Due to the nature of working at heights, roofers face severe, life-altering consequences if they are injured in an accident. If the harm you suffered at work resulted from your employer’s negligent acts or inactions, you may be able to start the roofer injury claims process. Beyond the physical trauma, roofer accidents can lead to lasting psychological conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and leave tradespeople unable to return to site work. Consequently, a successful claim can provide a sense of justice and a settlement based on the severity of your injuries, the overall impact on your quality of life, and your financial losses.
At Accident Claims, our team are here to support you during this challenging period. Through our free services, our advisors can answer your questions, provide helpful guidance, and assess your case with a no-obligation initial consultation. Following this, you may be represented by one of our expert No Win No Fee solicitors for your roofer injury claim. With decades of combined experience in accident at work claims, these talented legal experts can provide the dedicated advocacy you deserve.
To find out whether you can start a claim for a roofing accident today, please get in touch with our team at any time:
- Call us on 0800 073 8801
- Contact us via our online form
- Use our live chat
4.8 (948 reviews)Frequently Asked Questions
- Who Can Make Roofer Accident Claims?
- Can I Claim For A Loved One’s Roofer Accident?
- Examples Of Roofing Accidents At Work
- What Roofer Accident Compensation Could Be Awarded?
- How To Prove Fault For A Roofer Accident Or Injury?
- Is There A Time Limit To Making Roofer Injury Claims?
- Why Pursue Compensation For A Roofing Accident With Accident Claims?
- No Win No Fee Roofer Injury Claims
- Further Information On Roofer Accident Claims
Who Can Make Roofer Accident Claims?
Tradespeople, including full-time employees and contractors, can make roofer accident claims provided they can demonstrate that they suffered injuries due to a negligent employer’s actions. This is referred to as employer negligence, which involves meeting a specific set of eligibility requirements, as outlined below:
- You Were Owed a Duty of Care
When you are at work, your employer automatically owes you a duty of care to take reasonably practicable steps to ensure your health, well-being, and safety. This is established under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and the legal obligation remains the same whether you are working as a roofer for a construction firm, building maintenance company, or another employer.
- That Duty Was Breached
You must have proof that the duty owed by your employer was breached. If your employer failed to properly train you for working at heights, required employees to carry out roofing work in unsafe weather conditions, or did not provide suitable harnesses or other safety equipment, then they can be said to have breached this duty.
- You Suffered an Injury
You need to have sustained a physical or psychological injury as a result of the breach. Roofing accidents can cause a wide variety of injuries, ranging from relatively minor strains to broken bones, severe head trauma, and life-changing spinal damage.
What Are The Work At Height Regulations 2005?
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 are the main legislation governing working at height. These regulations require employers to ensure that work is properly planned, supervised, and carried out by competent persons. Additionally, employers should ensure that working at heights is avoided wherever possible.
To discuss your personal experience with one of our friendly advisors, please get in touch with our supportive team today.
Can I Claim For A Loved One’s Roofer Accident?
Yes, you could claim for a loved one’s roofer accident by applying to the court to be a litigation friend. This role is used in cases where the claimant cannot pursue compensation because they lack mental capacity or are under 18, such as apprentice roofers.
By becoming a litigation friend, you would need to perform various duties in the best interests of your loved one, such as:
- Manage a Court Funds Office (CFO) account on behalf of the claimant
- Keep the claimant as informed as possible throughout
- Pay any costs ordered by the court
- Communicate with the solicitor
Fatal Roofer Accident Claims
If your loved one passed away after a fatal roofer accident, you may be able to pursue compensation for the impact of their death if you qualify as a dependant. However, in the first 6 months after the death, only their estate can make a claim.
During this period, the estate also has the power to claim on behalf of eligible relatives. Once that 6-month window passes and no such claim has been made, the qualifying dependants can seek compensation for how they have been affected.
To learn more about claiming after the death of a loved one, please see our dedicated guide on fatal accident compensation. Our friendly team can also provide free, sensitive guidance if you have any questions about the roofer accident claims process.
Examples Of Roofing Accidents At Work
From falls caused by defective equipment to head injuries resulting from a lack of protective gear, there are many examples of roofing accidents at work where employers fail to ensure the safety of those working at height. Please see the following scenarios showing how roofer injury claims might arise:
- An employer fails to conduct a risk assessment to identify potential scaffolding hazards. Due to this, a roofer falls when an unsecured safety railing gives way, resulting in serious head injuries and paralysis.
- Roofers do not receive any training from their employer regarding height safety precautions or the use of harnesses. This results in one of the workers sustaining serious injuries to their legs because their harness was improperly secured.
- Despite several workers alerting their employer about faulty ladders, site management neither repairs nor replaces the equipment. A roofer subsequently suffers multiple injuries to their shoulder and neck when a ladder structurally fails.
- A building company fails to provide roofers with adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), including hard hats. Due to this, one of the roofers suffers brain damage when they are hit by falling debris from a shingle roof.
Please note that the above list is not exhaustive, and roofer injury claims could arise in many different situations. To discuss how you can start your accident at work claim for a roofing accident today, please contact our helpful advisory team.
What Roofer Accident Compensation Could Be Awarded?
The roofer accident compensation you could be awarded will be unique to your circumstances, taking into account the severity of your injuries, the length of any disability, and the overall impact on your life. For example, your payout may consider the complexity of any spinal injuries from a fall, or the effects of reduced mobility.
In successful roofer injury claims, general damages are awarded for the physical and psychological effects of the harm. This head of claim is frequently calculated by a solicitor, using a copy of the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This publication is commonly used by legal professionals because it provides compensation guidelines for various forms of injury.
