You could claim compensation for construction site injuries if they were caused by your employer’s negligent actions or inactions. Workers, including contractors and part-time employees, are protected by various workplace safety laws and can start the construction site claims process if they have proof that an injury resulted from an employer’s failure to meet their legal obligations, such as knowingly providing faulty equipment.
Here at Public Interest Lawyers, our panel of accident at work solicitors always put clients first. They recognise that the fallout of a construction accident often persists long after the incident itself, and that the right support can make a real difference during this difficult time. So, as you focus on your recovery, you can rest assured that one of them will help you gather the evidence needed to pursue compensation for your pain, suffering, and financial losses.
Key Points
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics show that the construction industry had the second-highest average rate of self-reported non-fatal workplace injuries between 2022/23 and 2024/25.
- The workplace health and safety regulator has also published statistics showing that the construction industry had the highest number of fatalities for 2024/25, with 35 recorded deaths.
- Construction accidents can cause serious injuries, including amputations, head trauma, and spinal damage.
- Construction injury claims may be made by employees, contractors, self-employed workers, or on behalf of loved ones.
- A No Win No Fee solicitor from our solicitors could assist you in making a construction accident claim.
Our advisors are on hand to help with your construction or building site accident claim. They offer a free consultation service and always take the time to review each case carefully. There is no obligation to proceed, but getting in touch today could bring you one step closer to making a claim.
Jump To A Section
- Can I Claim Compensation For A Construction Injury?
- Who Is Responsible For Safety On A Construction Site?
- Construction Injury Claim Examples
- What Construction Accident Compensation Could I Get?
- What Evidence Will I Need To Claim For A Construction Accident?
- Construction Injury Claims Time Limit
- No Win No Fee Construction Accident Compensation Claims
- Learn More
Can I Claim Compensation For A Construction Injury?
Yes, you can claim compensation for a construction injury if you can show that it resulted from a third party’s negligent actions. When making an accident at work claim, this involves showing:
- Another party owed you a duty of care.
- This party was in breach of their duty.
- The breach led to you being injured.
Employers owe all workers a duty of care, essentially a legal responsibility to take appropriate action to protect an employee’s safety. We discuss relevant legislation governing the duty of care owed in the construction industry later in this guide.
Below, we look at several situations that may need to be considered before starting the construction accident claims process.
Can I Claim If I Don’t Work Full Time?
Yes, you can still make a construction site accident claim if you do not work full-time, as the main criterion for pursuing compensation is that a negligent third party caused an injury. That means employees on part-time or zero-hour contracts may also be eligible to pursue compensation if they have proof of third-party negligence.
You can find a detailed breakdown of the part-time accident at work claims process in our dedicated guide.
Can I Claim If I’m Self-Employed?
Yes, you can make a building site accident claim if you are self-employed, a contractor, or otherwise not a full-time employee. So long as you are using a third party’s premises as your place of work, the same duty of care to protect worker safety is extended to you.
You can read more about contractor and self-employed injury at work claims in our dedicated guide.
What If I Was Partially Responsible For A Construction Accident?
If you were partially responsible for a construction accident, you may still be able to claim, but any compensation payout would be awarded on the basis of split liability. Such claims involve circumstances in which both the employer and the employee share responsibility, for example:
- You fell from scaffolding that your employer had failed to maintain adequately. However, you failed to properly follow safety protocols leading up to the accident. In this case, both parties may share liability.
If you are awarded compensation in a split liability claim, your payout may be adjusted to reflect the degree of responsibility you have for the construction site accident.
Can I Claim For A Loved One’s Construction Injury?
You could claim for a loved one’s construction injury if they are legally unable to do so themselves because they lack the necessary mental capacity or are below the age of 18. Instead, you or another suitable party may bring the claim on their behalf by acting as a litigation friend. You can check how long you have to claim for someone else in a subsequent section.
Fatal Construction Injury Claims
There are specific rules around making fatal construction injury claims, which allow eligible parties to seek compensation following the death of a loved one in the workplace. In the first 6 months after someone loses their life, only the deceased’s estate can pursue a claim. They also have the option of bringing a claim on behalf of relatives (termed ‘dependants’).
