Work Accidents
If you have been injured in an accident at work, it can be difficult to know what to do next. We provide clear, practical advice on work accident claims, helping you understand your options and the steps involved in bringing a personal injury claim.
Work Accident Claims
An accident at work can affect far more than your working day. It can leave you dealing with pain, medical appointments, time off work, lost income and uncertainty about what happens next. In some cases, people are also concerned about raising the issue with their employer, particularly where they are still employed in the same workplace.
David Walley & Co Solicitors advises clients who have suffered injuries in workplace accidents across Ireland. We help clients understand whether they may have a claim, what evidence may be needed, and how the Injuries Resolution Board process works.
Employers have a duty to provide a safe place of work, safe systems of work, proper training and appropriate supervision. When those duties are not met, accidents can happen. A work accident claim may arise where an injury has been caused by unsafe working conditions, inadequate training, faulty equipment, poor maintenance, unsafe manual handling practices or a failure to manage known risks.
Common Types of Work Accidents
Workplace accidents can happen in many different settings, including construction sites, offices, warehouses, factories, shops, farms, hospitality settings and public sector workplaces.
Common examples include:
Slips, trips and falls at work
Manual handling and lifting injuries
Falls from ladders, scaffolding or raised platforms
Accidents involving machinery or work equipment
Injuries caused by unsafe systems of work
Construction site accidents
Repetitive strain or overuse injuries
Accidents involving vehicles or moving equipment
Injuries caused by falling objects
Exposure to hazardous substances or unsafe materials
Each case depends on its own facts. The key question is usually whether the accident could reasonably have been prevented if proper care had been taken.
What Should You Do After an Accident at Work?
If you have been injured at work, it is important to look after your health first. You should seek medical attention and make sure your injuries are properly assessed and recorded.
You should also report the accident to your employer as soon as possible and ask for it to be recorded in the workplace accident book or internal reporting system. If possible, keep a note of what happened, where it happened, who witnessed it, and whether any photographs, CCTV, training records or incident reports may exist.
Useful information may include:
The date, time and location of the accident
Details of how the accident happened
Names of any witnesses
Photographs of the area, equipment or hazard involved
Medical records and receipts
Details of any time missed from work
Any communication from your employer or insurer
You do not need to have every document before speaking with a solicitor. Part of our role is to help identify what information may be needed and how it can be requested.
Making a Work Accident Claim
Most personal injury claims in Ireland must first be submitted to the Injuries Resolution Board, unless the matter is resolved directly at an early stage or falls into an excluded category. The Board assesses many workplace accident claims and may make an assessment of compensation based on the medical evidence and other information submitted.
A solicitor can help you prepare the claim correctly, identify the appropriate respondent, gather supporting evidence and advise you on whether an assessment should be accepted or rejected. If the matter cannot be resolved through the Injuries Resolution Board process, it may then proceed further.
At David Walley & Co Solicitors, we aim to make the process as clear and manageable as possible. We will explain the steps involved, keep you updated, and give you practical advice based on your circumstances.
Why Choose David Walley & Co Solicitors?
David Walley & Co Solicitors has over 35 years’ experience advising clients in personal injury matters, including workplace accident claims. We understand that many clients are dealing with pain, worry and uncertainty when they first contact us.
Our approach is straightforward. We listen to what happened, explain the legal process in clear terms, and advise you on the best next step. Your case will be handled carefully from the first consultation through to resolution.
Speak With a Solicitor
If you have been injured in an accident at work, it is worth getting advice early. You do not need to know whether you definitely have a claim before speaking with us. We can listen to what happened, explain your options clearly, and help you understand the next steps before you make any decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
You may be able to bring a claim if your injury was caused by your employer’s negligence or by a failure to provide a safe place of work, proper training, safe equipment or a safe system of work. Not every workplace accident leads to a claim, so it is important to get advice based on the specific facts.
-
Yes. You should report the accident to your employer as soon as possible and ask for it to be recorded. This creates a clear record of what happened and may be important if you later decide to bring a claim. Certain workplace accidents must also be reported by the employer to the Health and Safety Authority.
-
Many people are understandably nervous about making a claim against an employer. A claim is usually handled through the employer’s insurer rather than personally against an individual manager or colleague. If you are worried about your employment position, speak with a solicitor before taking any further steps.
-
Useful evidence can include accident reports, photographs, witness details, medical records, CCTV footage, training records, maintenance records and proof of lost earnings or expenses. You may not have access to all of this yourself, but your solicitor can advise on what may be needed.
-
Strict time limits apply to personal injury claims in Ireland. In many cases, the general time limit is two years from the date of the accident or the date of knowledge of the injury. You should seek legal advice as early as possible so that your position is protected.