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No one wants to suffer an accident while they are working as, aside from the physical pain and psychological trauma an injury can cause, there is also the fact that it may prevent you from working for an indefinite period, which few people can afford. Luckily, if you are unfortunate enough to be injured while at your place of work, there are compensation claims that you can make to help you to cope with anything from medical bills to lost income. These are the main types of work accident compensation claims that can be made in this situation.

Special damages

This means previous costs that you may have suffered as a result of the injury you received at work, and will require you to offer proof of the amounts you are claiming for through receipts. This can refer to everything from the loss of income you have experienced due to being unable to work, travelling costs incurred in the course of visits to hospitals and personal GPs, medical costs for the treatment you receive and expenses caused by having to cancel an engagement, such as a holiday, due to injuries received.

General damages

This refers to areas such as the pain and suffering or post-traumatic stress experienced due to injuries received in a workplace accident. The value of these types of damages is often set by the solicitor. Furthermore, interest can be claimed on both general and special damages, with the level varying depending on which of these it is.

Legal expenses

If you win your compensation claim, then in addition to the damages you are awarded, your employer will generally be required to meet the costs of your legal action. This, together with the damages should be covered by the employer’s employee liability insurance, assuming they have secured the appropriate cover.