Ladders can present a real risk to workers if used improperly, which makes it all the more important for employers to take appropriate safety measures. If your employer’s failure to meet their responsibilities led to you being injured in an accident, you may be asking, “I fell off a ladder at work, can I claim?” Our guide will answer that question and many more.
Key Takeaways
- Ladders are used in multiple industries to enable access to higher levels and complete tasks such as electrical work, construction, painting and decorating, and guttering.
- The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Britain’s national health and safety regulator, publishes extensive guidance for employers on how to conduct work at height.
- Employers should ensure that workers who need to use ladders are given appropriate training and safety equipment.
- Our panel of expert solicitors work on a 100% No Win No Fee basis.
We operate a 24/7 advisory service so you can reach us at a time that suits you:
- Call the team on 0800 408 7825.
- Contact us online.
- Opening the live chat window on your screen now.
Select A Section
- I Was Injured After I Fell Off A Ladder At Work, Can I Claim?
- How Falling From A Ladder Might Be Caused By My Employer
- What Should My Employer Do To Prevent Potential Falls From Ladders?
- How Much Compensation Could I Get After Falling From A Ladder?
- What Do I Need To Bring A Fall From A Ladder Claim Against My Employer?
- No Win No Fee Claims After Falling From A Ladder At Work
- More Information
I Was Injured After I Fell Off A Ladder At Work, Can I Claim?
You could claim if you were injured after falling off a ladder at work if you can show that your employer failed to keep you safe. Generally, employers have a responsibility to take reasonable steps to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of workers. This is set under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
However, other laws are relevant when dealing with falls from ladders, including:
- The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER): Stipulate that any work equipment must be safe, fit for purpose, and that only persons who have received adequate training and instruction may use it.
- The Work From Height Regulations 2005: Sets rules for risk assessing work above ground level and how it can be avoided or minimised.
With these additional regulations in mind, the overall eligibility requirements may be summarised as follows:
- Your employer owed you a duty of care.
- This duty was breached in some way.
- You suffered injuries because of this.
Can I Make A Claim On Behalf Of A Loved One?
Yes, you can make a claim on behalf of a loved one if they are under 18 or are mentally incapacitated, as neither can seek compensation on their own. You would need to be appointed as their litigation friend. This would mean directing the proceedings on their behalf and coordinating with your loved one’s solicitor.
I Fell Off A Ladder At Work, Can I Claim If I Work Part Time?
If you fell off a ladder as a part-time worker, you can still make a claim if you are injured because your employer failed to meet their duty of care to you. Employers are responsible for the safety of all their workers, whether or not they are full-time employees.
You can find out more about claiming on behalf of another person, or get a free eligibility check today by contacting our advisors.
How Falling From A Ladder Might Be Caused By My Employer
Your employer might cause an accident involving a fall from a ladder due to inadequate maintenance, a lack of training, or insufficient risk assessment.
We have provided a few potential scenarios here:
- You had not received the required working at height training before being instructed to use a ladder to install a section of guttering. Consequently, you and a colleague placed the ladder at a dangerous angle. The ladder toppled, and you fell to the ground, suffering a serious back injury.
- A lack of proper maintenance inspections meant a badly worn ladder joint was missed. You used the faulty ladder, and while you were completing your work, the joint gave way. Several bones were broken in the fall.
- Improper risk assessment led to a ladder being placed on an uneven surface. You fell when trying to reach a light fitting, sustaining severe internal organ damage.
To share your own experience and get a free eligibility assessment, talk to our advisors today.
What Should My Employer Do To Prevent Potential Falls From Ladders?
Your employer should take reasonable steps to prevent potential falls from ladders, which can include risk assessments, training, and regular inspections. We have given a few examples of such steps here:
- Ensure sufficient and regular working at height training is given, and appropriate supervision is in place.
- Inspecting, repairing and replacing work equipment where necessary.
- Completing thorough risk assessments and eliminating the need for working at height wherever possible.
- Providing suitable protective equipment and clothing, including hard hats, shoes and hi-vis jackets.
If any of these or other safety measures were not in place, you may be able to claim for your resulting injuries. To ask our advisors, “I fell off a ladder at work, can I claim?” call the number below today.
How Much Compensation Could I Get After Falling From A Ladder?
The amount of compensation you could get after falling off a ladder will depend on your injuries and any associated financial losses. Falls, but particularly those from heights, come with a substantial risk of brain damage and other severe injuries, and payouts can reflect this.
There are 2 heads of claim we need to discuss:
- General damages are for physical harm and psychological distress.
- Special damages covers your financial losses. We’ll examine this in greater detail below.
