Accident at Work Compensation Calculator UK 2025 — Employers Liability Claims
If you have been injured at work due to your employer's negligence, you have the right to claim compensation under employers liability law. Employers are legally required to carry employers liability insurance (minimum £5 million cover). This calculator estimates your compensation and explains your rights.
Estimates based on Judicial College Guidelines (17th edition). Most accident at work solicitors work on a No Win No Fee basis. Time limit: 3 years from accident. Even if partly at fault, you can still claim — contributory negligence reduces the award proportionally.
Employer's Duty of Care
Every employer owes a duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. This includes maintaining a safe workplace, providing adequate training, supplying suitable equipment, implementing safe systems of work, and carrying out risk assessments for all significant hazards.
Key Evidence to Gather
- Accident book entry — ensure the accident is recorded by your employer
- Medical records — A&E or GP records created on the day are vital
- Photographs — of the scene, any hazard, and your injuries
- Witness details — names and contact information of anyone who saw the accident
- Receipts — all expenses related to the injury including medication and physiotherapy
- Diary — record how the injury affects your daily life and activities
RIDDOR Reporting
Employers must report to the Health and Safety Executive under RIDDOR: deaths; specified injuries including fractures (excluding fingers/toes), amputations, loss of sight; any absence of more than 7 consecutive days; and dangerous occurrences. If your employer failed to report a RIDDOR-reportable incident, this breach can support your claim.
Employer's Liability Insurance
All employers must hold employers liability insurance of at least £5 million and display the certificate in the workplace. Your claim is made against this insurance — not typically the employer personally. Employer Liability Tracing Office (ELTO) can help trace insurers for historic claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dismissing or disciplining an employee for making a legitimate accident at work claim is unlawful and could give rise to an unfair dismissal claim. In practice, the claim is handled by the employer's insurance company. However, workplace relationships can sometimes be affected — consider the practicalities and take legal advice about your specific situation.
Yes, in many cases. Even if you were partly at fault, you can still claim if your employer was also negligent. The court assesses contributory negligence — if you were 30% at fault and your employer 70%, you receive 70% of the full compensation. Complete contributory negligence is relatively rare in workplace accidents.
Yes — occupational diseases such as industrial deafness, vibration white finger, asbestosis, and work-related upper limb disorders (RSI) are all claimable if caused by employer negligence. The 3-year time limit runs from the date of knowledge — when you first knew you had the condition and that it was caused by work. This can be many years after the exposure that caused the disease.