What Should I Do if I Have Been Injured as a Temporary Worker?

Last Updated on September 26, 2024

If you are a temporary worker and you have been injured, you might be asking yourself what your rights are. You should first know that you are fully protected by the law even if you aren’t employed by the company full-time. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires that employers provide their employees with a safe working environment, and this applies to you too. This means that you will have access to sick pay and may be able to get additional compensation for your damages if it can be shown that negligence played a part. Here are some of the things you should know if you have been injured as a temporary worker.

Make Sure to Report it Immediately

The first and most important thing to do is report the accident immediately. You should report what happened to your employer and let your agency know as well. Try to follow the reporting procedure to the letter and get as much information on the scene of the incident as possible. Don’t assume that the incident needs to have happened during your shift, either. If you were injured in or around the premises, and it was because of negligence, then it counts as a work accident as well.

What Are Some Examples of Negligence?

There are many cases where negligence can be demonstrated. If there was a spill, for instance, and the employer did not follow the proper clean-up procedures and put up warning signs, then this counts as negligence. The same goes for accidents caused by faulty installations or equipment. Any incident that happens because the employer did not follow mandated health and safety standards will count as negligence as well. There are also cases where improper training is the cause of an accident or where the employer did not provide the employee with proper protective equipment.

Is it Possible to Sue for Negligence?

It is indeed possible to sue for negligence. Do not satisfy yourself with getting sick leave. If there was gross negligence at play, or if a particular person that was employed by the company was the cause of the accident, you could either sue your employer, the employee, or both.

The cause of accidents at work can be difficult to work out, however, and if the employer wants to make things difficult for you, they might dispute your claim. This is why you need to learn how to file a claim for an accident at work and work with a skilled solicitor who is familiar with these types of cases. They will be able to work out the evidence for you and strike a deal with your employer’s insurance company if you want to settle.

How to Know if You Have a Solid Case

If you have been injured at work, then there’s a solid chance that you have a case, but only if it wasn’t caused by your negligence. What will solidify your case is the evidence you gather from the scene, the witness accounts, and what you do after the incident, among other things.

If your injury is minor or if you don’t seek medical attention directly after the incident, you could end up diminishing or invalidating your claim. This is why everything you do has to be congruent with your injury and why you need to speak with a solicitor as soon as possible so they can tell you what you should and should not do.

Now that you know more about injury claims for temporary workers, make sure that you take the steps necessary right now if you haven’t already. You have the right to get compensated for your injuries, so don’t be scared that your temporary worker status will work against you.