If the estate doesn’t make a claim for relatives following that period, then eligible dependants can claim compensation for how their loved one’s passing affected them. This can provide dependants with much-needed financial support during this difficult time.
Both our advisors and the solicitors on our panel understand how distressing such tragic circumstances can be. So, you can rest assured that you’ll get the information and support you need throughout the fatal injury compensation claims process.
Please contact our advisors today if you have any questions about the topics discussed above or would like to find out if you can claim construction accident compensation.
Who Is Responsible For Safety On A Construction Site?
Employers, designers, workers, and clients are among the parties who are responsible for safety on a construction site. The party that primarily owes you a duty of care is your employer, as set out in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. This requires them to ensure your health, safety, and well-being through reasonable measures, such as conducting risk assessments when appropriate.
Under The Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM), responsibilities are split between multiple parties:
- Principal designers: Plan and manage the pre-construction phase and prepare the Health and Safety File.
- Principal or main contractors: Coordinate safety during construction, manage risks, and enforce site rules.
- Site managers: Ensure daily site safety, provide adequate training, and supply personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Client: Ensure projects and resources are properly managed.
- Construction workers: Take appropriate steps to protect their own safety and that of others on site.
You can discuss your experience with construction site safety with an advisor from our team, who can use this information to help determine whether you have a valid claim.
Construction Injury Claim Examples
Examples of construction injury claims include manual handling injuries, being struck by a falling object, slips, trips, and falls, or vehicle accidents. Construction and building sites can present multiple hazards, particularly for employees who work at heights, use dangerous or faulty equipment, or operate vehicles. Below, we take a look at some of these scenarios to show how accidents and injuries can occur from an employer failing to fulfil their legal obligations:
- A construction worker is not supplied with appropriate safety boots by their employer. The lack of slip-resistant footwear led them to fall heavily onto an oil spill that had been left unattended and unmarked for some time, breaking their leg and dislocating their ankle.
- An apprentice builder is told by their employer to move a pallet without any manual handling training in correct lifting techniques. This results in them sustaining a serious back injury that permanently affects their mobility.
- A risk assessment of newly assembled scaffolding reveals serious structural faults that could lead to collapse. However, the report is not acted on, culminating in the scaffolding giving way. One worker suffers multiple fractures to their arms, legs, and ribs in the fall from a height.
- A construction site employee is left paralysed after suffering catastrophic brain damage when building materials were dropped on them in a crane accident. The machine had been overloaded beyond its load limit, causing the crane boom to collapse.
These are just some of the many situations that can give rise to construction injury claims. Please get in touch with our advisory team to discuss your own accident confidentially and get the support you deserve.
What Construction Accident Compensation Could I Get?
You could get construction accident compensation for your physical and psychological injuries, reduced quality of life, and related financial losses. Your final construction accident settlement will always include general damages, as this head of claim awards compensation for your pain and suffering.
Solicitors and other legal professionals may turn to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to assist in valuing the physical and psychological impact of an injury. They may use this publication to aid their calculations because it contains guideline compensation brackets for various injuries and severities.
We have compiled a range of brackets to make our table below. Please be aware that the initial figure has not been taken from the JCG, and that none of the entries guarantee compensation.
| Type of Injury | Severity | Compensation Bracket |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple injuries and special damages for medical costs, care expenses, and lost income | Very Severe | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Paralysis | (a) Tetraplegia/ Paraplegia - awareness, life expectancy, and sight/ speech/ or hearing can affect compensation. | £396,140 to £493,000 |
| Brain | (a) Very severe - requiring full-time nursing care. | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Neck | (a) Severe (ii) - serious fractures or disc damage. | £80,240 to £159,770 |
| Arm | Severe (ii) Very Serious - Includes injuries causing permanent mobility issues. | £66,920 to £109,290 |
| Back | (a) Severe (ii) - nerve root damage and loss of sensation. | £90,510 to £107,910 |
| Pelvic/Hip | (b) Moderate (i) - significant injury without permanent disability. | £32,450 to £47,810 |
| Elbow | (b) Less severe injury - impairing function without needing major surgery. | £19,100 to £39,070 |
| Shoulder | (b) Serious - brachial plexus damage accompanying a dislocated shoulder. | £15,580 to £23,430 |
| Ankle | (d) Modest - ligament injuries, sprains, and minor fractures. | Up to £16,770 |
Could My Construction Injury Compensation Cover Other Losses?
