Factory Accident Claims
Injured in a factory accident? You could be entitled to compensation
Factory accidents can cause serious injuries with lasting consequences. If your employer failed in their duty of care, our expert solicitors can help you claim compensation on a no win no fee basis.
Call 020 7485 8811 to talk about compensation.
“They punch well above their weight. The quality of service they provide equals that of any of the larger top-name firms in this area.”
“Osbornes fields a specialist personal injury team with standout expertise in catastrophic trauma, regularly securing multimillion-pound settlements in spinal, brain, and amputation cases. “
Table of Contents
Factory accident claims: get expert advice after an injury
Factory environments are high-risk, and accidents can have serious, even life-changing, consequences. If you’ve been injured in a factory accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation. Whether your injury was caused by faulty machinery, poor training or unsafe working conditions, our specialist factory accident solicitors can help you understand your rights and secure the compensation you deserve.
Can I make a factory accident compensation claim?
You can make a claim if:
- You were injured while working in a factory or warehouse
- The accident was caused by someone else’s negligence (employer, contractor or co-worker)
- The accident happened within the last three years
Employers have a legal duty to protect your health and safety. If they fail to meet that duty and you are injured as a result, you may have grounds to claim compensation.
Common factory and industrial injuries
Factories combine heavy machinery, automated production lines, lifting equipment, chemicals and high noise levels in a single environment. The injuries we see most often fall into a handful of recognised patterns.
Machinery entanglement and amputation. Presses, conveyors, mixers, packaging lines and robotic cells can pull in clothing, hair or limbs in a fraction of a second. Amputations, severe de-gloving and crush injuries are common. The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 require every dangerous moving part to be guarded. Missing guards, bypassed interlocks or maintenance shortcuts almost always establish liability.
Crush injuries from lifting and handling. Overhead cranes, hoists and pallet movers cause crush injuries when loads swing, slip or fall. Lifting operations that fail to comply with LOLER regularly cause spinal damage, multiple fractures and fatal injuries.
Falls from height. Mezzanines, gantries, fixed ladders and raised platforms cause falls when edge protection is missing or removed for production access. Outcomes include spinal cord injury, brain injury and multiple fractures. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require employers to plan, supervise and properly equip every job above ground level.
Chemical exposure and occupational disease. Solvents, isocyanates, metalworking fluids and cleaning chemicals cause occupational asthma, dermatitis and long-term respiratory disease. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations require employers to assess exposure, control it and monitor health. Claims can succeed years after the exposure ended.
Slips, trips and falls on the factory floor. Oil leaks, coolant spills, swarf and trip hazards on production lines cause back injuries, fractures and head trauma. Where housekeeping standards drop, the same hazards recur and claims tend to follow.
Noise-induced hearing loss. Press shops, foundries, bottling plants and timber processing often generate noise above the action levels in the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. Long-term exposure without hearing protection causes permanent hearing loss and tinnitus, and is reportable under RIDDOR.
Forklift and industrial vehicle incidents. Forklifts, pallet trucks and reach trucks share factory floors with workers on foot. Pedestrian collisions and crush injuries are common where segregated walkways, mirrors at blind corners and traffic management are inadequate.
Repetitive strain and manual handling injuries. Production line work involving repeated lifting, twisting, packing or assembly causes back injuries, shoulder damage, carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow. Employers must rotate tasks, assess manual handling risk and provide lifting aids where needed.
How much compensation can I claim after a factory accident?
Your compensation will depend on the severity of your injury and the impact on your life. Most factory accident claims include:
- General damages – for pain, suffering and loss of amenity
- Special damages – for lost earnings, medical expenses, care costs and travel
We will obtain medical reports to understand your injury, assess future care needs and negotiate for the maximum possible settlement.
No win no fee factory accident solicitors
We handle most claims on a no win no fee basis, so:
- You don’t pay anything upfront
- You pay nothing if your claim doesn’t succeed
- Our fee is capped and deducted from your compensation if you win
We’ll explain the agreement clearly before you begin so you understand your options and don’t face unexpected costs.
Do I need a solicitor for a factory accident claim?
While you can deal with insurers directly, having a solicitor can make a significant difference. Our factory accident lawyers:
- Value your claim accurately
- Negotiate strongly with insurers
- Handle paperwork and deadlines
- Apply for interim payments if needed
You’ll be supported every step of the way by an experienced, approachable solicitor who is committed to your case.
Real-life factory accident case: head injury from faulty machinery
We successfully represented Mrs V, a Bulgarian national working in an industrial bakery in London. She spoke limited English and had been operating a machine on the production line, one she had used many times before without issue, when a serious accident occurred.
Without warning, a metal block suddenly swung out from the machine, striking her on the head with force. The impact knocked her unconscious and threw her across the factory floor. Mrs V had no idea what the part was, why it had been ejected, or how the malfunction had occurred. There were no witnesses, and proving fault would normally have been extremely difficult.
However, because the machine had clearly malfunctioned, the employer was held strictly liable under workplace safety regulations. We secured compensation for Mrs V’s head injury, which affected her ability to work for nearly three years.
If you’ve been injured in a similar accident at work, our specialist solicitors can help. Learn more about making an accident at work claim.
Why choose Osbornes Law for your factory accident claim?
We’ve been helping injured workers for over 50 years and are consistently recognised as one of the UK’s leading personal injury law firms. Our team includes APIL-accredited Senior Litigators and specialists in serious injury claims.
Clients choose us because:
- Osbornes Law are recognised as one of London’s leading personal injury firms, ranked by The Legal 500 and Chambers UK for our expertise.
