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12% Work Accident Claim Rise Shows Increased Awareness of Rights

One leading UK accident claim company has recently stated that it noted a 12% increase in accident claims between 2008 and 2009. This is certainly not the most common type of accident claim, but the rise is important. It could be the case that there has been a significant increase in accidents and injuries in the workplace, but experts believe it to be more likely that employees are simply more aware than ever before of their rights.

Employers have a legal duty to provide the right environment, training and protective equipment to protect workers’ health and safety and to avoid unnecessary injury.If workers are injured in an accident as a result of the company’s failure to meet their responsibility then the employee may well be entitled to make an accident claim. High profile accident claim cases reported in the media have encouraged workers to become more aware of their rights.

Workers had often been less than inclined to make an accident claim over workplace injury for fear of being penalised by the employers and being confused and daunted by the legal process.Sadly, as a result, too many returned to work too early due to financial worries, making their injuries worse.Nowadays, improved public understanding of rights and improved protection by law of workers who make an accident claim have led many to pursue their claim.Injured workers are no longer suffering in silence, they are receiving the compensation they deserve to alleviate their financial worries and they are allowing themselves to recover adequately before returning to work.

The increase in workplace accident claims has also made companies review their health and safety policies and ensure all of their safety practices are perfectly up to scratch. If the rise in accident claims saves just one person from injury or even death by forcing employers to take their duty seriously, then that can only be a good thing.