Yes, your construction injury compensation could cover other losses related to the financial impact of being hurt, such as medical costs, care expenses, or lost income. These losses may be awarded under special damages, which can account for:
- Lost bonuses, pension contributions, and future earnings.
- Private medical care, such as consultations, treatment, and prescriptions.
- Therapy and counselling.
- Physiotherapy and rehabilitation.
- Mobility aids and home adjustments.
- Childcare and other domestic care.
You will need to supply evidence of any losses to claim for special damages, such as invoices and receipts. Once connected to a solicitor from our panel, they could assess your construction site accident payout and help determine how you may be compensated. Please get in contact with our advisory team for further guidance on accident at work compensation.
What Evidence Will I Need To Claim For A Construction Accident?
The evidence you will need to claim for a construction accident includes medical records and CCTV footage, as these can help prove the extent of your injuries and how your employer was liable for them. Types of evidence that could be submitted with your claim may include:
- A diary detailing how your injury affects daily life
- Photographs of hazards and visible injuries.
- Video (like CCTV footage) of the accident occurring.
- Contact details of any witnesses who can supply a solicitor with an account of what happened.
- Copies of the accident report.
As part of their comprehensive, client-focused service, a solicitor from our panel could help you collect the evidence typically required for construction injury claims. You can find out more by speaking to an advisor.
Construction Injury Claims Time Limit
The standard construction injury claims time limit is 3 years from the date of the incident, in accordance with the Limitation Act 1980. This time limit may differ for individuals under 18 or with reduced mental capacity. Since neither category can start a claim independently, the 3-year time limit is paused until:
- The date that a minor turns 18.
- A claimant’s mental capacity is restored. Otherwise, the time limit will be frozen indefinitely.
You can read more about these exceptions in our dedicated guide on the limitation period or by contacting a member of our advisory team.
No Win No Fee Construction Accident Compensation Claims
At Public Interest Lawyers, our solicitors provide an expert, client-focused service throughout the No Win No Fee construction accident claims process. Before you get started, you’ll need to contact our helpful advisory team for a free consultation. This will carefully review all aspects of your situation and determine whether you can proceed with a claim.
If, on review, your case meets the eligibility criteria set out in this guide, you could be connected to a personal injury solicitor from our panel. They have decades of combined expertise, grounded in years of training and experience advocating on behalf of clients. Besides offering compassionate representation that always puts your needs first, your solicitor can help you by:
- Explaining the claims process with plain and clear advice.
- Collecting evidence to build a compelling case for compensation.
- Negotiating your settlement with expertise and professionalism.
- Connecting you to recovery, rehabilitation, and support services.
- Keeping you informed about the progress of your case.
Your solicitor will offer their services under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). By using this type of arrangement, they won’t charge a service fee for the work done on your case in advance or while the claim is underway. You will also not need to pay any service fees if the claim fails.
Instead, if you do win, a success fee would be deducted by your solicitor from your construction injury compensation. There is a legal limit on the maximum percentage which may be taken for this fee.
Contact Public Interest Lawyers
You can contact the advisory team here at Public Interest Lawyers for a free consultation or to get quick and clear answers about the construction injury claims process by:
- Calling 0800 073 8803.
- Using our live pop-up chat.
- Contacting us online.
Learn More
Learn more about workplace accident claims in these resources:
- View our guide on reporting workplace accidents.
- Learn about your rights after an accident at work.
- Check how to claim for an accident due to a change in duties.
References:
- Learn more about Statutory Sick Pay in this resource.
- Find out about first aid in this NHS guide.
- Read more about the Building Safety Act in this resource.
Thank you for reading our construction injury claims guide, and please get in contact to learn more about pursuing compensation.