How Much Compensation Can I Claim For A Network Rail Accident?

Can I Claim Compensation If I Was Injured On The UK’s Rail Network?

Network Rail is the owner and manager of the bulk of the railway network infrastructure across mainland Britain (covering England, Scotland, and Wales). As the sole owner and operator, if you have had a Network Rail accident or injury, this is the body against which your claim will be brought. Classed as a public sector body Network Rail is operated as what is called an ‘arms length’ operation and is part of the Department for Transport. Network Rail provides services to public train and freight operating companies who provide services to the public, like the train you may commute on.

network rail accident

Network Rail Accident

Whether you are a member of staff working on the railway or a member of the public using the rail network, you have the right to expect Network Rail to ensure that you are safe and that you are not exposed to risk whilst travelling or carrying out your duties. Around four million people travel by train each day, equating to around 1.7 billion journeys a year. Anyone making a journey on the rail network, whether an employee or a member of staff is owed a duty of care to be kept from harm. If you have suffered a Network Rail accident, injury or illness you could be entitled to make a no win, no fee personal injury claim.

We have created our helpful guide below to provide people with advice on how to make a successful compensation claim against Network Rail.

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A Guide To Network Rail Accident Claims

Network Rail owns and is responsible for the UK’s railways, including the tracks, overhead wires, and signaling, as well as level crossings, bridges and 2,500 of the UK’s train stations (though it is only responsible for operating 18 of these). With such a diverse range of operations, there is a very wide range of different types of accident and injury which can and do happen. Some of the most common of these are caused by people jumping or falling onto the track, accidents, and injuries due to level crossing and trespassing accidents as well as injuries to passengers. It should be noted that Network Rail accidents, injuries, and illnesses can happen on the rail network or on a train without being directly caused by either an employee or a customer. If this describes the circumstances surrounding your injury, accident, or illness, you may be able to make a claim for compensation.

As a major part of the UK’s transport network, Network Rail owes their employees and customers a duty of care. This duty of care includes the duty to maintain the facilities and infrastructure they are responsible for as well as any vehicles. They also owe a duty of care to provide the correct training to staff members. If you have suffered an injury or accident as a result of a breach of this duty of care, you should follow the network rail incident reporting process as well as starting a compensation claim. Reporting the problem to Network Rail will help them to address any safety issues as quickly as possible.

Have you suffered an accident on the UK’s railway network which you need to make a railway compensation claim for? If so, talk to our expert team today.

Network Rail Accidents And Statistics

network rail accident statistics

network rail accident statistics

How safe is the rail network in Britain operated by Network Rail? The thing to note here is that the UK’s overall transport network is very safe by both international and European standards. In the financial year 2017/ 2018, there were a total of 34 network rail accidents leading to passenger injuries which were reported under the RIDDOR, or Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations. This was an increase of 7% over the year 2016/17. Statistics show that slips, trips, and falls either on an escalator or platform are the largest cause of accidents and injuries, however poor weather conditions may also have contributed to this statistic. The RIDDOR and network rail’s incident reporting procedures show that there have not been any employee fatalities in the past nine years due to train collisions or derailments. This makes the British rail network the safety in Europe over this period.

Workplace safety statistics

Looking at the network rail worksafe policy, we can see that the application of the network rail everyone home safe everyday policy has impacted the number of fatalities whilst on duty, major injuries and injuries which caused lost time have all fallen constantly. You can find out more about the Network Rail everyone home safe everyday policy here.

Public safety

Overall public safety has also markedly increased, with the number of incursions on to the railways by members of the public or by vehicles, as well as serious strikes to a bridge by a vehicle both falling.

Can I Make A Network Rail Accident Claim?

If you have suffered an injury or an illness as a result of an accident which was not your fault, you should be entitled to make a personal injury claim. However, doing so and establishing who is liable for your injury is not always easy to do. One of the most difficult parts about making Network Rail accident claims is establishing who is liable. If you have been injured on infrastructure, stations, or trains operated by Network Rail, whether it was a slip, trip, or fall, an accident due to a faulty piece of furniture or other cause, you could be entitled to make a claim against Network Rail.

Network Rail safety rules cover everything from putting the correct staff training in place to prevent accidents from happening through to maintaining appropriate health and safety standards. You can find information about previous Network Rail health and safety policy statements here.

Have you become ill due to food poisoning due to poorly prepared foods, food which have been incorrectly stored, or due to poor sanitation in the rail network? If so Network Rail may be at fault. Our team can help you to make a claim where there has been a Network Rail COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) breach.

