Accidents at Work Involving Machinery Entanglements & Equipment Claims

You may have grounds to bring a claim if you were injured because machinery or equipment at work was unsafe, defective, badly maintained or not properly guarded. Whether you can claim will usually depend on the circumstances of the accident, whether reasonable safety steps were missed, and whether your claim is brought within the relevant time limits.

Premier Legal Assist is a FCA regulated claims management firm that works with experienced no win, no fee solicitors specialising in workplace accident claims, including those involving dangerous machinery and unsafe work equipment. 

To begin the process, complete our short online form explaining what happened and the injuries you suffered.

 Once your enquiry has been reviewed, if your claim is eligible, you may be referred to one of our panel solicitors who specialises in workplace accident claims. If they agree to act for you, they will handle the claims process, including gathering evidence, contacting your employer and their insurers, and seeking compensation on a no-win, no-fee basis.

If your claim is successful, the amount of compensation you can recover varies from case to case and there is no fixed figure that applies to every claim. The amount usually depends on how serious the injury is, how long recovery takes, and how much it has affected your everyday life and ability to work.

Compensation is generally divided into two parts. General Damages relate to your pain, suffering and loss of amenity. Special Damages relate to financial losses caused by the accident, such as lost earnings, medical expenses, travel costs, rehabilitation costs and care needs.

Some claims may be worth a few thousand pounds, while more serious or long-term injuries can lead to much higher awards. If your claim is eligible, your solicitor will usually rely on medical and financial evidence to assess what your case may be worth.

Machinery accidents can cause a wide range of injuries depending on the type of machine involved, the speed and force of the moving parts, and whether clothing, hair, hands or other body parts became trapped and what, if any safety equipment was being worn.

Examples include:

• Crush injuries
• Fractures
• Amputations
• Head injuries
• Spinal damage
• Back and neck trauma
• Deep cuts and lacerations
• Ligament damage
• Scarring
• Burns
• Psychological injuries including anxiety, PTSD and depression

In the most serious cases, compensation can be substantial, particularly where there has been permanent disability, ongoing care needs or a significant loss of earnings. If a solicitor takes on your case, they will usually arrange medical evidence to assess the full impact of your injuries. 

Potentially, yes. Workplace safety duties are not limited to permanent full-time employees. Depending on the circumstances, protection may also extend to part-time workers, temporary staff, agency workers, self-employed contractors and visitors lawfully on site.

If you were injured because unsafe machinery or defective equipment was being used in the workplace, you may still have grounds to bring a claim. 

In most cases, an adult has three years from the date of the accident to begin a personal injury claim. If the injured person was under 18 at the time of the accident, the usual three-year period generally starts on their 18th birthday.

Your priority should be to get medical attention; even if your injuries seem minor, a professional assessment creates a medical record that will be vital for your claim.

 You should also report the accident to the farm owner, manager, or employer so that it is properly and fully recorded in the workplace accident book and, where necessary, reported to the HSE under RIDDOR.

If possible, gather evidence from the scene: take photos, note witness details, and keep copies of any communication or receipts. If they take on the case, your solicitor can then use this information to build a strong, evidence-based case on your behalf.

No. It is against the law for an employer to dismiss, demote, victimise or treat you unfairly for making a legitimate personal injury compensation claim. All employers are required by law to have Employers’ Liability Insurance, which covers compensation for workplace injuries. Your claim is made against the insurer, not the individual employer or business owner.

If you are worried about how your employer might respond, your solicitor will handle all communication on your behalf, keeping the process professional and discreet while protecting your rights throughout.

In most cases, you have three years from the date of the accident (or from when you first realised your injuries were linked to the incident) to begin your claim. There are exceptions: for children, the three-year limit starts from their 18th birthday, and for those who lack mental capacity, there is generally no time limit.

It’s always best to seek advice as soon as possible. Early action helps ensure vital evidence is preserved and witnesses can be contacted while memories are fresh.

Good evidence can be very important in showing how the accident happened and why the employer may be responsible. Depending on the case, useful evidence may include:

• Accident book entries
• Photographs of the machinery or equipment involved
• Maintenance logs and inspection records
• Risk assessments
• Training records
• CCTV footage
• Witness details and statements
• Medical records and reports
• Evidence of lock-off, isolation or safe system procedures
• Payslips and evidence of financial losses

A solicitor acting for you would normally help gather the evidence needed to support both liability and the value of your claim. HSE’s guidance also stresses the importance of maintenance, safety measures and safe systems of work for machinery. 

An employer should not dismiss, victimise or penalise a worker simply for bringing a genuine workplace accident claim. If an employee is treated unfairly because they have exercised that right, there may be grounds for a separate employment-related complaint or claim.

It is also worth remembering that successful workplace accident claims are usually paid through the employer’s liability insurance rather than directly by the employer personally. 

Usually not. Most workplace accident claims of this kind are resolved without a full Court trial, often through negotiations between the injured person’s solicitor and the employer’s insurer.

If responsibility for the accident or the value of the claim cannot be agreed, Court proceedings may become necessary. If that happens, the Court will consider the evidence, decide who was responsible and, where appropriate, determine the compensation payable. A solicitor acting for you will manage that process on your behalf. 

In many cases, no. Our panel of specialist personal injury solicitors commonly deal with eligible workplace accident claims on a no-win, no-fee basis. That means there is usually nothing to pay at the outset, and if the claim does not succeed, you would not usually be responsible for your solicitor’s fees.

If your claim is successful, an agreed success fee may be deducted from your compensation. That fee is capped by law, and your solicitor will explain the arrangement clearly before your case begins. You may be charged cancellation fees by the legal service we introduce you to if you cancel your agreement after any applicable cooling-off period and before the claim is concluded.