The Worst Football Injuries in FIFA World Cup History
Falls From Height Solicitors — Scotland
Falls from height are among the most dangerous workplace accidents and can lead to life-changing injuries or fatalities. If you’ve suffered harm in an accident that wasn’t your fault, our falls from height solicitors can help you secure the financial compensation you deserve
Made It Very Easy For Me
"I was very apprehensive starting a claim, but I was helped through every step. I found it a very easy process and was very pleased with the outcome. Watermans were professional and efficient in handling the claim. They made it very easy for me!"
S Costelloe, Personal Injury Claim
The Short of It
If your fall accident happened within the last three years,
you might still be able to pursue a fall from height claim.
Falling from ladders, scaffolding, roofs, down steps or a flight of stairs
is often caused by employer negligence or unsafe conditions.
Our fall claims solicitors are experts
in handling workplace accident claims.
Everything we do at Watermans
is about getting you the resolution you need and providing straightforward legal advice. It should be that simple.
The Long of It
Fall from Height Accidents
Fall from Height Accident Claims
Many construction, telecommunications, scaffolding and maintenance jobs often require employees to work above ground level. Every year, falling from heights causes thousands of workplace injuries and fatalities across Scotland.
If your job involves working at height, your employer has a legal obligation to keep you safe. Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, they must:
- First assess whether the work can be avoided, and where it cannot
- Put safety procedures and the right equipment in place to prevent falls
- Provide suitable training
- Supply appropriate safety equipment
These regulations apply to any task where you could fall and be hurt, and they exist to protect workers.
Falls from height are not only a fatal risk. They also cause thousands of serious but survivable injuries at work each year, which is why so many people are left with a claim worth pursuing.
If these duties aren’t met and you’re injured as a result, you may have grounds to pursue a fall from height compensation claim.
Common Falls from Height Accidents
Workplace accidents can occur for many reasons, especially when safety measures aren’t properly maintained. Employees can also sustain injuries from:
- Falling from a ladder or scaffolding: Improperly secured or ill-maintained ladders and scaffolding can cause workers to lose their balance or footing, resulting in serious fall injuries. Our fall from scaffolding solicitors see these cases often.
- Falling down steps or stairs: Poor lighting, cluttered steps, damaged staircases, and uneven or slippery steps can cause workers to slip, trip or lose their balance, resulting in painful, severe injuries, sometimes including a traumatic brain injury.
- Falling through roofs: Workers in the construction or maintenance industries are particularly vulnerable to falls through roofs. Inadequate safety equipment, such as harnesses or safety nets, can result in a severe workplace injury or even death.
- Falling into uncovered holes or trenches: Open holes, trenches and unmarked excavations pose danger on construction sites and other workplaces. These can lead to accidents-at-work compensation claims.
Falls can have a devastating impact on the victim and their families. Even a fall from a relatively low level can cause long-lasting injuries. A serious injury at work may force you to change jobs or stop working altogether, leading to a potential loss or reduction in earnings.
Making a Claim
How Do I Make a Fall from Height Accident Claim?
Working at heights carries risk, but employees are still entitled to safe conditions, proper equipment and adequate training. If an accident occurs without proper safeguards, you may be able to pursue a fall from height claim. This means pursuing compensation for both your injuries and the wider effects and consequences the accident has had on your life.
The compensation could cover loss of earnings, treatment costs, and other expenses incurred as a result of your injuries. It can also compensate for the impact on you and your family, particularly where the accidents involve serious injury or death.
How Much Compensation?
How Much Compensation Can I Claim for a Fall from Height Accident?
Compensation varies depending on the severity of your injuries and their impact on your life. It can take account of your medical expenses, lost earnings and the wider financial losses a fall causes. A fall from height claim may include:
- Medical costs: Covering hospital and private medical treatment, medication, physiotherapy and any ongoing care needed for your recovery.
- Loss of earnings: Compensation for time off work, reduced income or an inability to return to your previous role.
- Future expenses: Includes ongoing treatment, rehabilitation, medication, care needs or specialist equipment required in the future.
- Home adaptations and care costs: Covering changes to your home or assistance needed if your mobility or independence is affected.
- Pain, suffering and emotional distress: This can include PTSD, anxiety and how the injuries affect your personal relationships.
