According to statistics published by the UK parliament, there were approximately 4.40 million self-employed people working in the UK between February and April 2025. With technology transforming the economic landscape, an increasing number of people are turning to self-employment as a means of earning a living. But what happens when something goes wrong, and you have a self-employed accident at work?
In this guide, we will explain everything that you need to know about making an accident at work claim as a self-employed worker, starting with your rights under UK law and ending with how Public Interest Lawyers can help. We’ll also cover some frequently asked questions, including what compensation you could get, who is responsible for paying it, and whether or not your job could be at risk if you choose to make an accident at work claim.
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We understand that, to many people, the claims process can seem complex and confusing. But it doesn’t have to be: we are here to help. We hope that our guide will answer any questions that you might have about the claims process, but if you’re still looking for answers, our team are here to help. Get in touch today by:
- Calling us on 0800 408 7825
- Using the live chat feature
- Contacting us online
Jump To A Section
- Can I Make A Self-Employed Accident At Work Compensation Claim?
- How Does The Law Protect Self-Employed Workers?
- What Compensation Could I Get For A Self-Employed Accident At Work?
- Who Would Be Responsible For Paying My Compensation?
- How Could Accident At Work Compensation Help Me?
- What Steps Could Be Taken Following A Self-Employed Accident At Work?
- Would My Job Be At Risk If I Made A Claim?
- Do I Need A Solicitor To Claim If I’m A Contractor Or Self-Employed?
- Learn More
Can I Make A Self-Employed Accident At Work Compensation Claim?
Yes, you can claim for a self-employed accident at work if you can provide evidence that negligence happened. But what does negligence actually mean?
In terms of personal injury law, negligence means that:
- You were owed a duty of care by someone
- They breached this duty
- You were injured as a result
When someone owes you a duty of care, this means that they have a legal responsibility for your health and safety. All employers owe their employees a duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA), which states that they need to take all reasonably practicable steps to keep their employees safe while working.
For example, this can include taking steps like:
- Making sure walkways are clear of things like trailing cables and leads to reduce the risk of slips, trips, and falls
- Using wet floor signs when there is a spillage
- Undertaking risk assessments to identify and mitigate potential risks
- Providing free and adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), like a hard hat or steel-toe boots
- Providing the correct training when necessary
If an employer fails to take these steps and this causes you to suffer an injury, then you could potentially make a claim.
What If I Was Working Abroad When The Accident Happened?
Not all countries have the same laws as the UK, so it might depend on where your company is based. But don’t worry; our advisors can give you more information on your options for claiming for an accident while abroad when you get in touch.
Keep reading to learn more about making a self-employed accident at work claim, or contact us today to learn more.
How Does The Law Protect Self-Employed Workers?
Self-employed workers and contractors are protected under UK law. It’s a common misconception that the duty of care outlined in HASAWA only applies to full-time, contracted workers, but this just isn’t true.
Section 4 of HASAWA states that employers also owe a duty of care to self-employed workers and people who are not their employees but still use their premises as a place of work. This means that you are still protected even if you are:
- Self-employed
- Work part-time
- An agency or a temporary worker
For example, if you are a self-employed plumber doing contractor work in an office building, the employer of that building would still owe you a duty of care. So, if you suffered a head injury because you fell down stairs as a result of poor lighting, you could still claim compensation for a self-employed accident at work.
Keep reading to learn about compensation in accident at work claims. Or, contact our helpful team today to get started.
What Compensation Could I Get For A Self-Employed Accident At Work?
Generally, accident at work compensation can be split into two headings. The first is general damages, and this covers the pain and suffering your injuries have caused. It also covers loss of amenity, which means you can get compensation for the ways that your injuries have affected your daily life and ability to enjoy hobbies and socialising.
This head of your compensation will be calculated by looking at a variety of factors, including how severe your injuries are. The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) is a helpful tool that professionals often use to calculate general damages, as it contains guideline compensation brackets for various injuries and illnesses.
In the table below, you can find examples of these brackets. Please keep in mind that these figures are only guidelines, and the top entry has not been taken from the JCG.
| Injury | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Multiple severe injuries combined with special damages, which can include lost earnings and the cost of home adjustments | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Very Severe Brain Damage | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Severe Back Injuries (i) | £111,150 to £196,450 |
| Moderate Back Injuries (ii) | £15,260 to £33,880 |
| Severe (i) Neck Injuries | In the region of £181,020 |
| Moderate (ii) Neck Injuries | £16,770 to £30,500 |
| Serious Hand Injuries | £35,390 to £75,550 |
| Severe Leg Injuries (iii) Serious | £47,840 to £66,920 |
| Severe (iii) Knee Injuries | £31,960 to £53,030 |
| Simple Fractures of the Forearm | £8,060 to £23,430 |
What About Financial Losses?
