Construction Accident Solicitors — Scotland

Construction Site Accidents

Construction remains one of the highest-risk industries in Britain. According to the Health and Safety Executive, construction accounts for a significant proportion of fatal workplace injuries each year. Falls from height remain the leading cause of serious and fatal injuries on construction sites.

Your employer and the principal contractor must follow strict safety regulations, including the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015. These regulations exist to protect you by ensuring proper planning, supervision and risk management, especially within a construction company.

If those responsibilities are not met and you are injured, you may be entitled to pursue workplace accident claims. Under Scots Law, your claim must either settle within three years of the accident or court proceedings must be raised and served within that period.

That is why speaking to a solicitor early matters. It gives you clarity on how the time limit applies to your situation. We work on a no-win, no-fee agreement so you can pursue your case without financial risk.

How Construction Site Accident Claims Work

Construction work is strenuous and often involves extreme heights, operating heavy machinery or handling dangerous materials. These factors can lead to minor and severe construction site accidents, including:

• Lifting accidents
• Falls from heights and ladders
• Safety harness failure
• Contact with forklifts and other heavy machinery
• Tool malfunctions
• Chemical spillages
• Defective scaffolding

Many of these accidents are caused by employer negligence and human error. By law, your employer or the main contractor is responsible for providing a safe working environment.

If your employer or main contractor violates any health and safety rules, they may be liable for compensating you for your injuries and damages. This also applies if your accident occurred due to inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE) or insufficient safety training.

Common Construction Injuries

Common Causes of Construction Claims

Here’s a breakdown of common construction site injuries.

• Strains and sprains: Overexertion, lifting heavy objects or repetitive motions can cause strains and sprains in various body parts, particularly the back, neck and shoulders.
• Lacerations and cuts: Working with sharp tools, exposed nails or jagged edges can result in deep cuts or lacerations that may require stitches or surgery.
• Fractures: Falls from heights, being struck by falling objects or getting caught in between equipment can lead to broken bones.
• Head injury: Being struck by falling objects, slips, trips and falls can cause concussions and more severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
• Burns: Exposure to chemicals, hot surfaces or electrical currents can cause burns of varying degrees.
• Respiratory issues: Inhaling dust, fumes, or other harmful substances can lead to respiratory problems, such as asthma or lung diseases.
• Hearing loss: Prolonged exposure to loud noises from construction equipment can result in hearing loss or tinnitus.
• Amputations: In severe cases, building site accidents involving heavy machinery or power tools can result in the loss of fingers, toes or limbs.

Even if your injury doesn’t fall under one of these categories, our construction accident solicitors are still here to help.

Making a Claim

Who Can Make a Building Site Accident Claim?

If you’ve had any construction site or machinery accidents in the past three years, you may be eligible to secure compensation.

This applies to: 

• Construction workers: Those directly involved in the construction process, such as labourers, carpenters, electricians, plumbers and heavy equipment operators.
• Contractors: Independent contractors or subcontractors hired to work on construction sites.
• Site visitors: Individuals visiting the site for work-related purposes, such as architects, engineers, inspectors or clients.

To qualify for a construction injury compensation claim, the accident must have occurred due to someone else’s negligence, including:

• Failure to provide a safe working environment
• Lack of proper training or supervision
• Defective equipment or machinery
• Lack of proper safety gear or protective equipment
• Non-compliance with health and safety regulations

If you’re unsure whether you qualify for a construction claim, reach out to one of our building site and construction injury solicitors today. We can assess your eligibility and guide you through the construction accident claims process under Scots Law.

How Do I Make A Construction Site Accident Claim?

If you have suffered a personal injury from a work accident within the last three years, follow these steps:

1. Seek medical attention: This is essential for your health and provides crucial medical records to support your claim.
2. Report the accident: Notify your employer, main contractor or health and safety executive (HSE) as soon as possible. This ensures there’s a health and safety record of the event.
3. Seek legal advice: Speak to our personal injury lawyers in Glasgow today to get clear, straightforward advice. Initial consultations are free.
4. Gather evidence: These include photographs of where the accident occurred, witness details and any relevant documentation (e.g., safety protocols and training records).
5. Focus on your recovery: Our construction accident lawyers will handle the legal process so you can concentrate on recuperating.

How Much Compensation?

How Much Compensation Could You Claim?

There’s no definitive answer for how much compensation you could claim for your accident. It will depend on the severity of the injury and its effect on you. In most instances, you may be entitled to claim compensation for:

• Rehabilitation, hospital and medical expenses: Compensation will cover hospital stays, surgeries, medication, physiotherapy and any other injury-related medical costs.
• Lost earnings: If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job or limit your future earning capacity, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages and future income.
• Home modification and care expenses: These include installing ramps or widening doorways.
• Pain and emotional distress: Compensation also covers the pain, suffering and emotional distress, such as PTSD and anxiety.
• Severity of injuries sustained: More severe injuries, such as brain trauma, spinal cord damage or amputations, typically lead to higher compensation amounts.

Our experienced construction injury lawyers in Edinburgh and Glasgow will thoroughly assess your case to ensure you receive the maximum compensation. Use our online claims calculator to estimate what you may be entitled to.

Why Watermans?

Why should I choose Watermans to pursue my claim?

At Watermans, we simplify legal services so you can move forward in life. Our legal experts specialise in construction work injury claims, ensuring that you receive the support you need.

We’ll guide you through the process, handle the complexities and provide access to additional services, such as physiotherapy and psychological treatment. Our law firms in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Dunfermline mean you can access experienced legal support delivered in a clear and uncomplicated way.

Expert Construction Accident Solicitors in Scotland

Our expertise in personal injury claims covers a wide range of areas, including:

• Accidents at work
• Public liability claims
• Road traffic accidents
• Fatal and serious injury claims
• Cases relating to abuse

We represent thousands of clients throughout Scotland each year, securing millions of pounds in compensation.