries. Some examples of how a fall from height can take place are discussed below.
Fall From Machinery – Most commonly taking place at work, the injuries that you have suffered may have been sustained from falling from machinery. This may be a crane that has malfunctioned which has caused you to lose your balance.
Fall From Scaffolding – Scaffolding should be thoroughly checked before workers are allowed to put their weight onto it. If these checks are not run by the employer, the scaffolding can come loose from the wall that it is attached to, causing workers to fall from the top.
Falls in a public space – Fall from heights may also occur in a public place where the occupier has not run regular maintenance checks on areas accessible by the public or put up fencing to secure a site. For example, a viewing public viewing platform at the zoo did not have appropriate railings, so you fell into an animal enclosure from a height. You can find out more by reading our public liability accidents guide or speaking to an advisor.
To discuss the circumstances of your claim, contact us today.
What Injuries Could Be Sustained After Falling From A Height?
A number of injuries can be sustained falling from a height, and they can differ in severity. It may be that you have suffered multiple injuries from your fall, and if this is the case you can receive compensation for each separate injury. Some examples of injuries that you may have sustained from falling from a height are listed below:
- Broken and/or fractured bones
- Damage to the neck and/or spinal cord
- Soft tissue injuries, such as sprains and bruising
- Surface injuries such as cuts and scrapes
- Damage to internal organs, such as a ruptured spleen.
- Head/brain injuries, such as brain damage
- Psychological injuries, such as PTSD
If you want to discuss the injuries that you have sustained and find out if you have good grounds to make a fall from height claim, please speak to an advisor.
How Much Fall From Height Compensation Can I Claim?
How much compensation you can claim for a fall from height will depend on the nature of your injuries and whether or not you’ve incurred any related expenses. For a fall from height claim, your compensation will be split into two heads of claim: general and special damages.
Your general damages will compensate you for both the physical and emotional pain that you have endured due to your fall from height. These may be calculated by your solicitor referring to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), which gives guideline amounts of compensation for different types and severities of injuries.
For example, the JCG suggests that a severe neck injury may receive compensation in the region of £181,020 based on the fact that an injury of this severity will have a significant impact on the victim’s life as they will have low (if any) movement. However, for a fall that has resulted in a modest injury to the ankle, where a full recovery is expected, the guidelines suggest receiving up to £16,770 as the impact to life is less serious. These figures were taken from the JCG, and the table below gives more examples of suggested amounts for different types of injuries. These amounts are just guidelines and therefore should not be taken as a guarantee of what compensation you may receive. The first figure was also not taken from the JCG.
Call today to discuss what general damages you may receive with an advisor.
| Injury | Severity | Suggested Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple severe injuries | Multiple severe injuries including special damages such as loss of earnings, rehabilitation and medical costs | Up to £1 million+ |
| Brain and Head Injuries | Very Severe - little response to surrounding environment and little ability to respond to basic commands. | £344,150 - £493,000 |
| Less Severe - good recovery and victim able to return to work and enjoy a social life | £18,700 - £52,550 | |
| Back injuries | Severe (i) - damage to the spinal cord and nerve roots with severe pain and disability. | £111,150 - £196,450 |
| Minor (i) - full recovery within 2-5 years | £9,630 - £15,260 | |
| Bowel Injuries | Loss of function - dependence on colostomy | Up to £183,190 |
| Neck injuries | Severe (i) - little to no movement in the neck and incomplete paraplegia | In the region of £181,020 |
| Moderate (ii) - soft tissue and severe disc lesion with lack of movement and recurring pain | £16,770 - £30,500 | |
| Psychiatric Damage | Severe (a) - poor prognosis where the victim's ability to cope with work and life are effected | £66,920 - £141,240 |
| Spleen injuries | Loss of spleen - risk of infections because of immune system damage | £25,380 - £32,090 |
Can A Fall From Height Claim Cover Financial Losses?
The special damages that you are awarded in your fall from height claim will cover the financial losses that you suffered because of your fall. Some financial losses that may be covered in your compensation are detailed below.
Lost Income
Your fall from height may have left you unable to return to work for a number of months because of the psychological impact that it caused you, or you lost mobility due to a broken back. The wages that you have missed out on receiving during this time off from work can be covered by the special damages that you receive.
Future Loss Of Earnings
Similarly to the income that you have lost before making your claim, if you are expected to be off work for a period of time after making your claim, the wages that you are estimated to lose in the future will also be covered by special damages. Or, it may be the case that your injuries have resulted in you being unable to work a physical job. Therefore, you have had to find work that does not have a salary as high as your previous trade. This will be considered in your compensation.
