Fell Off a Ladder at Work – A Guide to Claiming Compensation

Working at height comes with some associated risks which employers need to try and manage. Falling from a ladder can result in injuries that can be serious, life-changing and even fatal in the very worst circumstances. Importantly, if you fell off a ladder at work and the accident was caused by your employer’s negligence, you could be entitled to begin a personal injury claim. Therefore, this guide answers a range of common questions about claiming compensation for a ladder fall.

If you have suffered after falling from a ladder at work, we are here to help you understand your options. As part of our free initial consultation, your case will be reviewed and you’ll be offered no-obligation claims advice. What’s more, if your claim is suitable, we’ll connect you with one of our specialist solicitors who will work on a No Win, No Fee basis if the claim proceeds.

To check if you could claim for injuries sustained after falling from a ladder, you can:

• Speak to one of our advisors on 0333 241 2519.
• Use our live chat service.

If you’ve fallen off a ladder at work, getting legal advice as soon as possible after the incident can significantly enhance the chances of receiving compensation for the pain, suffering, and financial losses you’ve incurred due to the ladder accident.

I Fell off a Ladder at Work Can I Claim?

In law, your employer has a duty of care towards your safety at work because of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Additionally, the Work at Height Regulations 2005 mean that they should conduct special risk assessments and:

• Try to avoid working at height where possible.
• Ensure the right type of equipment is provided to make working at height as safe as possible.
• Make sure any ladders provided are stable, strong, checked regularly and well maintained.
• Ensure training is provided on how to use a ladder safely (this can be on the job training).

Further advice from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in relation to using ladders on construction sites that, ideally, ladders should not be used for more than 30 minutes at a time.

Importantly, you could be entitled to claim compensation after falling from a ladder at work if:

• Your employer owed you a duty of care at the time you fell.
• You fell from the ladder because of your employer’s negligence.
• As a result, you sustained an injury or injuries.

If you believe your employer was to blame in some way for the ladder accident, call us and we’ll assess your claim for free.

What Types of Negligence Could Cause Ladder Falls at Work?

Based on the criteria listed above, you could begin a personal injury claim against your employer if their negligence caused you to fall from a ladder. Some examples of when that could be the case include:

• If you overstretched and fell from a ladder supplied by your employer that was too short. During the fall, you suffered a broken elbow and dislocated shoulder.
• You were told to move a box of files from the top of an office cabinet even though you stated you thought it was too heavy. Due to the weight and size of the box, you slipped from the step ladder while moving it you tore your Achilles tendon and twisted your knee.
• While painting a wall on a construction site, your ladder gave way due to a rung that was known to be damaged by your employer. Due to your fall, you sustained a back injury that prevented you from working or enjoying your usual activities for over 6 months.

If you fell off a ladder at work and your employer was to blame, please contact us and we’ll review your next steps for free.

What to Do if Someone Falls Off a Ladder at Work?

Like your employer, you must follow health and safety guidelines at work. As such, if you or a colleague falls from a ladder while working, you should:

• Tell your supervisor or manager about what happened as soon as you can.
• Ensure the incident is logged in the accident report book.
• Get any injuries diagnosed and treated by a medical professional (if first aid isn’t enough).

If the injuries are serious, the accident might need to be reported to the HSE. This won’t be your responsibility but you should provide details about what happened if you’re asked to by an investigator.

What Types of Evidence Can I Use for a Claim?

Even if your employer implies that they’ll take responsibility for your fall off a ladder, things can change when the claim lands on their insurer’s desk. Therefore, you should still collect evidence to show why you fell off a ladder at work and how your injuries have affected you. This might include:

• Accident Book Record: Ensure the incident is recorded in your workplace’s accident book and request a copy for yourself.
• Witness Statements: Collect statements from anyone who witnessed the ladder accident.
• Photographic and Video Evidence: Take photos or videos of the accident scene, showing the ladder setup, any obstructions or hazards, and environmental conditions.
• Medical Records: Obtain copies of your medical records related to the injuries from the ladder fall. This includes initial treatment, any ongoing medical care, and expert opinions on your prognosis.
• Health and Safety Records: Records of any health and safety inspections that were carried out before and after the fall.
• Ladder Maintenance and Inspection Records: Request records showing the ladder’s maintenance history and any safety inspections. Ladders should be regularly checked for defects.
• Employer’s Risk Assessments: Ask for any risk assessments relevant to the use of ladders in your workplace.
• Training Records: Provide records of any training you received related to working at height or using ladders. Lack of adequate training can be a significant factor in proving liability.
• CCTV Footage: If your fall was captured on CCTV, request a copy of the footage.
• Evidence of Financial Losses: Evidence of any financial losses incurred as a result of the fall from the ladder. This might include lost earnings, medical expenses, travel costs to medical appointments, and any care or assistance you’ve needed.