Where a fall has been fatal, a claim can also cover funeral expenses and the loss of support to those who depended on the person who died.
Try our online claims calculator to estimate the potential value of your fall from height compensation claims.
What to Do After a Fall from Height
To protect your health and strengthen your claim, it’s important to follow these steps:
- Report the accident: Inform your employer as soon as possible and make sure it’s recorded in the company’s accident book. This creates an official record that can support your fall from height claim.
- Seek medical attention: Even if the injury seems minor, ensure you or the injured person gets examined by a medical professional. Immediate medical treatment means you will receive professional advice on how best to treat and recover from your injuries. The medical records may then be used as evidence as part of your claim.
- Gather evidence: Take photos of the scene and any hazards, such as unsafe equipment or poor lighting, and note the names of any witnesses. Our team will gather witness statements and evidence on your behalf.
- Contact our falls from height solicitors: Once you’ve taken the initial steps, you can contact our fall claims solicitors for support. We’ll help you gather evidence, prove negligence, and navigate the claims process.
Contact Watermans today to speak with one of our dedicated fall injury solicitors. Let us help you seek the financial compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Why Watermans?
Why Should I Choose Watermans to Pursue My Fall from Height Claim?
Watermans simplifies legal services so people can move forward in life.
Our expert team of fall injury solicitors is dedicated to making the claims process as straightforward as possible. That commitment runs through every case, and we guide you through the legal process to keep it as stress-free as possible for you.
We can also provide access to physiotherapy and psychological treatment to support your recovery.
Trusted Personal Injury Solicitors in Scotland
We are a team of experienced solicitors regulated by the Law Society of Scotland, with strong client feedback and a clear claims process. Watermans holds a 4.9 out of 5 rating from over 1,400 reviews on Review Solicitors, which we hope gives you confidence before you get in touch.
Our expertise in personal injury covers a wide range of areas, including:
FAQs About Fall Injury Claims
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 set a simple order of priority:
- Avoid working at height where the job allows it
- Prevent falls with collective measures such as guardrails or nets where they are needed
- Minimise the consequences of any remaining risk through the right equipment and training
This means that employers must conduct risk assessments, provide appropriate training, supply personal protective equipment (PPE), properly plan work at height and maintain equipment such as ladders and scaffolding.
We understand the financial burden that a fall from height injury can place on you and your family. That’s why we aim to make our legal fees as affordable as possible.
We work on a no-win, no-fee basis, so if your claim isn’t successful, you won’t have to pay our legal fees. Our slip and fall injury lawyers offer free initial consultations to help you understand your options. We’ll take the time to listen to your case and provide clear guidance for your unique situation.
You can usually claim if your fall was caused by someone else, such as an employer failing to keep you safe. In Scotland, you generally have three years from the date of your accident to settle your claim or to raise and serve a court action, under the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973. We advise speaking to a solicitor sooner rather than later to understand your position and whether you have a valid claim.
Often, yes. This is known as contributory negligence, where your share of responsibility reduces your compensation rather than removing it. If you were found 20% responsible, for example, your award would be reduced by 20%, so it is still worth getting advice.
Yes. Close family members can claim after a fatal accident, and the claim can reflect the loss of the person’s support, income and companionship, as well as funeral costs. Our fall-at-work solicitors handle these sensitive cases with care.
It depends on the case. Straightforward claims where fault is accepted can settle in months, while serious or disputed cases take longer because more evidence and medical reports are needed. We keep you updated at each stage so there are no surprises.
Often, yes. Self-employed workers account for around 40% of fatal falls from height, despite being a small share of the workforce, and even without an employer, you may be able to claim against whoever controlled the site or failed to keep it safe.
Let Watermans guide you through the process of making a successful claim for your fall accident.
Request a callback from our expert fall at work and falls from height solicitors.
Get in touch with us
Everything we do at Watermans is about getting you the resolution you need and making that process straightforward. Start the process by sending us your details below or calling us on 0131 555 7055
Our personal injury claims expert
“Making a claim for compensation can be such a daunting process for people, so I try to make it as straightforward and easy to understand as I can for them.”
Susanne McGraw, Head of Personal Injury