Injuries due to faulty defective machinery

government help and benefits for people with injuries due to faulty/defective machinery

Government help and benefits are available for those injured by faulty or defective machinery, but will depend entirely on the nature and severity of the injuries you suffered.

If your injury was caused by a negligent employer and you have received state benefits as a result of your injuries you may wish to set up a personal injury trust that will protect your pay-out award while maintaining your entitlement to means tested state benefits.

To find out exactly what government help and benefits you may be entitled to, visit your local Jobcentre Plus. Other useful sources of help and information include the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Your trade union may be able to assist you with legal matters and can provide information about what benefits you may be entitled to, or at least point you in the right direction, and give you help in applying for them.

That support will be either means-tested, based on current income and savings, or based on your National Insurance contributions and an assessment of the level of your disability.

Means-tested benefits include income-related employment and support allowance, housing benefit and council tax relief. Benefits based on assessment of your disability can include personal independence payment and industrial injuries disablement benefit as well as help to buy or hire any specialist equipment you may need.

how do I make a claim about an injury due to faulty/defective machinery

However your injury happened at work, it’s important to use a solicitor with expertise in this field.

Previously in claims involving defective equipment if you could show that the injury was caused due to faulty equipment then liability would automatically attach. However, this is no longer the case and you must prove that your employers negligence lead to you sustaining injury.

Proving that your employer was at fault means that evidence must be gathered to support your claim. You should take some steps yourself such as reporting the accident to your manager or supervisor and making sure a record of your accident in the firm’s accident book.

Take photographs of the equipment if possible and get details of work colleagues who witnessed your accident. Make a note if there have been previous problems with the equipment that injured you. All this will help to strengthen your case.

It may be necessary to inspect the faulty equipment, in which case a Shoosmiths solicitor will visit your place of work. If needed, we will also use specialist engineers to test the suspect machinery or equipment.

There are time limits in these types of claim, so you should get in touch as soon as possible. We aim to make the process stress-free and will explain all your options in plain English.

if I have a case about an injury due to faulty/defective machinery

Injuries caused by defective machinery can be mild but accidents such as electrocution can often be fatal and in more serious incidents amputation (traumatic or surgical) is very common. If you have sustained an injury from using defective equipment the physical and mental effects cannot be underestimated.

Pursuing a claim will not only ensure that you are properly remunerated for your injury, but will also mean that you are reimbursed for any losses and expenses that you have incurred. This includes any future loss of earnings if your injury means that you have to take time off work (or cannot return to work at all) as well as funding the cost of medical treatment and rehabilitation.

If the accident occurred at work and it can be shown that you employer breached their duty of care towards you as set out in the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) you may very well be able to successfully pursue a claim.

Recent legislative changes have shifted the burden of proving there was such a breach of care on to the injured claimant rather than a negligent employer, but that should not deter you from finding out if you have a case. Any solicitor is unlikely to take your case on unless they think it stands a good chance of success, especially if they are representing you on a No-Win-No-Fee basis.

more about injuries due to faulty/defective machinery

When injuries due to faulty or defective equipment happen at work and employees are protected by a number of regulations which are aimed at promoting occupational health and safety.

The courts have a wide interpretation of the meaning of 'work equipment'. Aside from the obvious things such as presses, drills and lathes, coffee machines, lifts, doors, vehicles, ladders and knives have all been held to be 'work equipment'.

A machinery injury at work can have many causes. Crush type injuries can be a result of a missing or inadequate safety guards. Serious injuries such as industrial deafness of loss of vision can result from inadequate ear or eye protection. A lack of proper training in how to use work machinery can lead to injury or the equipment itself may simply be unsuitable for the job or poorly maintained.

Suffering any injury due to faulty or defective machinery can have serious personal and financial consequences. Pursuing a claim will not only ensure adequate pay-out for the injury, but will also allow access to the best rehabilitation and treatment providers to aid recovery.