You could get compensation after falling off a ladder at work if you can show that another party was at fault. Falling from a height could leave you with serious and even life-changing injuries. You could be left unable to return to work, or face a lengthy recovery period. In our guide to fall from ladder claims, we look at how and when you could be owed compensation.
We begin by looking at the factors which may influence how much compensation you could get. We then move on to looking at who could make a claim, looking at your legal rights after an accident at work. Subsequently, you can find information on the types of injuries which may be caused by falling from a ladder and steps you can take after this type of accident. We have also included information on the types of evidence which could support your claim, how long you have to start it, and how a specialist solicitor could help you.
Please contact us for an assessment of your case and to find out what you may be able to claim.
- Dial 0800 073 8801 to speak with one of our advisors.
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- Start a claim by completing our form below.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How Much Fall From Ladder Compensation Could I Get?
- Who Can Make Workplace Fall From Ladder Claims?
- The Common Injuries From Falling Off A Ladder
- What Should I Do After A Fall From A Ladder At Work?
- What Evidence Will I Need To Make A Claim?
- Is There A Time Limit To Fall From Ladder Claims?
- How Accident Claims Can Help
- Learn More
How Much Fall From Ladder Compensation Could I Get?
Falling from a ladder could result in severe forms of brain injury. These may be awarded between £344,150 and £490,000. These figures are taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). These guidelines may be used by solicitors (and other parties) involved in calculating compensation in fall from ladder claims.
In many instances, claimants may be awarded two heads of claim as part of their final settlement. These are:
- General damages. This part of your settlement compensates for the suffering and pain caused by the injury. Figures in the JCG may be used when calculating this part of a settlement. .
- Special damages. This may form the bulk of your settlement. It could compensate for the wider impact the incident has had on you, such as impacts to your income. We will explore this in more detail in the following section.
Below, we present figures from the JCG relevant to this type of claim. These figures are purely illustrative and do not indicate what you may be awarded. Note, the top figure does not come from the JCG.
| Injury | Severity | Notes | Compensation. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Severe and multiple injuries + special damages. | Severe or serious levels of injury. | Award for multiple injuries, inclusive of special damages. | Up to £1,000,000+ when also awarded special damages. |
| Brain injury. | Very severe - A. | At the higher end of the bracket, a claimant may have some ability to follow a basic command. | £344,150 to £493,000. |
| Back injury. | Severe - A (i). | Severe nerve root and spinal cord damage. | £111,150 to £196,450. |
| Neck injury. | Severe - A (ii). | Serious cervical spine fractures or disc damage among other injuries. | £80,240 to £159,770. |
| Pelvic/ hip injury. | Severe - A (i) | Extensive pelvic fractures. | £95,680 to £159,770. |
| Arm injuries. | Severe injuries - A | Arm injuries which are short of amputations, but leave the person not much better off. | £117,360 to £159,770. |
| Shoulder injury. | Severe - A. | Shoulder injuries which could be associated with a neck injury. | £23,340 to £58,610. |
| Elbow injury | Less severe - B. | Elbow injuries impairing the elbow’s function. | £19,100 to £39,070 |
| Knee injury | Moderate - B (i) | Cartilage tears, dislocations and others causing minor instability. | £18,110 to £31,960. |
| Wrist injury | Uncomplicated colles fracture - E. | An uncomplicated fracture. | Around £9,070. |
Next, we look at the factors which could impact the amount of compensation you may be eligible to claim.
What Factors Affect The Amount Of Compensation?
Factors affecting how much compensation you could be awarded for injuries sustained in a ladder accident may include:
- The injury you suffered, such as a head injury.
- The severity of the injury. How severe is the injury, moderate, less severe or severe?
- How this injury has impacted you. Such as preventing you from being able to work or look after your children.
Additionally, a ladder accident claim could compensate you for financial losses (as highlighted above). Examples of special damages in ladder accident claims may include:
- Loss of earnings – this must be for losses associated with your injury. For example, you may have either taken time off work, or had to take on reduced duties, impacting your income. Recovering these losses can ensure you are still able to provide for loved ones, allowing you to concentrate on your recovery.
- Medical expenses – you may have had to meet out-of-pocket costs for medical treatment, medication or further care. You may be able to recover such costs.
- Domestic help – this could include help in the home during your recovery, support with domestic care and even childcare if unable to look after your children during your recovery.
- Travel costs – such as the cost of attending medical appointments, including public transport, etc.
These represent some costs and losses commonly included in personal injury claims. Please contact our team for an in depth assessment of what you could be eligible to claim for a ladder accident.
Who Can Make Workplace Fall From Ladder Claims?
To make any ladder accident claim against an employer you must show that:
- Your employer had a duty of care to you.
- Your employer breached this duty of care.
- The injuries you sustained were caused by this breach.
All employers must adhere to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. This sets rules and regulations for all workplaces and employers across the country. In addition, where employees are expected to work at heights, such as when using a ladder at work, employers should also adhere to the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
Employers should take reasonable steps to reduce risks. This may include:
- Carrying out risk assessments,
- Providing appropriate safety training for using ladders and working at heights, such as when working on a roof,
- Providing personal protective equipment, such as safety harnesses, hard hats, and high visibility clothing.
Additionally, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends that where a task may require the use of a ladder for more than 30 minutes, alternative equipment is used.
If an accident happened because an employer failed to carry out these (or other reasonable steps), they may be held liable for any resulting injuries.
Our team could assess your case and determine whether you have a valid ladder fall accident claim against your employer.
The Common Injuries From Falling Off A Ladder
Common injuries from falling off a ladder at work could include sprains and strains and broken bones. Serious injuries could include head, brain, back and spinal cord injuries.
