This article explains who can claim compensation for a lifeguard injury at work. We discuss the eligibility requirements you must meet to begin a personal injury claim, including time limits you may have to consider. Furthermore, we examine some examples of how a lifeguard accident could occur because of negligence and some common injuries that may result.
We will also provide information about how hiring a solicitor could benefit your potential case. For instance, a personal injury solicitor from our panel may be able to offer you a No Win No Fee agreement, meaning that you could start a claim without having to pay upfront fees.
Read on to learn more about claiming for a workplace accident at a swimming pool, beach, or similar swimming area. Additionally, you can contact our advisers if you’d like to ask specific questions about your ability to claim. Our team is available 24/7 and this consultation is free, so reach us today by:
- Calling 0161 696 9685
- Completing our contact us form
- Speaking to an adviser using the chatbox below
Browse Our Guide
- Who Could Claim For A Lifeguard Injury At Work?
- What Workplace Accidents Could Cause Lifeguard Injuries?
- What Is A Lifeguard Injury At Work?
- Settlements For A Lifeguard Injury At Work
- Why Choose Us For No Win No Fee Lifeguard Injury At Work Claims?
- Learn More About Making Your Workplace Accident Claim
Who Could Claim For A Lifeguard Injury At Work?
A vital piece of health and safety legislation called The Health and Safety at Work Act etc. 1974 determines that employers owe a duty of care to their employees. It outlines that employers must take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of those they employ.
If you work as a lifeguard and you were injured, you may be able to make a personal injury claim if you can show that you were owed a duty of care by your employer that was breached in a way that led to you being harmed. This is known as negligence.
Speak to our advisers, as they can help you understand if you could be eligible to claim for a lifeguard injury at work.
Are There Time Limits For Claiming?
According to the Limitation Act 1980, you must begin a personal injury claim within 3 years of the date you were injured or the date of knowledge, which when you became aware negligence played a role in the incident.
Certain exceptions exist to these time limits. If you’d like to know more, contact our team to discuss personal injury claim time limits.
What Workplace Accidents Could Cause Lifeguard Injuries?
Lifeguarding could involve hazards including:
- Wet surfaces that could cause a slip, trip or fall
- Deep water
- Strong currents, if lifeguarding open water
- Environmental elements, such as extreme heat
- Chemical hazards
- Harassment from co-workers or the public
You may be able to claim compensation if your employer fails to take reasonable steps to ensure your safety at work. For instance, your employer may have breached their duty of care if you aren’t given the correct training to put away pool floats and tells you to perform this task, during which you are injured.
You would not be able to claim if you were harmed in a way that was not caused by negligence. For example, if you were running along the poolside and slipped on the wet floor despite being told not to run, then this would not be an example of employer negligence.
What Is A Lifeguard Injury At Work?
The injuries that you could sustain in a lifeguard accident could range from relatively minor to serious and life-changing. For example:
- Bone fractures such as a fractured forearm or broken tailbone
- A concussion injury or another kind of head injury
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or another kind of mental injury
- Chemical burn from exposure to chlorine
If you successfully sue your employer for an injury on the job, any potential compensation will be calculated based on the severity of harm you experience. We will discuss this further in the next section.
If you would like to speak with someone directly about how much your claim could be worth, please speak with a member of our team today. You could be put in contact with one of the lawyers on our panel.
Settlements For A Lifeguard Injury At Work
A personal injury claim aims to compensate you for the harm you experienced, reflected in up to two heads of claim. These are called general damages and special damages.
General damages are intended to reflect the pain and suffering you experienced. Therefore, serious injury compensation, such as for paralysis, will attract a higher general damages award than a broken bone that heals quickly and without complications. Solicitors will usually assess this head of claim using the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), which is a document that contains compensation brackets for different types of injury.
The table below contains some of the JCG’s figures, but these should be used only as a guideline. Your circumstances could vary, attracting a different level of compensation.
| Type of Injury | Award Guidelines | Injury Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tetraplegia, or Quadriplegia | £324,600 to £403,990 | This award considers level of pain, life expectancy, presence of brain damage, and other factors. |
| Paraplegia | £219,070 to £284,260 | Award considers the presence or risk of increasing paralysis amongst other factors. |
| Moderately Severe Brain Damage | £219,070 to £282,010 | Serious disability with dependence upon others and need for constant, professional care. |
| Severe Neck Injuries (ii) | £65,740 to £130,930 | Injuries causing disabilities that are considerably severe, such as loss of function in one or more limbs. |
| Severe Pelvis/Hip Injuries (ii) | £61,910 to £78,400 | Severe injuries such as fractures involving both ischial and pubic rami, resulting in impotence. |
| Severe Back Injuries (iii) | £38,780 to £69,730 | Fractures, lesions, or soft tissue injuries that cause chronic conditions. |
| Less Severe Arm Injuries | £19,200 to £39,170 | Significant injury and disability that results in a substantial degree of recovery. |
| Simple Arm Injuries | £6,610 to £19,200 | Fractures of the forearm that are not complex. |
| Serious Shoulder Injuries | £12,770 to £19,200 | Shoulder dislocation and nerve damage. |
| Fracture of Clavicle | £5,150 to £12,240 | Award considers level of disability, extent of fracture and any permanent or temporary symptoms. |
What Special Damages Could I Claim?
A personal injury claim could also compensate you for the financial damage you experienced due to your injury. This head of claim is called special damages and could help you recoup:
- Loss of earnings, past and future
- Medical expenses, such as prescriptions
- Travel expenses, such as if you can no longer drive and have to pay for alternative transport as a result
Talk to our advisers for more information about whether you could seek compensation for a lifeguard injury at work. They can offer you a more personalised estimate based on the circumstances you describe.
Why Choose Us For No Win No Fee Lifeguard Injury At Work Claims?
You don’t need to work with a lawyer to file a claim. However, it could benefit your case if you draw upon the knowledge and experience offered by personal injury solicitors. For instance, they could help you gather evidence to support your claim, such as:
- CCTV footage showing the incident
- Medical records regarding your injuries
- Receipts and bank statements to demonstrate your financial losses
Furthermore, a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel may be able to offer you a specific type of No Win No Fee agreement called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). Under the terms of this arrangement, you typically don’t have to pay for the solicitor’s services if your claim fails.
Instead, the lawyer would take a success fee at the end of the entire process from your compensation if your claim succeeds. This fee is subject to a legal cap.
Get In Contact With Our Expert Team
If you’ve been injured at work due to your employer’s negligence, our advisers could help you understand if you’re eligible to claim compensation for your suffering.
Contact us for a free consultation about claiming for a lifeguard injury at work. Our team is available 24/7 and there is no obligation to move forward. Learn more today by:
- Calling 0161 696 9685
- Completing our contact us form
- Speaking to an adviser using the chatbox below
Learn More About Making Your Workplace Accident Claim
More guides from our site:
Accident at Work Employee Rights
How To Claim For A Accident At Work If A Part-Time Employee?
I Had An Accident At Work, Could I Claim After Leaving The Company?
Related resources on this topic:
Head Injury And Concussion – NHS information about seeking medical attention for a head injury or concussion
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) – Government webpage regarding statutory sick pay
Employers’ Responsibilities – Health and Safety Executive (HSE) resource about managing health and safety risks
We hope this article has provided using information about claiming compensation for a lifeguard injury at work. If you still have questions, contact our team using one of the methods described above.
Written by MF
Edited by FS