Construction workers face the highest risk of serious and fatal injury of any industry in England and Wales. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) — , the construction sector consistently records more workplace fatalities than any other, with falls from height, being struck by moving objects, and contact with moving machinery being the most frequent causes.
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) — alongside a comprehensive body of health and safety law — impose strict duties on every party involved in a construction project: clients, principal contractors, subcontractors, and site managers. When those duties are breached and you are injured, you are entitled to claim compensation — regardless of how complex the chain of responsibility appears.
NJS Law handles construction site accident claims across England and Wales on a No Win, No Fee basis.
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Construction workers face the highest risk of serious injury of any industry. Multiple parties may be responsible — NJS Law will identify them all and fight for maximum compensation.
Discover today if you’re eligible to make a claim.
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A construction site accident claim is a legal claim for compensation against your employer, the principal contractor, the site owner, or another responsible party when a failure to comply with construction health and safety law causes you injury. What makes construction site claims distinct is that multiple parties — with overlapping legal duties — are typically involved on any site, and any one of them may be liable for your injury, individually or jointly.
Common types of construction site accident include:
The overarching duty on all employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of all employees — including protection from falls when working at any height.
CDM 2015 is the main UK construction health and safety regulation. Clients, Principal Designers, and Principal Contractors must manage health and safety throughout a project. Contractors and workers must follow safety procedures and cooperate on site. Principal Contractors' duties extend to all workers, including subcontractors.
PUWER 1998 requires machinery to be suitable for its intended use, properly maintained and inspected, fitted with effective guards and other safety measures, protected against specific hazards, and operated only by workers who have received adequate information, instruction, and training.
Falls from height are the single biggest cause of fatal construction accidents. The Work at Height Regulations require employers and principal contractors to plan and supervise all work at height, use collective protective equipment (guardrails, safety nets), and provide fall arrest equipment (harnesses) where collective measures are insufficient. Scaffold must be designed, erected, and inspected by a competent person
Applies to all lifting operations on construction sites — crane lifts, telehandler lifts, MEWP operations. All lifting operations must be properly planned by a competent person, and all lifting equipment must be thoroughly examined at defined intervals.
You may be able to make a construction site accident claim if you are:
On construction sites, multiple defendants are common. Your direct employer, the principal contractor, the site owner, a subcontractor whose negligence caused the accident, and the manufacturer or supplier of defective plant may all be liable. NJS Law identifies all available defendants to maximise your recovery.
You may still be entitled to claim even if you were partly responsible — for example, if you breached a site rule. Contributory negligence reduces your award proportionally but does not end your right to claim. See: Can I Claim If the Accident Was Partly My Fault?
Construction accidents frequently cause severe and life-changing injuries. Solicitors use the Judicial College Guidelines, 18th edition (April 2026) to estimate the value of your injury.
Injury Type | Severity | Approximate Range |
Back injury (fracture / disc damage) | Moderate to severe | £12,510 – £169,400+ |
Leg fracture | Moderate to serious | £27,760 – £130,930+ |
Arm / shoulder injury | Moderate to severe | £4,150 – £130,930+ |
Spinal cord injury — partial paralysis | Serious | £65,740 – £205,580+ |
Spinal cord injury — paraplegia / tetraplegia | Most severe | £205,580 – £493,000+ |
Head / traumatic brain injury | Minor to severe | £2,690 – £379,100+ |
Amputation — below-knee | Severe | £102,890 – £220,890+ |
Hand / finger injuries | Moderate to serious | £17,580 – £57,000+ |
Burns (from electrical or chemical incidents) | Moderate to severe | £11,200 – £100,670+ |
Fatal accident (dependency and bereavement) | — | Variable — speak to a solicitor |
Construction injury claims — particularly those involving spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and amputations — can involve very substantial special damages claims for future care, case management, accommodation adaptations, and permanent loss of earning capacity. Interim payments can be applied for during the course of serious injury claims to fund immediate care and financial needs. See: General Damages vs Special Damages and Average Compensation Payouts.
NJS Law has recovered over £6 million for injured workers in 2024–25 alone.
Go to A&E immediately. Construction site accidents frequently cause serious injuries. Ensure the medical notes record that the injury was sustained on a construction site and describe how it happened.
Report the accident to both your direct employer and the principal contractor as soon as you are able. Most serious construction accidents must also be reported to the HSE under RIDDOR 2013. Ask for copies of all accident reports filed.
Photograph the location of the accident and the specific hazard that caused it — defective scaffold, absent guardrails, plant involved — before anything is repaired, removed, or altered. Construction sites change rapidly and evidence can disappear within hours.
Note the names and contact details of all witnesses — workers, site managers, and any visitors present at the time. Request any CCTV or dashcam footage immediately. Note the exact time and location to assist your solicitor in identifying relevant footage.
Speak to one of our specialist employer liability solicitors as soon as possible. In construction site cases, multiple defendants may be involved — your direct employer, the principal contractor, a subcontractor, and the plant or equipment owner — and NJS Law will identify all available parties from the outset.