Cost Of Care
Many fall from height injuries can unfortunately, leave a person unable to perform regular day-to-day tasks either temporarily or permanently. Therefore, the claimant may have had to hire carers to help with these tasks. Carers may be hired to help with the recovery of the injury and help with the claimant’s medication. This care can also include hiring cleaners to clean the victim’s house whilst they are unable to perform these tasks themselves.
Medical Costs
There may be prescriptions that you have had to pay for to help reduce the pain of your injury whilst you are recovering. There may also be medical equipment that you have had to hire, such as a wheelchair. These payments will be reinstated in your compensation.
Rehabilitation Or Recovery
A lot of injuries sustained from a fall from height, such as a broken back or brain damage, may require rehabilitation to readjust to life after your accident. This may include physiotherapy to relearn how to walk or speech therapy if your fall has resulted in brain damage that has had an effect on your speech.
Adaptations To Home And Car
For many injuries sustained from a fall from height, adjustments may need to be made to your home to help you move around the house. For example, you may now require a stair left to help you get up and down your stairs after impacting your back. Or, serious damage to your hip and pelvis may require you to have railings around your house to support you to walk around it.
Travel Expenses
A neck injury sustained from your fall from height is likely to leave you unable to drive for a number of weeks or months after your accident. This therefore means that you need to pay for taxi fares or bus/train tickets to help you get around. The cost of paying for taxis or public transport will be covered by special damages.
Miscellaneous Costs
If you have had to cancel a holiday as you are unable to travel due to your injuries, then the money that you spent booking this holiday prior to the accident occurring will be covered. This goes for anything that you had booked before the accident took place and are now unable to attend because of your injuries.
To explain your circumstances and discuss what special damages you may receive in your compensation, get in touch with an advisor at Public Interest Lawyers today.
The Process Of Claiming After Falling From A Height
The process of claiming after falling from a height requires that you provide your solicitor with evidence that proves the third party’s fault that led to your accident occurring, and that you meet certain legal deadlines. These are both detailed below.
Evidence To Prove Fault For A Fall From Height
You will need a sufficient amount of evidence for your fall from height claim to be successful. Some examples of evidence that could support your claim are listed below:
- Video evidence of the accident that caused your injury. This can include CCTV footage of the scaffolding collapsing or ceiling of the pub falling through.
- Accident report books can be found in most workplaces.
- Medical records will provide details of the injury that was sustained.
- Your own log of symptoms will help to prove the worsening of your injury since the fall from height and the pain that you have suffered.
More information on the items you can gatherto support a personal injury claim can be found in our evidence guide.
How Long After Falling From Heights Can Compensation Be Claimed?
For compensation to be claimed, you will usually have 3 years after falling from heights to begin your claim. This deadline will begin from the date in which you fell from a height.
There are some exceptions to this time limit, however, which are described in detail in our limitation period guide.
To discuss whether your claim is still within the legal limitation period and the evidence that may support your claim, contact an advisor today.
Why Claim For A Fall From Height With Our Panel Of Solicitors?
At Public Interest Lawyers, our solicitors want to support you throughout the claims process so that you are awarded the compensation that you deserve. Some ways that they will achieve this include:
- Asking you a series of questions so that all of the details of your claim are covered so that they can assess all aspects that you can be awarded compensation for.
- Giving you the opportunity to ask them any questions to understand the claims process better.
- Compiling your evidence and the legal documents needed to process your claim.
- Updating you on the progress of your claim and of any changes that have taken place.
- Explaining any legal terms and phrases that can become confusing for anyone outside of the legal sector.
To get connected with a solicitor from our panel, call an advisor today.
Fall From Height Claims On A No Win No Fee Basis
Our panel of solicitors at Public Interest Lawyers will offer you the decision to enter a Conditional Fee Agreement. This is a type of No Win No Fee Agreement in which no solicitors’ fees will be paid before or during the claims process. An unsuccessful claimant will also not have to pay any solicitor’s fees. However, when your claim is successful, a percentage of compensation will be deducted. This is known as a success fee, which is restricted by law and can be discussed with your solicitor before proceeding with your claim.
You can discuss the terms of a Conditional Fee Agreement further with one of our advisors today.
Contact Public Interest Lawyers
Our advisors are available around the clock to answer any questions you have about making a fall from height claim.
- Call 0800 073 8803
- Use our free live chat function
- Complete our online contact form
Learn More
For more of our useful guides, see below:
- Find out how to claim if you had an accident while abroad
- Here’s information on how you can claim for multiple injuries
- Read about how to make a claim for organ damage
To find further reading that may help you during the claims process, see below:
- Research the symptoms of your specific condition through the NHS
- To get help for your symptoms, return to the NHS website
- Learn how to request the CCTV footage of your accident
Thank you for reading our guide on making a fall from height claim. Contact an advisor to get your accident at work claim started today.