Machinery accident claims

There are always risks involved when you're working with machinery, but you should be protected from them. When you've been hurt in a machinery accident that wasn't your fault, you could claim for that.

When you give the Underdog team a bell on 0800 047 3017, you'll get free, impartial advice. Quickly find out if you can make a no win no fee machinery injury claim. There's no pressure for you to go ahead, just simple, straight-forward advice.

Simply put, a machinery accident refers to workplace accidents where a piece of machinery equipment is involved.

Injuries can be caused by heavy machinery accidents – for example, colliding with a forklift truck. It doesn’t always have to be that dramatic though, people are often hurt through lack of training, equipment malfunctions, or improper protective equipment.

Most machinery accidents happen in places like factories, garages and warehouses, or on building sites. But they can even happen in your average office block. Whatever your story, the Underdog team wants to hear it.

It's up to your employer to protect your safety at work. But I've got enough dog years under my collar to know that mistakes and negligence do happen.

Here are some of the causes of machinery accidents I see most often:

• Broken or poorly maintained equipment: you could make a defective machinery injury claim if what you're using is not fit for purpose or has not been through the proper safety checks. This can be made under the Employer's Liability Defective Equipment Act 1969.
• The wrong tools: using machinery for something it was not meant for could cause an injury and give you grounds for a claim.
• Lack of safety measures: alarms, lighting and warning signs should all be used to alert you to potential dangers at work. It's your employer's duty to make sure these are in place where they need to be.
• Lack of PPE: personal protective equipment (PPE) is a legal requirement in certain workplaces. If your injury could have been avoided by wearing the right clothing or equipment, you could claim.
• Workplace conditions: industrial settings, like factories and building sites, have higher risks for workplace injuries. They're often overcrowded, noisy, and distracting – putting you and others at higher risk of getting injured in a machinery accident.

• Slips, trips and falls: for example, falling from a ladder, crane or cherry picker.

• Impact: being struck by a moving piece of equipment, such as a forklift truck or digger bucket.

• Crushing: this could include getting caught between machinery and the wall or floor. Sometimes body parts even get trapped in equipment.

• Electrocution: perhaps due to poorly maintained equipment, lack of PPE, not having the right tools for the job, or improper training.

A light or heavy machinery accident can cause all kinds of injuries. Some of these may seem minor compared to others, but my team will treat you exactly the same no matter how seriously you've been hurt. Injuries from these types of accidents can include:

• Breaks or fractures
• Arm and hand injuries
• Head and brain injuries
• Loss of limbs
• Cuts and abrasions
• Burns
• Sprains
• Eye injuries
• Loss of hearing

In extreme cases, a machinery accident can lead to loss of life. This is called a fatal accident claim, and if your loved one’s death was caused by their accident, we’re here to support you. You can get justice for them, prevent the accident from happening again, and get financial compensation for the loss of their life.

Don't see your specific injury here? Don't worry, that doesn't mean you're barking up the wrong tree. Give us a call and we can chat about your machinery accident compensation claim.

If you've been hurt and someone else was at fault, you could make a machinery accident compensation claim. Unsure about whether you qualify? call us on 0800 047 3017 and you'll be in the capable paws of one of my team.

If you have grounds for a claim, you’ll be connected with our panel of expert machinery accident solicitors who will take the lead.

Sometimes it will be clear who was at fault. For a start, your employer has a duty of care to you under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. If they fail in this, perhaps by not maintaining the machinery properly, or not providing the right tools or PPE, then you could claim for that.

And I've seen a few head-scratchers in my time, where it's not obvious who was to blame. But that's what I'm here for – getting to the bottom of things so you don't have to. So, if you're unsure, don't let that stand in your way. Give me a call on 0800 047 3017.

Absolutely not – you’re protected by the Employment Rights Act 1996 and the Equality Act 2010. You cannot be sacked or treated differently simply for making a claim.

If your employer does treat you differently after you claim, well, they’ll be in even bigger trouble.

Your employer is required to protect you while you’re at work, by law.  When they fail to do that, you’re well within your rights to claim.

Don’t let fear hold you back from claiming the compensation you deserve.

Being involved in an accident can affect more than your physical health; it can impact your finances too.

For example, you might have to take time off work while you recover; pay to travel so you can receive treatment; or make adaptations to your home. Claiming for machinery accident compensation can help you cover these essential expenses.

Plus, there’s the bigger picture – by making a claim you may be able to prevent someone else going through the same ordeal. For example, a defective machinery injury claim could help to highlight a piece of equipment that needs updating or maintaining before anyone else gets hurt the way you have.

"Making a claim after a machinery accident isn’t just about compensation – it’s about accountability. Filing a claim ensures that employers and manufacturers take safety seriously, preventing future accidents. For you, it’s not only about recouping losses but also about receiving the support you need for recovery. Without action, dangerous practices go unchecked, leaving others at risk."

John Kushnick, Legal Director for Underdog.

Every case is different, so it's to say exactly how much you'll get if your claim is successful. But compensation is usually worked out to cover the direct impact on your day-to-day life, including loss of income and other costs you've incurred due to the accident. 

If you speak to the team, and they believe you’ve got grounds to claim, you’ll be connected with an expert legal team who can give you an estimate.

Here's how the claims process typically plays out. And like any faithful companion, I'll be trotting along beside you every step of the way, ready to fetch any information you need.

1. Get in touch - Give my team a call on 0800 047 3017 and you'll get free, impartial advice about your claim, with no pressure to go any further.
2. Team up with our panel of solicitors - If you have grounds for claiming compensation, you'll be put through to one of our expert machinery accident solicitors. They will confirm whether they can take your case on, and take you through what to expect, including the costs you’ll pay if you win you’re claim (remember, with no win no fee, you’ll pay nothing unless you win).
3. Your legal team investigates your claim - You will be asked to explain what happened and how your injuries have impacted your life. They’ll also ask for any evidence that might support your machinery accident compensation claim, and they’ll help fetch it too. This could be photos, witness statements or hospital records.
4. Your claim is submitted - Your legal team will summarise everything in a claim notification form (CNF). This is sent to the other side's insurer and lets them know that you intend to seek compensation. In most cases, they have 21 days to acknowledge the CNF and a further three months to look into what happened.
5. Liability is admitted or denied - If the other side accepts they were at fault for your machinery accident, your legal team will begin negotiations about your compensation amount. If they deny responsibility, your team will start to gather everything they need to fight your case.
6. Negotiations are successful or you go to court - Even if liability has been denied, your team will continue to talk to the other side with the hope of reaching a settlement. Where an agreement still cannot be found, a judge will decide your claim in court. But this happens very rarely.
7. Your claim is settled - If your machinery injury claim is successful, you'll receive your compensation from the other side's insurer. A deadline for payment is set whether the claim is settled in or out of court. This usually takes about a month and your legal team will take their pre-agreed payment from that amount. If you lose your no win no fee claim, there will be nothing for you to pay.