Did you have a recent accident at work? Did you know that you may be entitled to compensation? When you make an accident at work claim then you can receive compensation for both the expenses of your injury as well as potential loss in wages – and compensation for your injury. One of the real challenges in filing a work accident claim is that people are afraid to take action against their current employer. There is the fear of losing your job and then there is also the fear of what you colleges and your boss may think and how they may treat you when you do file for compensation.

The simple truth is that it is illegal for any employer to fire you when you make a claim against them. Even if your claim is unsuccessful, it is against the law for them to hold it against you in any way. An accident at work claim is very serious and something that most employers will take very seriously. In fact, most businesses have workers compensation insurance which will cover them in case of a claim so there need not be hard feelings about it.

Before you can make an accident at work claim you need to answer 3 definitive questions:

1. Did Your Accident Happen In The Past 3 Years?
In the United Kingdom, the law states that you can only claim for work injuries obtained in the last 3 years so you cannot go back and make claims for accidents that happened 10 years ago. Although there are exceptions, its important that you act fast. The longer you wait, the weaker your case gets. In the USA and Australia some claims dating back 20 years have been successful in claiming compensation but these usually involve asbestos or coal mine related health injuries.

2. Are You To Blame For Your Accident?
This is probably the most delicate aspect of making a work accident claim as there can be some gray areas as to who is really to  blame. In most cases a court will side with you and employers really need to have very strict safety measures in place to do everything in their power to prevent accidents. Unless you are directly responsible for the accident due to your own personal negligence, then  you will have a case.

3.  Did you Suffer Personal Injuries Or Emotional Trauma?
When it comes to personal injuries then its quite easy to proof and access the extents of the injury. Its important that you see a doctor as soon as possible to get a medical professional to access the extents of your injuries. Suffering emotional trauma can also have some serious effects on your well being and in some jobs suffering mentally can also be entitled to claims. These cases are definitely more complex but many people with mental disorders are entitled to a claim.

An accident at work claim does not have to be an uncomfortable ordeal. Its best to be upfront with your employer and talk to them before you take legal action. If they are insured then they will probably work with you to get the claim through. Regardless, its important that you get a professional to access your claim and to help you establish what you are entitled to. Who knows how your injury may affect you further down the line. If it can cause you to be unable to earn a living for yourself then you need to make sure that you claim pays you accordingly.
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