You can also make a personal injury claim if you were injured whilst carrying out your duties as an employee or contractor, you could claim compensation. No matter whether your injury was the result of poor maintenance of equipment or property or insufficient training, you could make a compensation claim.

If you are unsure whether you are entitled to make a claim or how much compensation you could be entitled to, contact our team today. We will be able to assess your accident and injuries or illness and establish where liability lays and whether or not you have a valid claim.

The Most Common Accidents On Network Rail Leading To Injuries

Despite staff trying to follow the appropriate Network Rail safety rules, accidents and injuries do happen. There are a number of common factors for why you may become injured or ill. The list below includes the most common causes, however, there are other ways in which an accident, injury, or illness could happen and despite the efforts of the Network Rail safety vision, things do go wrong.

Slips, trips, and falls – these accidents can happen on trains and station platforms as well as the station concourse and other land which is managed by Network Rail. There is also the risk of incorrectly stored items, such as luggage, causing trip hazards.

Damage to trains or other infrastructure – accidents can be caused by broken furniture, damaged floors, and sharp edges.

Falling objects – items which are stored overhead or other objects falling onto people.

No matter what caused your accident on Network Rail property or facilities they manage, if they were at fault you could have a valid compensation claim. Talk to us about making a claim and to learn more about making railway compensation claims in general.

What You Need To Know About Workplace Accident Claims Against Network Rail?

Making a compensation claim against your employer after an accident at work can seem as daunting or as worrying as the accident itself was. Remember, as your employer, Network Rail owes you a duty of care to ensure you are not harmed whilst carrying out your duties. You can find information on the Network Rail health and safety management system here. If you were injured because the safety procedures put in place were inadequate, or because there were none in place, you should not feel as if you are in the wrong making a claim. In creating a spotlight on the circumstances which lead to your accident, new safety procedures may be put in place which could reduce or eliminate these in the future.

Slip, trip, and fall injuries are one of the most common types of accidents resulting in an injury across all workplaces in the UK. They can happen due to things such as spilled food and drink or fluids which have leaked on a surface. They can also happen due to uneven flooring or objects being placed in the wrong place. They can also happen on a train which may be managed or operated by Network Rail. Broken or faulty equipment can also lead to slips, trips, or falls. The Network Rail worksafe policy and overall health and safety policy advisers people that they are owed a duty of care and that any faulty or broken equipment should be repaired or replaced as early as possible. It also states that these things should be marked as unsafe for use.

Level Crossing Accident And Injury Claims

Across Great Britain, there are around 8,000 level crossings. Network Rail manages the majority of these. Statistics show us in 2014 there were by 330 ‘near miss’ incidents which involved cyclists, pedestrians and car or other motor vehicles. Collisions which involved a train were far less common, but were much more dangerous, with these accounting for half the ‘catastrophic incidents’ on the rail network.

The majority of level crossing accidents and resulting compensation claims, happen when a vehicle attempts to cross the railway line when it was unsafe to do so. Some of these incidents happen due to mechanical failure. This could be the result of the early warning system failing, the barriers not coming down early enough, or the driver of the vehicle failing to stop when warned.

If you have been injured as a result of an accident at a level crossing which was not your fault, you could be eligible to claim for compensation. If the accident has involved a fatality, a member of the deceased’s family may be able to seek compensation.

Accidents And Injuries Whilst Getting On Or Off A Train

If you have been injured whilst disembarking or boarding a train then you could be eligible to claim compensation for your injuries as a Network Rail accident if the company can be found to be at fault. Remember, slips, trips, and falls are very common and if you slipped over because there was a spill, or because there was damage to the platform or alighting plate on the train, you could claim for compensation. Our team will be able to work with you and assess the individual circumstances of the accident which caused your injuries. They will be able to determine whether or not you can make a claim and what your claim could be worth.

How To Start Your Network Rail Compensation Claim

As with any personal injury claim, bringing a compensation claim against Network Rail can be complicated. However, as well as following the Network Rail incident reporting process, there are steps which you can take which will help the overall claims process go easier. Below are the steps which we recommend you take to help your claim go as easy as possible.

  • Firstly, you should seek any medical attention you need for your injuries. If and when you do seek medical attention you should make sure that you keep documentary evidence of your treatment. Keep copies of medical records and notes, things such as x-rays, and any other paperwork.
  • Make sure that you take photographs of your injuries as supporting evidence. You should also try to take photos of the scene of the accident as further supporting evidence.
  • Take the details of any witnesses who say your accident and injury take place. Take their names and contact details. They may be able to provide a witness statement if needed.
  • Keep copies of your receipts for any expenses you incur as a result of your injuries. These could be medical bills, travel costs or any other expenses caused by the accident or injury.
  • Keep a record of any losses of earnings that you have suffered. Lost income from time off or other lost benefits could be claimed for as part of your compensation claim.

