28th April 2021 ❘

International Worker’s Memorial Day

International Worker’s Memorial Day takes place on Wednesday 28th April 2021. The day has been organised by the International Labour Organisation to promote the prevention of accidents and disease related incidents caused at work on a global level.

Approximately 317 million work related accidents occur per year worldwide. In 2019, 1.4 million working people suffered a work-related illness or accident. 28.2 million working days a year are lost due to work-related illness and injury. Every year, more people are killed at work than killed in wars. The TUC state that most workers die because an employer decided their safety was just not a priority. International Worker’s Memorial Day commemorates those workers.

Burnetts Solicitors have over 40 years of experience dealing with all types of serious injury arising out of accidents at work, fatal accidents at work, asbestos and mesothelioma.

Following an accident at work, there can be catastrophic effects on families and relationships with issues arising with rehabilitation, finances and obtaining future employment. Following an accident at work, it can be a very distressing and confusing time, Burnetts Solicitors are available to guide you through the process and assist you in obtaining compensatory awards for yourself or for a loved one who has sadly passed away as a result of work.

Legal Rights

All employers have a duty to their employees to ensure that all working environments are safe and that their employees are provided with adequate training and equipment to undertake their work safely. This does not always happen and many accidents in the work place occur as a result of the employer’s negligence or sometimes a co-worker’s negligence.

Temporary and agency workers have equal rights as employees to pursue a claim for compensation against their employer. All employees are protected by the same health and safety regulations in the workplace and are therefore all able to pursue a claim.

What to do following an accident

If you have had an accident at work, you should report the accident to your employer as soon as possible for it to be recorded in the accident book. Try to record as much information as possible about your injuries and how the accident happened. Think if there were any witnesses present.

It is very important that you seek appropriate medical assistance following the accident. Your medical records from you General Practitioner, hospitals or any other medical professional you have attended as a result of the accident will become evidence in any potential claim.

Retain evidence of any expenses incurred as a result of the accident. This may be travel receipts when attending medical appointments or wage slips evidencing loss of earnings. You can claim for any lost earnings you have incurred as a result of an accident. You are entitled to statutory sick pay during your absence from work and you may be contracted to receive company sick pay. You can also claim for any care and assistance you have received from your friends or family as a result of the accident as well as any private medical treatment you may have paid for such as psychological therapy or physiotherapy.

If a loved one has been involved in a fatal accident at work, the first step is to establish if the deceased left a Will or died intestate (without a Will). If the deceased had a Will, then the executors of the Will can bring a claim on the deceased’s behalf. If the deceased died intestate, the person entitled to administer the estate, may bring a claim on the deceased’s behalf. Burnetts’ expert probate team will be able to guide you through this process.

How Can Burnetts Help?

It is important to contact a solicitor as soon as possible following an accident at work. By law, you have three years to make a claim for personal injury compensation following an accident. The three years starts from the day of the accident or from the date of death.

The Burnetts Serious Injury Team has many years’ experience of dealing with both serious injury and fatal cases. The team is accredited by the Spinal Injuries Association, the leading brain injury charity in the UK, Headway, the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers and is recognised by the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners guides.

The team offer no win, no fee agreements as well as home and hospital visits across England and Wales including in Cumbria, Northumberland and North East England.

We understand that experiencing bereavement in isolation will be particularly difficult. We are able to signpost our clients to bereavement experts to help you through a very upsetting time.

To discuss a fatal accident or an accident at work and to find out whether you are eligible to make a claim, please contact Megan Hughes on 01228 552222 or email meh@burnetts.co.uk.