Bin men, also known as refuse collectors, can make injury claims for accidents at work if the incident was caused by employer negligence or unsafe working conditions. These claims allow injured workers to seek compensation for pain, lost earnings, and other financial losses.
To begin a bin man injury claim, it’s best to seek legal advice from a no win no fee solicitor, such as ourselves, who can guide you through every stage, from gathering evidence and arranging medical assessments to valuing your claim and negotiating compensation with your employer’s insurer.
If you’ve been injured while collecting waste, our specialist solicitors can support you throughout the bin man injury claims process, ensuring you receive the compensation and justice you deserve.
Key Takeaways
- An average of 4,000 non-fatal injuries were reported annually in the waste sector over the period 2017/18 to 2023/24.
- Common causes of bin man accidents include slips, trips, and falls, as well as being hit by a moving vehicle.
- Refuse workers are also at risk of needle injuries, which can lead to infections and other serious health conditions.
- Employers should provide refuse workers with appropriate manual handling training and personal protective equipment (PPE).
- One of our solicitors could help you gather evidence to prove that your employer is liable for your injuries and negotiate a settlement in your favour.
If you have any interest in making an accident at work claim, you can speak with an Accident Claims advisor at your earliest convenience. They understand that you may not have decided whether to proceed at this stage, so don’t worry about being pressured into claiming. You can ask them general questions about the personal injury process, no strings attached. However, if you would like to make a claim, they could give you the option to work with one of our knowledgeable solicitors:
- Call us on 0800 073 8801
- Submit an online enquiry form
- Chat to an advisor live using the pop-up in the corner
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Jump To A Section
- What Are Bin Man Injury Claims?
- How Might Negligence Cause A Refuse Worker To Be Injured?
- Can I Make A Bin Man Accident Claim?
- How Much Bin Man Injury Compensation Can Be Awarded?
- How To Make A Bin Man Accident Claim
- How Can Accident Claims Help After A Refuse Worker Injury?
- Learn More
What Are Bin Man Injury Claims?
Bin man injury claims are the legal process in which refuse workers can seek compensation for the harm that they have suffered as a result of an employer’s negligent actions. This harm can result from accidents involving manual handling or being struck by moving objects and bin lorries. There is also the risk of being hurt by broken glass or sustaining a needlestick injury, which can lead to life-threatening health conditions.
If you have any questions about the bin man injury claims process, chat with an advisor today.
How Might Negligence Cause A Refuse Worker To Be Injured?
A negligent employer may cause a refuse worker to be injured by supplying defective equipment, not providing suitable PPE, or failing to give appropriate manual handling training. For example, your employer may neglect to provide the necessary gloves to protect your hands from needles and sharp objects. The following shows 3 scenarios that may be grounds for a valid personal injury claim:
- Management receives several reports about a malfunctioning bin lorry but decides against pulling the vehicle out of service for repairs. Due to this poor maintenance, the lorry malfunctions during collection, veering out of control and hitting you. This incident leaves you with a broken leg and a severe back injury.
- Despite being newly hired, you are not given any training on how to perform manual handling correctly. You subsequently sustain a serious neck injury because you move bins improperly.
- Your colleagues are chatting with their supervisor on the phone, but fail to check whether you have moved out of the way before they start driving. This results in you suffering catastrophic injuries, leading to your leg being amputated.
This section only covered a selection of example scenarios that could give rise to bin man injury claims. Get in touch with our advisory team to further discuss the responsibilities of your employer and when they are liable for a workplace accident.
Can I Make A Bin Man Accident Claim?
You can make a bin man accident claim if your employer has failed to abide by health and safety laws, causing you to be injured during the course of your work. This obligation is primarily outlined by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA), which establishes your employer’s duty of care towards you. Essentially, this means that they must take reasonable steps to ensure your health, safety, and well-being in the workplace.
You can access a free initial case assessment at any time by contacting our friendly enquiries team to see whether you have a valid case anytime during the week.
How Much Bin Man Injury Compensation Can Be Awarded?
The amount of bin man injury compensation that can be awarded will depend on the specific circumstances of the pain, suffering, and financial loss that you’ve endured. In successful claims, compensation for your injuries is always included in a payout under general damages. Your general damages can take into account the future effects of the injuries if you have yet to heal.
When legal professionals are assessing general damages, the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) may be used. This document outlines compensation guideline brackets for various types and severities of injury.
