I was injured by stock falling from shelves in a warehouse when a shelf was hit by a forklift truck. My employer has told me that I cannot claim compensation as I only have a temporary contract. Is this correct?
Eoin P. Campbell, LL.B., Solicitor
Editor in Chief
A claim for compensation for being injured by stock falling from shelves in a warehouse can be made against your employer’s insurance policy regardless of the situation with your work contract. Claiming personal injury compensation for being injured by stock falling from shelves is a legal right which not only covers employees, but also visitors to a warehouse.
Whether you are entitled to claim compensation for being injured by stock falling from shelves in warehouse will depend on whether the accident was caused by negligence of your employer. Your employer should have ensured that his staff were competent in the use of a forklift truck, that warehouse shelving was sturdy enough to resist accidental bumps from warehouse vehicles and that stock was stacked correctly. If you can establish and prove that your employer has failed to ensure that the workplace was safe and his failings were the cause of your injuries, a claim for warehouse injury compensation should have every chance of success.
Your injuries must have been treated by a doctor and if you have not yet sought professional medical attention you must do so immediately. The next step is to make sure that the accident is documented. You must make a report of the accident in your Employers Accident Book. You must record the circumstances of the accident, the driver of the forklift truck who caused it and the date and time the accident occurred. If there were any witnesses to the accident you should record their details in the accident report as well.
Claiming compensation for being injured by stock falling from shelves in a warehouse can be a daunting prospect, especially when an employer has suggested a claim for compensation is not possible. There are often financial implications for an employer when a claim for warehouse injury compensation is made by an employee, and some unscrupulous employers may try to convince workers that they are not within their rights to claim compensation. You should not be discouraged by your employer about making a claim for compensation if you have been genuinely injured by items falling from shelves in the warehouse. If you have been genuinely injured in an accident at work which was caused by negligence on the part of your employer, you are fully entitled to recover compensation for your pain, suffering and loss. However, whenever an employer indicates that a claim for compensation is not possible, a personal injury solicitor should be consulted for advice.
When you first contact a personal injury solicitor you will need to explain your situation, the circumstances of the accident and the injuries you have sustained. After listening to your account of the accident and your injuries, a personal injury solicitor will be able to confirm whether you are entitled to claim compensation for being injured by stock falling from shelves in a warehouse against your employer. If you use a personal injury solicitor to prepare your claim and pursue compensation on your behalf, it can help to prevent awkward confrontations with your employer.