We are more than happy to take a look at any evidence you’ve collected to check if you have enough to proceed with a claim against your employer.

How Long Do I Have to Claim for Falling Off a Ladder at Work?

In UK law, there is a 3-year time limit that applies when making a personal injury claim for an accident at work. Usually, this will start on the date you fell from the ladder and hurt yourself.

Importantly, the Limitation Act 1980 allows this time limit to be essentially paused for anyone who doesn’t have the mental capacity to take legal action. For example, if a loved one suffered a brain injury after falling off a ladder at work, you could act as their litigation friend at any point to claim any compensation they might be entitled to.

Our No Win, NoFee solicitors can help if this is something you’d like to do so please get in touch for more information.

What Compensation Can I Claim for a Fall Off a Ladder?

If you make a successful accident at work claim, your compensation will typically be formed of general and special damages. General damages cover your pain and suffering as well as any loss of amenity your ladder fall injuries cause.

To ascertain how badly you’ve suffered, your solicitor will use medical records and an independent medical assessment report.

Special damages could also form part of your settlement to help cover any financial losses linked to your fall. That means you could claim back any:

• Lost income or future loss of earnings.
• Medical expenses.
• Costs required to adapt your home to make it easier for you to cope with any disabilities.
• Travel expenses.
• Support or care costs.

The easiest way to find out how much compensation for ladder fall injuries you might be entitled to is to call one of our specialists for a free case review today.

Can I Claim Compensation for Psychological Injuries?

If you win your claim, you could be compensated for any psychological suffering linked to your accident. For example, you might suffer flashbacks or nightmares or you could even be diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that stops you functioning as normal.

Additionally, you could claim for any distress or depression that can be proven to be caused by your injuries.

In all cases, your solicitor will need to prove that your condition has been diagnosed by a medical professional. Usually, they’ll do this by requesting copies of any relevant medical records.

Can I Claim if I’m Not a Full-Time Employee?

In some industries, the use of subcontractors, the self-employed and zero-hours is quite common. Therefore, it’s important to point out that no matter what type of contract you’re employed on, your employer must still take practical steps to try and keep you safe at work.

As such, if you were subcontracting when you fell from a ladder and the accident was caused by your employer’s negligence, you could still be entitled to seek compensation for your suffering. To find out more, please speak to one of our advisors today.

Do I Need a Solicitor to Claim Compensation for a Ladder Fall?

If you’ve decided to claim compensation because you fell from a ladder at work, you might be wondering whether you really need legal representation. While it’s quite possible to go it alone, you might find that having a solicitor specialising in accidents in the workplace on your side will make the claims process a lot smoother.

For example, some of the services that our solicitors offer when making ladder fall injury claims include:

• Collection and analysis of evidence to support the claim.
• Management of all communications with your employer’s insurance provider.
• Filing your case on time and presenting as strong a case as possible.
• Contesting any arguments raised relating to liability for the ladder accident or your injuries.
• Sending you regular updates as the claim progresses.

What’s more, our solicitors will review any settlement offer you receive to check that it is fair. If it’s not, they’ll fight your corner and try to negotiate a higher settlement.

Importantly, all of this work is conducted on a No Win, No Fee basis.

How Long Do Ladder Fall Injury Claims Take?

As you might imagine, some workplace accident claims take longer than others. For example, if you fell from a ladder and broke your leg but have recovered completely, you might expect to receive compensation in around 6 to 8 months.

However, if you fell from a ladder and suffered serious brain damage, it might take years before your prognosis is properly understood. In this scenario, the claim wouldn’t typically be finalised until much later on. However, to help you deal with the financial consequences of your ladder fall injuries, you could receive interim payments in cases where liability for the accident has been confirmed by your employer.

Do Fall from Ladder Claims Require Court Hearings?

Generally, the only time you’ll need to go to court after falling from a ladder at work is if:

• Your employer won’t accept liability for your accident.
• Your employer doesn’t agree with the level of injury you’re claiming for.
• The level of compensation you should receive cannot be settled amicably.

In our experience, very few personal injury claims end up in court because hearings can be expensive and time-consuming.

However, if a settlement can’t be reached between you and your employer, a court date might have to be booked as a last resort.

Contacting Us About a Fall Off a Ladder at Work Claim

To discuss if you could be entitled to compensation for a ladder fall accident, you can:

• Call us on 0333 241 2519 and discuss what happened with an advisor.
• Chat with one of our specialist online advisors.

We’ll provide no-obligation legal advice in the initial consultation to discuss your options. If you fell off a ladder at work and a compensation claim appears to be feasible, we could connect you with one of our solicitors who’ll work on a No Win, No Fee basis if your claim is accepted.