We obtain all relevant documents — the CDM construction phase plan, scaffold inspection records, LOLER examination certificates, risk assessments, method statements, training records, RIDDOR reports, and site induction records — and issue formal Letters of Claim to all relevant insurers.
We instruct the appropriate independent experts: medical specialists (orthopaedic surgeons, spinal specialists, neurologists), construction health and safety experts, and where appropriate, care and occupational therapy experts for serious injury cases.
We present a full Schedule of Loss and negotiate the best possible settlement against all defendants. In serious injury cases we apply for interim payments to fund immediate care and financial needs. Around 95% of claims settle without going to court.
Under the Limitation Act 1980, there are strict time limits for bringing a personal injury claim. Act within these limits — missing the deadline is the most common reason valid claims cannot be pursued.
Claim Type | Time Limit | Notes |
Standard workplace accident | 3 years from date of accident | The most common scenario |
Industrial disease or occupational illness | 3 years from date of diagnosis (or “date of knowledge”) | Applies where symptoms developed gradually over time |
Child injured at work (or as a visitor) | 3 years from their 18th birthday | A parent or guardian can bring a claim at any time before the child turns 18 |
Person lacking mental capacity | Time limit suspended during period of incapacity | A litigation friend manages the claim |
Fatal workplace accident | 3 years from date of death | Dependants may claim under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 |
For a full explanation of all time limit exceptions and what to do if you are approaching your deadline, see our guide: Personal Injury Claim Time Limits in England and Wales.
For guidance on how long the claim process itself takes once you have started: How Long Does a Personal Injury Claim Take?
Case highlight
Our client arrived for work early one morning when his forklift truck struck a pothole hidden under murky water at the loading bay. The impact caused severe spinal injuries, leaving him unable to move. What followed was four years of rehabilitation, specialist hospitals, and legal complexity — with NJS Law by his side throughout.
“Nichola, my solicitor, took on two professional barristers who got my claim going. Without NJS Law, I wouldn’t have gotten this far. They helped me far beyond things I wouldn’t have known about.”
— NJS Law client, £3.7 million settlement
Settlement
£3,700,000
Injury type
Severe spinal injury
Cause
Hidden pothole — employer negligence
Duration
4-year case
Interim payments
Yes — housing, mobility, therapy
Outcome
Full independence restored
Our client suffered serious leg injuries when faulty workplace equipment malfunctioned without warning, causing a heavy load to fall directly onto both legs.
The injuries included broken bones, severe ligament damage, an extended hospital stay, ongoing pain, and long-term mobility issues.
NJS Law successfully showed that the accident was caused by defective or poorly maintained equipment, and that the employer had failed to keep the workplace equipment safe and fit for purpose.
Our client suffered a broken leg after tripping over a wooden pallet that had been left in a cluttered and poorly maintained workspace while they were operating an electric pump truck.
As they tried to manoeuvre safely around colleagues, they fell backwards over the pallet, which had been left leaning against a pipe.
The pump truck then moved forward and trapped their leg.
NJS Law proved that the accident was caused by unsafe workplace conditions, poor housekeeping, and a failure to remove obvious hazards.
Our client was sent overseas for a work project and was repeatedly required to lift and carry heavy items without suitable lifting equipment, assistance, or adequate manual handling training.
The client suffered a serious back injury, required a four-day hospital stay, experienced long-term pain and mobility difficulties, and needed time off work to recover.
Although the accident happened abroad,
NJS Law successfully established that the UK-based employer had breached its duty of care.
Our client suffered a serious arm injury while trying to clear a printer jam at work.
The printer had been positioned tightly against a wall, making it difficult to access safely.
When the client tried to move it into a safer position, they felt sudden pain and heard three sharp snaps in their arm.
The injury caused muscle and soft-tissue damage, required medical treatment and rehabilitation, led to time off work, and resulted in ongoing pain, weakness, and reduced mobility.
NJS Law proved that the employer had failed to provide a safe workplace setup, proper risk assessments, and safe procedures for dealing with equipment faults.
All accident at work claims at NJS Law are handled under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) — what most people call No Win, No Fee. Here is exactly what that means for you:
You can read a full plain-English explanation of how No Win, No Fee agreements work at No Win No Fee Claims Page.
Our dedicated solicitors specialise in slip and trip claims and have decades of combined experience securing fair compensation. We understand how stressful an accident can be and provide clear, supportive guidance throughout the process.
Contact us today for a free consultation and move forward with confidence under our No Win No Fee promise. Taking early legal advice can strengthen your claim and protect your rights.
680,000 workers were injured in the workplace in 2024–25. You may be entitled to compensation.
Being injured at work can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure of your rights or worried about your job. Our expert solicitors provide clear, honest advice and manage every aspect of your claim, so you can focus on recovery while we fight for justice.
Our specialist EL/PL team brings decades of expertise across workplace injury, employer liability, and serious injury claims.
Authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (no. 8006550).
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£3.7M forklift settlement · £135,000 Manchester worker · £33,000 overseas injury · £18,000 arm injury. Real outcomes for real clients.
Making an accident at work claim can feel overwhelming. Below we’ve answered the most common questions our clients ask. These cover eligibility, time limits, compensation, and what happens if your case goes to court.
Under CDM 2015, responsibility is shared across multiple duty holders. The client must ensure suitable management arrangements are in place. The principal contractor must plan, manage, monitor, and coordinate health and safety during the construction phase — their duty extends to all workers on site, not just their own employees. Individual contractors and subcontractors must also comply with safe systems of work and cooperate with the principal contractor. All parties may be named as defendants if their failures contributed to your accident.
Yes. The principal contractor’s CDM duty extends to all workers on site. If a failure in the principal contractor’s management of site safety — inadequate induction, failure to enforce the construction phase plan, inadequate traffic management, absent guardrails — contributed to your accident, the principal contractor may be liable in addition to or instead of your direct employer. NJS Law will identify all available defendants at the outset of your claim.
Yes, in most circumstances. Self-employed workers on construction sites are not excluded from the protection of CDM 2015, the Work at Height Regulations, or the Health and Safety at Work Act. The principal contractor owes safety duties to all workers on site — including self-employed subcontractors. If a failure in site management caused your injury, you are entitled to claim regardless of your employment status.
The principal contractor’s duty to ensure safe site conditions applies from the moment any worker is on site. Failure to provide an adequate site induction — or to prevent workers from accessing hazardous areas before they have been inducted — is itself a breach of CDM 2015. If your accident occurred in circumstances that an induction would have prevented, the absence of that induction is strong evidence of a CDM failure.
You may have a claim against the subcontractor whose negligence caused your injury, and also against the principal contractor for failing to adequately manage and supervise the interaction between different trades and contractors on site. The principal contractor’s duty under CDM 2015 includes coordinating the activities of all contractors to prevent accidents caused by their interaction.
No. Breaching a site rule may result in a finding of contributory negligence — reducing your compensation proportionally — but it does not extinguish your claim. The question is whether your employer or the principal contractor allowed unsafe conditions that made the accident foreseeable, or failed to enforce site rules consistently. A single breach by a worker in an environment where rules are routinely ignored does not shift all liability to the worker.
Under RIDDOR 2013, most serious construction site accidents must be reported to the HSE: deaths, specified injuries (including fractures, amputations, crush injuries), over-seven-day injuries, and dangerous occurrences. If your employer failed to file a RIDDOR report when required to do so, this is itself evidence of poor safety management — though it does not prevent you from claiming. Your solicitor can check the HSE’s RIDDOR records and advise on the implications.
Dependants can claim for loss of financial dependency and bereavement under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976. The estate can also claim for the deceased’s own losses between the accident and death. Construction fatality claims are complex and require early instruction of specialist lawyers. NJS Law handles fatal accident claims with the expertise and sensitivity this work demands — contact us as early as possible.
Straightforward construction accident claims may settle within 12-18 months. Complex claims involving multiple defendants, serious injuries, or liability disputes can take two to four years to resolve — particularly where future care and loss of earnings are contested. In serious cases NJS Law applies for interim payments as early as possible to fund care and address financial pressures during the claim. For general timescale guidance: How Long Does a Personal Injury Claim Take?
Three years from the date of your accident in most cases, under the Limitation Act 1980. For fatal accidents, three years from the date of death. Evidence from construction sites changes quickly — do not delay in seeking advice. Full time limit guidance: Personal Injury Claim Time Limits
Our solicitors have written a library of plain-English guides to help you understand your rights. Read the articles most relevant to your situation:
Injured at work? Learn the key steps to take straight away to protect your health, evidence, and legal rights.
Find out how workplace injury compensation is calculated and what factors can affect the value of your claim.
Learn how No Win No Fee accident at work claims work and how you can start a claim without upfront legal fees.
A simple guide to the personal injury claims process, from starting your claim to reaching a settlement.
Understand your rights if you are worried about your job after making a workplace injury claim.
Learn what RIDDOR is, which workplace accidents must be reported, and how it may support your claim.
Find out your rights after a construction site accident and how to claim compensation for your injuries.
Learn how PUWER 1998 protects workers injured by unsafe machinery, tools, or workplace equipment.
Understand when you may be able to claim compensation after a fall from height at work.
Find out what affects the length of a personal injury claim and what to expect during the process.
Learn how PUWER 1998 protects workers injured by unsafe machinery, tools, or workplace equipment.
Learn how personal injury payouts are assessed and why compensation varies from case to case.
Understand the key time limits for making a personal injury claim in England and Wales.
Find out how partial fault can affect your personal injury claim and compensation amount.
Learn the difference between compensation for pain and suffering and compensation for financial losses.
Find out when interim payments may be available before your personal injury claim fully settles.
For fast, friendly affordable legal advice. Contact a member of our team today.
