This is an informative guide on how compensation amounts for manual handling claims in the UK can be calculated. All employers owe their employees a duty of care, which we will explain in this article. If your employer should breach this duty of care, it could cause you to sustain workplace injuries. This would be negligence, for which you may be eligible to make a personal injury claim.
Examples Of Compensation Amounts For Manual Handling Claims In The UK
As we move through this guide, we will explain the way in which legal professionals can calculate a personal injury settlement for manual handling workplace injuries. Also, we will provide a guideline compensation table and include a list of the different types of injuries you could sustain in an accident of this type.
What’s more, we will outline the criteria of eligibility that your case must meet for you to have valid grounds to potentially go on to make a personal injury claim for an accident at work.
Lastly, we will define the term No Win No Fee agreement and explain how entering into one of these types of arrangements can mean you will not pay for the services your solicitor provides upfront or whilst your claim is ongoing.
If you would like to make an enquiry into potentially making a personal injury claim for manual handling injuries sustained at work, you can contact a member of our team at any time. Our advisors can provide guidance and insight into your eligibility to claim compensation and the potential settlement value of your case.
To get in touch, you can:
- Call our helpline on 0333 000 0729
- Follow the steps on our online enquiry page
- Chat to an advisor via the live chat window on this page
Select A Section
- Examples Of Compensation Amounts For Manual Handling Claims In The UK
- When Could You Claim For Manual Handling Injuries At Work?
- What Workplace Injuries Could You Claim For?
- Was My Employer Liable For My Manual Handling Injuries?
- Check If You Could Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis
- Find Out More About Compensation Amounts For Manual Handling Claims In The UK
Examples Of Compensation Amounts For Manual Handling Claims In The UK
In this section, we will explain how compensation amounts for manual handling claims can be calculated for a successful personal injury case. You could be eligible to receive an award consisting of up to two types of damages: general and special damages.
Firstly, general damages can compensate you for any mental health damage and/or any physical pain and suffering you have sustained as a result of your injuries.
As a guide to the general damages part of an accident at work settlement, we have created the following table. This uses the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), which accident at work solicitors and other legal professionals can use to aid them when valuing this aspect of a personal injury claim. The JCG only applies to claims made in England and Wales, however.
Table of Guideline Compensation Brackets
| Injury Type | Severity | Notes | Compensation Bracket Guidelines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back Injury | (a)(ii) Severe | Instances within the bracket will have special features, such as damage to the nerve roots with sensation loss, sexual difficulties and impaired mobility. | £74,160 to £88,430 |
| Back Injury | (a)(iii) Severe | Cases involving soft tissue injuries that lead to chronic conditions, where the person has undergone treatment but disabilities remain. | £38,780 to £69,730 |
| Back Injury | (b)(i) Moderate | A variety of injuries are covered in this bracket. For example, a prolapsed intervertebral disc that needs surgery. | £27,760 to £38,780 |
| Back Injury | (b)(ii) Moderate | Frequently encountered back injuries, such as ligament and muscle disturbance resulting in backache. | £12,510 to £27,760 |
| Back Injury | (c)(i) Minor | In about 2 - 5 years, the person makes a full recovery or they will recover to a nuisance level without surgery. | £7,890 to £12,510 |
| Back Injury | (c)(ii) Minor | In about 1 - 2 years, the person makes a full recovery without surgery. | £4,350 to £7,890 |
| Foot Injury | (f) Moderate | Cases of displaced metatarsal fractures causing continuing symptoms and deformity that is permanent. | £13,740 to £24,990 |
| Shoulder Injury | (b) Serious | An Injury, such as lower brachial plexus damage and a dislocated shoulder, that causes aching, sensory symptoms, pain and further problems. | £12,770 to £19,200 |
| Shoulder Injury | (c) Moderate | Symptoms of frozen shoulder, including limited movement and discomfort, persisting for around 2 years. | £7,890 to £12,770 |
| Wrist Injury | (d) Recovery is Complete or Largely Complete | Fractures or soft tissue injuries where recovery takes over 12 months and only minor symptoms may remain. | £6,080 to £10,350 |
Please consider this table as a guide.
How We Calculate Compensation For Special Damages
A personal injury settlement can also include special damages, which can compensate for the financial losses you suffered due to your injuries.
This could include:
- A payment for loss of earnings
- Reimbursement for any care costs
- Compensation for travel expenses
To support your potential claim for special damages you must provide evidence of your financial losses, this may involve keeping travel tickets, invoices, receipt and payslips.