Compensation Table
Below, you can find suggested compensation brackets from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). Solicitors use this document to assess general damages, as the text pairs its brackets with various injuries.
Please be advised that this table has been included to act as guidance only, and the top figure isn’t from the JCG.
| Type of Injury | Severity | Guideline Payout Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Very Severe Injuries with Special Damages (e.g. Physiotherapy Costs) | Very Severe | Up to £1,000,000 + |
| Brain Damage | Very Severe | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Moderate (iii) | £52,550 to £110,720 | |
| Paralysis | Paraplegia | £267,340 to £346,890 |
| Chest Injuries | Lung Removal and/or Serious Heart Damage (a) | £122,850 to £183,190 |
| Some Continuing Disability (c) | £38,210 to £66,920 | |
| Digestive System - Traumatic Injury | Severe Damage (i) | £52,490 to £75,550 |
| Severe Leg Injuries | Severe (iii) Serious | £47,840 to £66,920 |
| Back Injuries | Moderate (i) | £33,880 to £47,320 |
| Wrist injuries | Less Severe (c) | £15,370 to £29,900 |
I Fell Off A Ladder At Work, Can I Claim Special Damages?
If you fell off a ladder at work, you can claim special damages if your injuries had a financial impact. We have given a few examples here:
- Loss of income, including future earnings if you are unable to return to work at all, or need to take reduced hours.
- The cost of any physiotherapy, private treatment, prescriptions, and counselling.
- Domestic care and support, such as with meal prep, cleaning, maintenance and caring for any dependants.
- Accessibility installations, including ramps, handrails, stairlifts, and modified showers.
Make sure you hold onto any evidence of these losses, such as payslips and care bills, as special damages need proof to be claimed for.
To learn more about making a claim in your specific circumstances, talk to our advisors today.
What Do I Need To Bring A Fall From A Ladder Claim Against My Employer?
To bring a fall from a ladder claim against your employer, you will need evidence that shows how they were at fault for your injuries. We have compiled a list of potential evidence here:
- After an accident, you should always seek the proper medical care. While your health is, of course, the primary concern, any records from your treatment can be used as evidence.
- Photograph your injuries, the immediate scene of the accident, and the ladder itself.
- Workplace training documents could demonstrate that relevant health and safety, vehicle or manual handling training was either not carried out or carried out incorrectly.
- A copy of your accident book report, if one was made.
- If your workplace has CCTV cameras, it is your legal right to request a copy of the footage.
Is There A Time Limit To Claim?
Yes, in most cases you will have 3 years to start claiming compensation, as per the Limitation Act 1980. However, exceptions sometimes apply, which our guide to accident at work time limits will fully explain.
For more information on how time limits might apply to your claim, talk to our advisors today.
No Win No Fee Claims After Falling From A Ladder At Work
If you’re wondering, “I fell off a ladder at work, can I claim on a No Win No Fee basis?” talk to our advisors today. They’ll assess your case and may put you in touch with one of the expert solicitors from our panel. With years of experience in dealing with claims just like yours, our panel of solicitors offer eligible claimants a range of tailored services and support.
Here are just some of the ways they can help:
- Making sure you receive any rehabilitation treatment, therapy or other medical support you require by referring you to relevant specialists.
- Helping you to collect supporting evidence.
- Calculating a potential compensation figure, including any loss of earnings and other costs incurred.
- Keeping you informed of all developments and explaining all the legal jargon.
- Negotiating a settlement with the defendant’s representatives and attending any dispute resolution sessions if required.
Our panel of solicitors operates under strict No Win No Fee terms with a particular type of contract called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This contract protects you from incurring solicitor fees both at the start of and during the claims process. You will also not have to pay a service fee if the claim fails.
A success fee is taken by your solicitor from your compensation only if the claim is won. As The Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013 caps the percentage that can be charged, most of the compensation will be yours to keep.
Contact Public Interest Lawyers
We appreciate that there’s a lot of information here, and you no doubt have questions. At Public Interest Lawyers, we maintain a 24-hour advice line so you can reach us at any time for completely free guidance:
- Call on 0800 408 7825.
- Contact us online.
- Opening the live chat window on your screen now.
More Information
For more information, why not check some of our other guides:
- Check if you can seek compensation following a farm accident.
- Read our guide to making a paralysis injury claim.
- Learn more about head injury claims.
We have also included a few additional resources you may find useful:
- Read the NHS guidance on traumatic brain injury (TBI), a potential consequence of any fall.
- See the latest health and safety statistics from the HSE.
- Find out about Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) with this government resource.
We hope we’ve given a sufficient answer to the question, “I fell off a ladder at work, can I claim?” but please feel free to get in touch for more tailored advice.