You can claim back any financial losses that have been caused by your injuries under special damages. For example, this head of claim might be able to help you cover the cost of:
- Lost earnings
- Mobility aids
- Home adjustments
- Childcare
- Domestic help
- Travel costs
- Private medical treatment
- Prescriptions
- Other medical costs
If you want to claim these losses back, you need to be able to provide proof that they occurred. To do this, you can keep any relevant bills or receipts, for example.
If you’d like to learn more about claiming compensation for a self-employed accident at work, contact our team of advisors today. Or, you can keep reading to find out who is responsible for paying your compensation.
Who Would Be Responsible For Paying My Compensation?
The employer responsible for the accident would also be responsible for paying your compensation, but don’t worry; this doesn’t mean they’ll have to pay it out of pocket. Most employers are required to have Employers’ Liability insurance with cover of at least £5 million, and it’s this policy that will cover your compensation payout.
Keep reading for more information on making an accident at work claim, or contact us today to get started.
How Could Accident At Work Compensation Help Me?
There are many ways in which claiming compensation for a self-employed accident at work could help you.
First and foremost, it can help you cover some of the practical costs that might arise as a result of your injuries. A lot of self-employed workers aren’t eligible for sick pay, and while some full-time contracted workers may get full pay from their employers as they recover, self-employed workers might need to rely on compensation to cover costs until they can work again.
Making a successful accident at work claim can also help you get a sense of justice. If you were injured as a result of someone else acting negligently, getting an admission of liability and a compensation payout can help your emotional recovery by providing some form of closure.
Finally, if you make a claim and successfully receive compensation, this can help other workers in the future. A successful claim can shine a spotlight on unsafe practices and policies, and can help make workplaces safer for others over time.
Are you ready to get started? Talk to a friendly member of our team today to learn more, or keep reading to find out more about the claims process.
What Steps Could Be Taken Following A Self-Employed Accident At Work?
There are a number of steps that could be taken follwing a self-employed accident at work. Some steps that could help you with making a compensation claim include:
- Seeking medical attention: This helps ensure that you get treatment and start to recover as soon as possible, but it also means that there is a permanent record of your injuries.
- Getting legal help: Working with a solicitor can make the claims process seem much less daunting. Our panel of solicitors have years of experience in accident at work claims, and could help you, too.
- Collecting evidence: Evidence is crucial because you need to be able to prove that negligence occurred. Some examples of evidence could include photographs of your injuries, CCTV footage of the accident, or the contact details of witnesses so that their statements can be taken later.
- Negotiating a settlement: The solicitors on our panel put their clients at the forefront of everything they do, and have already helped countless people up and down the country negotiate the settlements that they deserve.
Would you like to learn more about how our panel of solicitors could help you make a claim? Contact us to get started for more information, or keep reading to learn more about the claims process.
Would My Job Be At Risk If I Made A Claim?
It’s illegal to fire someone just for making an accident at work claim. This is because your right to compensation is protected by law, and no employer can infringe on it. We understand that it can be daunting to claim against your employer, and it’s a common worry that pursuing compensation will make your relationship strained or result in you getting sacked or disciplined. But don’t worry; we are here to help.
Keep reading to learn more about how our panel of solicitors could help you, or contact us today to start your self-employed accident at work claim.
Do I Need A Solicitor To Claim If I’m A Contractor Or Self-Employed?
At Public Interest Lawyers, we put our clients at the forefront of everything we do. This means that when you choose to work with us, we’ll do everything we can to make the process as smooth as possible, from providing your free initial consultation to connecting you with the right solicitor for your claim.
One of the first steps that we recommend taking when starting an accident at work self-employed claim is seeking legal advice. It’s not mandatory to claim with a solicitor, but it can make the claims process seem much easier and less complicated. Our panel of solicitors has years of experience in accident at work claims and has helped workers all over the country achieve the compensation they deserve.
Plus, our panel all work on a No Win No Fee basis. Essentially, with the help of a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), this means you don’t have to pay your solicitor for their work upfront or at all if the claim fails. If you successfully make a claim and receive compensation, then your solicitor will take a small success fee. However, this fee’s percentage is capped by law, which means you retain the majority share of what you receive.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about making a self-employed accident at work claim, or if you’re ready to get started on your claim, contact us today by:
- Calling us on 0800 408 7825
- Using the live chat feature
- Contacting us online
Learn More
For more helpful accident at work claims guides:
- Learn how to claim if you stood on a nail at work
- Find out how to make a warehouse injury claim
- Get help making a fall from height claim
Or, to get further resources:
- Get basic health and safety information from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
- Information on working for yourself from the Government
- Learn when to call 999 from the NHS
Thank you for reading our guide on how to claim for a self-employed accident at work.