You can review some of the JCG brackets in the table below. When reading this, please keep in mind that these guidelines are intended for informational purposes only. The lead figure was not taken from the JCG.
| Type of Harm | Compensation Bracket | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple very severe injuries with associated costs | Up to £1,000,000+ | Financial impact might cover payments for private medical treatment, professional care, and home adjustments |
| Brain/head; very severe | £344,150 to £493,000 | There could be some recovery of eye opening, ability to open their eyes, and return of waking/sleeping patterns |
| Paralysis; paraplegia | £267,340 to £346,890 | Compensation will consider how extensive any pain is and the degree to which a claimant is independent |
| Amputation; loss of both legs | £293,850 to £344,150 | Factors considered in a payout include associated psychological issues and the level of phantom pain |
| Amputation; loss of 1 arm (i) | Not less than £167,380 | Amputation of arm at the shoulder |
| Neck; severe (ii) | £80,240 to £159,770 | Such injuries may involve serious damage or fractures to discs in the cervical spine, resulting in disabilities of a considerable severity |
| Back; severe (iii) | £47,320 to £85,100 | Fractures or lesions affecting discs/vertebral bodies, or soft tissue injuries giving rise to chronic conditions, with issues such as severe pain |
| Leg; severe (iii) serious | £47,840 to £66,920 | Serious comminuted/compound fractures or injuries affecting the ligaments/joints, resulting in prolonged treatment and instability |
| Knee; moderate (i) | £18,110 to £31,960 | This bracket covers injuries where cartilage or meniscus was torn or dislocation occurred, leading to weakness, wasting, or another mild disability in future |
| Toe; severe | £16,770 to £25,710 | Appropriate for severe crush injuries resulting in 1 or 2 toes (not the great toe) to be amputated |
Can Bin Man Injury Claims Payout Special Damages?
Yes, bin man injury claims can payout special damages if there is evidence that the harm suffered has directly led to financial loss. Examples of what you could be compensated for include:
- Medical expenses for prescriptions and private treatments
- The cost of travelling to and from medical appointments
- Payments made to adjust your home, such as to install a stairlift if your mobility has been impacted
- Support from a professional carer or family to help you complete daily tasks
- Lost income from not being able to do your waste removal job. This impact can extend to future earnings
If you wish to include such costs in your bin man injury claim, you will need to provide bank statements, receipts, or other relevant financial documentation.
You are welcome to speak directly with an advisor if you would like to benefit from a case assessment, free of charge. This allows them to detail the circumstances of your bin man claim and explain the specific factors that may be reflected in any settlement.
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How To Make A Bin Man Accident Claim
To make a bin man accident claim, you must present evidence that clearly establishes that you sustained injuries due to the negligent actions of your employer. You might do this by supplying:
- A copy of your medical files to show your injuries and the treatment required
- Any entry recorded in an accident book report
- Photos of your injuries, such as lacerations or the noticeable effects of a dislocation
- Video footage of the waste removal accident, if CCTV cameras covered the area where you were working
- Contact details of witnesses, including members of the public or your colleagues, who your solicitor could later speak to in order to collect supporting statements
Besides having sufficient supporting evidence, you will also need to make sure that you begin the claims process within the legally established time limit. Generally, this is 3 years from the date of the accident, but our guide to time limits explains how this window can vary for certain claimants.
Our advisors are available now if you’d like more information on bin man accident claims. They’d also be more than happy to explain how one of our solicitors could assist you with the task of gathering evidence for your case.
How Can Accident Claims Help After A Refuse Worker Injury?
Here at Accident Claims, our solicitors can help clients pursue refuse worker injury compensation by providing an expert, tailored service available on No Win No Fee terms. Our solicitors work specifically via a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which ensures there is no need to pay for your solicitor’s work at the following stages:
- Before the beginning of your bin man injury claim
- While the case is underway
- If you are not given compensation
However, should you win, you will need to pay a success fee to your solicitor as a percentage of your compensation. This will be explained before you start claiming, and there is a legally enforced cap in place that would keep the largest share of the compensation with you.
In addition to the advantages that come with CFAs, working with one of our solicitors means you can benefit from their deep understanding of the claims process. They have honed their services based on decades of combined experience and knowledge, giving them the expertise necessary to offer:
- Assistance with the collection of evidence to prove that the defendant is liable for your injuries
- Insightful and accessible guidance to ensure you understand what is happening at each stage of the claim
- Skilful and professional representation when negotiating a payout to reflect the particulars of your case
- Managing correspondence with the other party on your behalf
Contact Our No Win No Fee Solicitors
Speak to an advisor today to find out whether you could start a bin man claim with one of our advisors. There is no pressure to proceed, and all advice given will be free of charge:
- Call us on 0800 073 8801
- Submit an online enquiry form
- Chat to an advisor live using the pop-up in the corner
Learn More
You can learn more about accident at work claim by reading some of our other guides:
- Find out how to claim for a production line injury
- Learn about roofer claims
- Visit our guide on factory accident claims
External resources:
- Find out whether you could claim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) with this government overview.
- Follow NHS advice on administering first aid
- Read the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) summary of health and safety issues in waste collection services
For further guidance on the bin man injury claims process, please get in touch today.