After any accident, injury, or illness (such as a Network Rail accident) your first focus should always be on your recovery. However, you should also start your compensation claim and any legal action as early as possible. Before starting a claim, you should talk to a legal professional, such as the team at Accident Claims UK, about your case. Having all of the information above will help our team to assess your claim quicker and can help to make your claim go much smoother.

Network Rail Accident Compensation Calculator

One of the first, and most popular, questions often asked by claimants ask is how much they could be able to claim for their injury. The value of a claim will depend on a variety of factors and it should always be noted that each claim and case are unique. As such they and the amount of compensation that they will be valued at can differ greatly. In the table below, we have included some of the most common types of injuries that can result from a Network Rail accident and the potential compensation you could be awarded. The actual value of your claim and final settlement will vary from these amounts and they are provided for illustrative purposes. Whilst you may also want to know how much compensation you could get for different types of Network Rail accidents, these will all vary somewhat.

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Reason for compensation Award band Further notes
Expected loss of income/ earnings/ benefits £10,000 to £400,000 May be awarded for potential future losses in earnings. May aso cover additional benefits you could miss out on.
Pain & suffering £1,000 to £200,000 Awarded for general pain and suffering experienced as a result of your injuries.
Minor injuries 1 £1,050 to £1,860 Injuries which you can recovery from within three months.
Minor injuries 2 £525 to £1,050 You are expected to recover in as little as four weeks.
Minor injuries 3 A couple hundred pounds to £525 You are expected to fully recover in seven days.
Neck injuries £ few hundred pounds – £112,750 The more serious, severe or complicated an injury, the higher the settlement will be.
Back injuries £ few hundred pounds – £53,000 The more serious, severe or complicated an injury, the higher the settlement will be. If an existing condition has been made worse, this will be taken into account.
Shoulder injuries £ few hundred pounds – £36,500 The more serious, severe or complicated an injury, the higher the settlement will be. If an existing condition has been made worse, this will be taken into account.

The table above is provided as a guide to the average amount of compensation which you may receive in a compensation settlement. If you have any questions with regard to any of the information provided in the table or require clarification about the figures provided above, please contact our team today.

No Win No Fee Compensation Claims Against Network Rail

At Accident Claims UK we can offer our claimants what is called a no win, no fee agreement. This provides you with an easy and very effective way to make a compensation claim for a Network Rail accident. No win, no fee contracts mean that you do not have to make any upfront payments for your legal fees. Across the UK, no win, no fee claims have helped people to make a compensation claim by relieving any financial burden which they may be facing. This can be especially helpful if you are already facing financial pressures as a result of your accident and injuries. If our team are not able to secure a settlement, then you will not have to pay any legal fees or costs. This is designed to take any financial pressures off you. Our personal injury claims team are on hand seven days a week to help answer any questions which you may have about the process of making a no win, no fee claim or any other part of your case.

Why Choose Accident Claims UK As Your Claims Service?

At Accident Claims UK our expert team has years of experience in helping people to make successful compensation claims, meaning we are uniquely able to help you make your claim. Our team of experts have helped claim large compensation settlements for our clients. At the start, our free consultation process will give you a great way to start your claim and to get the compensation you deserve. It will also help us to find out everything we need to know about the circumstances of your accident and the nature of your injury to provide you with an estimate of how much compensation you could be entitled to. If you are unsure who is liable for your railway injury or Network Rail accident we can advise you of this as well.

Our expert team has years of experience in processing claims. We know how important it is to make sure that as a claimant you feel comfortable throughout the process of making a compensation claim.

Talk To Us Today

If you have suffered a Network Rail accident and need to make a compensation claim, you should contact our expert team today by calling us on 0800 073 8801. We will assess your claim with a free, no obligation assessment before helping to process your claim. You can also reach our team by sending a message via our contact form or check out our further contact details here.

Useful Links

Network Rail Approach to Safety
Find out information and advice on Network Rail’s rail safety vision at this link.

Our Slip, Trip, and Fall Claims Guide
Have you suffered a slip, trip, or a fall whilst on Network Rail’s facilities, or anywhere else whilst on public or private land? Find out how much compensation you could be entitled to claim for any injuries suffered.