Examples of injuries may include:
- Soft tissue injuries. Falls could cause strains, sprains, torn cartilage or ligament damage in the joints. An employer may have failed to supervise the use of ladders, allowing an employee to use a ladder in hazardous conditions, breaching Regulation 4 of the of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
- Fractured and broken bones. This may include fractures in the arms, legs, wrists, hands and feet, as well as serious injuries to the back. An employee could fall from a damaged ladder which had cracked rungs, breaking their ankle on impact.
- Spinal injuries. Falling from a ladder at work could cause damage to the spinal cord. In instances of a serious injury, the employee could be left paralysed. An employer may be in breach where they did not provide proper instruction and training in the safe use of ladders at work.
- Brain injuries. Traumatic brain injuries and concussions could be caused by the head striking the ground. An employer may be in breach if they fail to provide helmets where necessary to prevent a head injury.
Many of these injuries could have long-term effects. Our specialist solicitors are experienced in handling fall from ladder claims. Contact us to get help with your case.
What Should I Do After A Fall From A Ladder At Work?
Following a fall from a ladder at work which caused you injury, there are several steps which you can take. These include reporting the incident, seeking medical attention and pursuing a claim.
- Your first step should always be to seek any medical care and attention you require. You (or a colleague if unable to yourself) should ensure that you get any first aid required. You should also call for an ambulance if needed and visit your GP, walk in centre, or A&E as necessary.
- You should also report the ladder fall accident to your employer as soon as possible by notifying them and completing an accident report form. The incident should be logged in the accident report book and reported to any relevant authorities as necessary.
Following these steps ensures that your injuries are treated and that you have a firm basis on which to make a ladder accident claim. Once you have completed these steps, you may wish to make a personal injury claim with a solicitor. In the following sections we examine crucial parts of the claims process including looking at what evidence could help you to make a claim and how long you have to file a claim.
What Evidence Will I Need To Make A Claim?
Personal injury claims require evidence showing that the party the claim is being against is liable for the injuries suffered. Your evidence must clearly show that your claim meets the eligibility criteria set out earlier in this guide. The stronger the body of evidence you can submit, the greater your chances may be of making a successful claim.
Evidence which you may need includes:
- Medical records which clearly show what injury you suffered and the negative impact this has had on your health. This may also help to illustrate the wider impact the injury has had on you.
- Financial records showing what expenses you have had to meet and any financial losses related to your accident and injuries.
- Contact details for anyone who witnessed the incident. They may later be contacted by your personal injury solicitor and requested to provide a statement.
- Photos or videos which show the incident taking place or of the injury caused to you (if visible). You may also take photographs of the accident scene.
- Details of any training provided. This may be helpful if your accident was caused by a lack of sufficient training in working at heights.
This is a non-exhaustive list of the different types of evidence which may help you to make a successful ladder accident claim. Please contact our team for a comprehensive assessment of your case.
Is There A Time Limit To Fall From Ladder Claims?
There are time limits for ladder fall claims. Whether making a personal injury claim on your own behalf or for a loved one, you need to be aware of these time limits and ensure that you file your claim within the applicable limit.
How long you have to file your claim is set by the Limitation Act 1980. Under this legislation, you have 3 years to file a claim on your own behalf.
There are notable exceptions to this time limit.
- Where the person harmed does not have the mental capacity to make a claim on their own behalf. In these instances, a claim may be filed on their behalf at any point following the incident. A time limit will only apply if they recover their mental capacity. At this point, the 3-year time limit would apply.
- Where the person harmed is a child (under 18 years of age). In these instances, the time limit begins on their 18th birthday. Prior to this, a claim may be filed on their behalf.
You must be appointed as a litigation friend to file a compensation claim on behalf of a child or a person with a reduced mental capacity. A litigation friend is a party appointed by the court to act in the best interests of the person harmed. They will direct the solicitor and ensure that the person harmed is informed of the progress of their claim.
One of our personal injury solicitors could help you claim for your own injuries or on behalf of another party. Contact us to find out more about how we could help you.
How Accident Claims Can Help
Whether you fell through a roof or from a ladder whilst stacking shelves, Accident Claims UK could help you to claim the compensation you deserve.
Our personal injury solicitors are experts at helping people to successfully claim against employers in a wide variety of different industries and circumstances. We have helped people claim compensation for injuries ranging from minor to severe and life-changing.
With decades of combined experience, our solicitors have to date helped clients claim over £80 million in compensation. With a dedication to providing our clients with a high standard of customer service, we can help with your accident at work claim.
Our No Win No Fee Accident At Work Solicitors
Our solicitors can offer a type of No Win No Fee agreement called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). By working on this basis, the solicitor could provide their services without you needing to make any payments in advance for them. Instead, you only pay for your solicitor’s work when awarded compensation.
If you win your claim, your solicitor will deduct a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation as a success fee. This fee is capped by legislation, meaning you will always get the bulk of your settlement.
If you don’t win your claim, there is nothing to pay for the solicitors’ work.
Please get in touch with an advisor today for more information about how we could help you or to begin your claim.
- Call us now on 0800 073 8801 to talk to an advisor.
- Use the live chat below to speak to us now.
- Fill out our form to start a claim.
Learn More
Here you can learn more about how to claim compensation for an accident or injury.
- Learn more about claiming for slips, trips and falls at work in this guide.
- Find out when and how to claim if hit by a falling object at work on this guide.
- Learn more about building site accident claims here.
Reference guides.
- Find out what to do if someone is injured in this first aid resource from the NHS.
- Learn more about how to safely work at height in this HSE resource.
- Learn more about health and safety at work in this government resource.
In this guide we have explored when and how fall from ladder claims could be made. Please get in touch with our team to learn more about your ladder accident claim.