If you would like a personalised estimate of the accident at work compensation that you could receive, speak to a member of our team today. They are available 24/7 to provide you with a free consultation.
When Could You Claim For Manual Handling Injuries At Work?
To make a personal injury claim for manual handling injuries at work, your case must meet the following criteria:
- Firstly, you are owed a duty of care by your employer at the location and time of your accident.
- Secondly, your employer breached this duty of care owed to you.
- Lastly, this breach caused you to sustain mental harm and/or physical injuries.
Employer duty of care is outlined in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA). This states that all employers must take reasonable practicable steps to ensure the safety of their employees. These steps can include providing proper manual handling training and carrying out risk assessments.
If your employer fails to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure your safety, and as a result you sustain a manual handling injury at work, you may be eligible to make a personal injury claim.
Manual Handling Accident Claims Limitation Periods
For manual handling claims and other personal injury cases, the Limitation Act 1980 outlines the applicable time limits. This states that you have a limitation period of three years from the date that the accident occurred to begin legal proceedings. However, there can be exceptions to this in certain circumstances.
To learn more about these potential exceptions in connection with your claim or to enquire about your eligibility to bring forward a personal injury case, please contact a member of our team.
What Workplace Injuries Could You Claim For?
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the workplace health and safety regulator for Britain, provides guidance on manual handling risks at work, which they state cause more than a third of all workplace injuries. Some examples of how lifting and carrying in the workplace can put you at risk of injury include awkward posture, incorrect lifting techniques and having pre-existing injuries.
Some injuries you could sustain include:
- Sprains and strains
- Soft tissue injuries
- Fractures
- Hernias
- Exacerbation or acceleration of pre-existing conditions
- A shoulder, wrist, foot or back injury
If you would like to learn more about potential compensation amounts for manual handling claims in the UK in connection with the injury you have sustained, speak to one of our advisors.
Was My Employer Liable For My Manual Handling Injuries?
Alongside HASAWA, employer duty of care in relation to manual handling is also outlined by The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992. Under this legislation, so far as is reasonably practicable, employers must avoid the need for their employees to perform manual handling tasks that involve the risk of them being injured, or where this cannot be avoided, they should assess the risk, and reduce it to the lowest level reasonably possible.
A failure to do so could mean your employer was liable for manual handling injuries. You could gather evidence to prove liability in a personal injury claim, such as:
- CCTV footage of the accident
- Pictures of your injuries
- Medical records
- Witness contact information
If you would like further insight into the steps you could take to prove your employer breaching their duty of care caused your manual handling injuries, contact one of our advisors today.
Check If You Could Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis
You may wonder, ‘What benefits are involved in entering into a No Win No Fee agreement?’. A popular form of this type of agreement is a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This can generally provide the following benefits for you and your claim:
- No upfront or ongoing payments for the services provided by your personal injury solicitor.
- No payments to be made at any time for the solicitor’s work if your case is unsuccessful.
- Your solicitor can receive a small percentage of the compensation if your claim succeeds. The legislation outlining this form of agreement caps this success fee. Therefore, a No Win No Fee solicitor cannot charge a success fee that exceeds this cap.
Please contact one of our advisors for a free assessment of your personal injury claim’s eligibility. If they find you may have legitimate grounds to pursue a manual handling claim, they could connect you with a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel.
Connect With Specialist Manual Handling Solicitors
Our team at Legal Helpline are available 24/7 to provide free and confidential advice related to your compensation claim. Also, they may be able to provide you with further insight into how compensation amounts for manual handling claims may be calculated.
To get in touch, you can:
- Call our helpline on 0333 000 0729
- Contact us online
- Speak to an advisor via the live chat window on this page
Find Out More About Compensation Amounts For Manual Handling Claims In The UK
Please learn more about manual handling claims via the resources on our website:
- Lack Of Manual Handling Training At Work Caused An Accident – Can I Claim?
- What Are Your Employers’ Responsibilities After An Accident At Work?
- Could I Be Sacked If I Claim For An Accident At Work?
Also, explore the following external links for further support and guidance:
- GOV.UK – Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
- NHS – Back Pain
- HSE – Managing Risks And Risk Assessment At Work
Thank you for reading this guide on how compensation amounts for manual handling claims in the UK can be calculated. If you have been left with any questions, please contact us via the details provided in this guide.
Written by JO
Edited by MMI