All entries in the table below, apart from the first figure, have been taken from the JCG. Please keep in mind that the entries are merely guidelines and do not represent a guarantee of how much compensation might be awarded.
| Injury | Notes | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple severe injuries alongside financial losses | Special damages for lost income, private orthopaedic treatment, and home adjustment costs | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Very Severe Brain Damage | The level of the award will depend on any sensory impairment and the ability to communicate | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Moderately Severe Brain Damage | The level of award will be affected by the risk of epilepsy and the degree of dependence on others | £267,340 to £344,150 |
| Moderate (i) Brain Damage | Where claimant has personality change and no prospect of employment | £183,190 to £267,340 |
| Severe (i) Neck Injuries | Neck injuries where paraplegia is at an incomplete level, or there is permanent spastic quadriparesis | In Region of £181,020 |
| Severe (ii) Neck Injuries | Serious fractures or damage to discs which result in disabilities of considerable disability, such as substantial function loss in 1 or more limbs | £80,240 to £159,770 |
| Moderate (i) Back Injuries | Includes cases with compression or crush fractures impacting the lumbar vertebrae with constant pain and discomfort | £33,880 to £47,320 |
| Serious Achilles Tendon Injuries | Where a complete division is successfully repaired but there is limited ankle movements and a limp | £30,500 to £36,720 |
| Moderate Foot Injuries | Where there is permanent deformity and continuing symptoms due to a displaced metatarsal | £16,770 to £30,500 |
Can You Claim Special Damages If Injured At Work As A Roofer?
Yes, you could claim special damages if you were injured at work as a roofer and this resulted in you experiencing financial loss. This head of claim can also factor in future losses, such as the impact of not being able to return to roofing or the construction industry at large.
Common examples of special damages could include the following:
- Loss of earnings, including current or future income and missed bonuses related to working from height.
- Vocational retraining, if you cannot return to your roofing job or other forms of manual labour.
- Any personal belongings damaged in the accident, such as roofing tools or other equipment.
- Expenses related to paid-for commitments impacted by your injury, such as membership in roofing trade associations or roofing insurance premiums.
- Phyiotherapy or occupational therapy, which is often necessary after roofing accidents since they frequently result in fractures, head trauma, and back injuries.
- Private treatments from orthopaedic specialists, prescriptions for pain relief, and bandages.
- Care, whether professional or provided by loved ones, if your injuries left you unable to perform daily tasks.
- Home modifications, which may include chairlifts, ramps, hoists and new doors, if your roofing injuries are permanent or severely disabling.
Special damages must be supported with evidence, which might include receipts for the purchase of new tools, invoices for private medical consultations, and payslips for lost income.
To discover more about special damages, please contact one of our friendly advisors today.
4.8 (948 reviews)How To Prove Fault For A Roofer Accident Or Injury?
To prove fault for a roofer accident or injury, you can use CCTV footage of the incident, training records, and incident book entries to show how your employer acted negligently. Other beneficial evidence can include photographs of visibly defective scaffolding or harnesses, or PPE inspection documents that may record reported, unresolved issues.
To learn more about how to prove fault, please see our dedicated page on what evidence might be needed for personal injury claims. Our advisors can also address any questions you have, day or night, as soon as you get in touch.
Is There A Time Limit To Making Roofer Injury Claims?
Yes, there is a 3-year time limit for starting roofer injury claims. This will usually take effect from the date of the accident, as per the Limitation Act 1980. Exceptions to the time limit rule sometimes apply, and our guide to limitation periods in personal injury claims explains them in detail.
You can also learn more about time limits and how they might apply to your specific claim by contacting our team today.
Why Pursue Compensation For A Roofing Accident With Accident Claims?
You should pursue compensation for a roofing accident with Accident Claims because we deliver a dedicated, personalised service for tradespeople that puts their wellbeing at the heart of the process. Moreover, our solicitors utilise their expertise in accident at work claims to ease the strain on clients from start to finish. That support can include:
- Providing knowledgeable assistance with evidence gathering, ensuring details such as ignored rotten decking or a lack of a fall‑arrest system do not get overlooked.
- Giving regular case updates so you always know the status of your roofer injury claim.
- Putting you in contact with relevant rehabilitation specialists who understand the impact of roofing accidents, including orthopaedists, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists.
- Ensuring compensation is accurately valued, accounting for long-term care, retraining costs, or the impact of being unable to return to roofing.
- Helping you apply for interim payments to cover any emergency costs.
To learn more about the benefits of working with our solicitors, please contact us today.
No Win No Fee Roofer Injury Claims
Our specialist solicitors work under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which provides clients with several benefits when navigating the roofer injury claims process. In particular, this No Win No Fee arrangement ensures there are:
- No solicitor service fees prior to claiming for a roofer accident.
- No service fees if your roofer injury case loses.
- No charged service fees while the claim is underway.
If your case is successful, you will pay your solicitor a success fee. This fee is limited because it is deducted as a capped percentage of the compensation.
Contact Our Expert Solicitors
For more information about the roofer injury claims process and whether you can get started today, please get in touch with our friendly team:
- Call us on 0800 073 8801
- Contact us via our online form
- Utilise our free live chat
Further Information On Roofer Accident Claims
To learn more about personal injury claims, please have a look at a selection of our other guides:
- Learn how to claim after you tripped and fell at work
- Get assistance with claiming after falling through a roof
- Examine the dumper truck accident claims process
Additional external resources:
- Learn about working at height from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
- Get help with getting copies of your medical records from the NHS
- See advice on applying for Statutory Sick Pay from Gov.UK
Thank you for taking the time to read our helpful guide exploring the roofer injury claims process.
