Accidents at Work: Are You Getting the Money You Deserve?

Accidents happen. Whether it’s slipping on the ice on a cold winter morning or being injured during a fender bender, you never know when an accident might affect your ability to work, exercise or even enjoy life as you normally would.

But what if the accident takes place at work? What if you’re injured on the job or while performing duties required of your job?

Unfortunately, there may be limited options for compensation if you’re injured at work. If your compensation is cut short because of an injury, make sure to do your due diligence about the monetary benefits you may be entitled to.

One of the benefits you may be entitled to is Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). But did you know that injured workers who qualify for statutory sick pay, which is less than your normal base pay, might not be getting everything they deserve?

What is Statutory Sick Pay?

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is money paid to employees when they are unable to work due to sickness, disability or accident. Employers cover the costs of SSP for a maximum of 28 weeks. The catch with statutory sick pay is that an employee must qualify to receive it. This means:

  • You must have a contract of service with your employer
  • You have to have a period of incapacity for work (4 or more consecutive days)
  • You have to earn (pre-tax) an average of  £90.00/week

Once you report the accident to your employer, they are responsible for arranging for SSP.

What Happens When the SSP Ends?

If your injury is so severe that your SSP benefits expire or you’re not eligible for SSP in the first place, how will you earn money? How will you pay your bills if you’re unable to work and generate an income?

One excellent option could be to work with a law firm that specializes in No Win No Fee representation.

What is No Win No Fee?

Basically, no win no fee means you don’t pay standard representation fees unless you win your case. This means no upfront or out-of-pocket expenses for legal assistance that could help you win the compensation you deserve after an accident happens at work.

If your case is won, the fees associated with representation are automatically deducted from the settlement you receive. I have a lot of internation friends. One of them lives in the UK. He had to consult a firm such as First4Lawyers who offered my friend no win no fee advice. They agreed to represent my friend and his case at no cost to him, unless there is a successful outcome.  I, personally, like this arrangement!

An added benefit of this type of arrangement is that you now might have access to legal representation that you might not have been able to afford if the fees were charged up-front.

Whatever avenue you choose, if you’ve been injured in an accident at work, make sure to fully investigate all of your options before deciding upon a set course of action. In the end, you want to make sure you’re taking care of yourself physically, emotionally AND financially.

Resources Mentioned in this Article:

Click here for no win no fee representation at First4Lawyers.com

Click here for advice on how to make an accident claim from Citizens Advice