- Our lawyers are accredited by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), reflecting their specialist knowledge.
- Our team also includes a brain injury and spinal injury specialists, ensuring support for complex cases.
- With a 4.7★ rating on Trustpilot from hundreds of reviews, our clients trust us to deliver outstanding results and the support they need after an accident at work.
Start your factory accident claim today
If you’ve been injured in a factory accident and want to know if you’re eligible to claim, contact us for free, no-obligation advice.
To speak with one of our solicitors, contact us by:
- Filling in our online enquiry form; or
- Calling us on 020 7485 8811
★★★★★“I have been lucky enough to find a team of lawyers who are super professional, attentive and who have given their all to help me. I had an accident at work and I had a very bad time, they have managed to always be attentive to my case and everything has turned out great. Thanks to Blanca Diego, Sara Espeja and Patricia McCaffrey. They are three great lawyers and I thank them enormously for their professionalism.”
FAQs
How long do I have to make a factory accident claim?
Generally, you have three years from the date of the accident or the date you became aware of your injury. There are exceptions, so speak to a solicitor as soon as possible.
Can I claim if I still work for the factory?
Yes. The law protects you from being treated unfairly or dismissed for making a legitimate compensation claim.
What if the factory has closed down?
You may still be able to claim against the factory’s insurer, even if the company no longer exists.
How long does a factory accident claim take?
Straightforward claims can settle in 6–9 months. More complex cases involving serious injuries may take longer. We aim to progress your claim as quickly and efficiently as possible.
What makes machinery injuries in factories different from other workplace accidents?
Machinery injuries are one of the few situations in UK law where strict liability applies. This means that if a machine is defective and causes injury, regardless of fault, the employer is automatically liable to pay compensation.
What is strict liability?
Strict liability means there is no need to prove that the employer was at fault. The law assumes liability exists if a defective machine causes harm. This legal protection is in place because employees may struggle to prove employer negligence in such cases.
Why does strict liability apply to machinery injuries?
There is often an imbalance of power between employers and employees. Employees may not have access to technical knowledge or evidence about how or why a machine failed. Strict liability helps protect workers from this mismatch by holding employers accountable for machine safety.
Does strict liability apply to all types of workplace injuries?
No, most workplace accidents still require proof of employer negligence. This means the employee must show how the employer failed to meet legal duties or created unsafe conditions that led to the injury.
What duties do employers have to protect factory workers?
Employers must follow health and safety regulations, which include:
Ensuring machinery and equipment are safe to use Conducting proper training for workers Organising the workplace to reduce risks (e.g., separating pedestrian walkways from vehicle routes) Performing regular risk assessmentsAre there rules about vehicles like forklifts in factories?
Yes. Regulations require that vehicles such as forklifts and pallet trucks operate in designated areas and do not pose a risk to pedestrians. Many injuries occur when these rules are ignored, allowing vehicles to move through shared spaces.
How are hazardous substances regulated in factories?
Special regulations control the use of hazardous or toxic substances to protect workers’ health. Employers must ensure proper handling procedures, provide protective equipment, and assess health risks regularly.
What is the role of the Health & Safety Executive in a factory?
The Health & Safety Executive is responsible for overseeing workplace safety, ensuring compliance with regulations, conducting risk assessments, and promoting a culture of safety to prevent accidents.
Department head Sophie Davies handles severe injury and fatality matters with a focus on early rehabilitation.
Sophie Davies runs the PI team and is a dedicated professional and extremely knowledgeable and caring about her clients.
Sophie is a first-class litigator. She is tenacious in pursuing the most difficult cases and doing so successfully by combining shrewd judgment with a steely determination.
Sophie Davies is a specialist in major cognitive and lower limb injury claims.
Sophie is personable and bright with the complete trust of her clients. She works with enthusiasm and dedication.
Sophie's knowledge of any given catastrophic case she's working on is compendious, returns all the details and is able to deploy them effectively.
Sophie is gentle, determined and efficient. She absolutely knows what she is doing and is a really good practitioner.
Sophie Davies is particularly adept at dealing with challenging claims by European nationals who have suffered serious injuries in the UK.
Sophie Davies is outstanding. She takes on tough cases and pushes them to a successful conclusion.
"Sophie and Elma were invaluable in guiding me through the process of making my insurance claim, and helped me reach the best possible outcome from the worst possible situation. The tremendous loss I dealt with from the accident was absolutely compensated for, and I would have been beyond incapable of achieving this without their help. It doesn’t beg thinking what I would have done without them.""
“You've been the most amazing, understanding, professional, compassionate [and] respectful... I did not dream I could end up in better hands. There are no words to describe my appreciation and gratitude.”
"Excellent help and advice from Sophie in a car accident claim. The work was done on no win no fee basis, the final fee was very reasonable, very satisfied with the outcome which we would not have achieved without such a knowledgeable advice."
"Sophie Davies' guidance and suggested opportunities to strengthen my case as well her experienced and supportive handling of issues that arose over the twenty months, made the whole experience predictable and stress free. I have no hesitation in highly recommending Osbornes."
"I would like to say, I was lucky to have Sophie Davies as a lawyer. She was very good at explaining in detail the legal terms, clarifying the procedure and the possibilities. She has a very deep knowledge and experience."
“Thank you and thank you once again for all your hard work and support through it all. ”
“I am really happy with the result Osbornes solicitors got me and that I received such a personal, friendly service and support throughout.”
Client Stories & News InsightsVIEW ALL
13.3.2024Accident at Work Compensation Examples
Factory Worker Receives £14,000 for Hot Water Burns Our client was working in a food producing factory. He was injured when...
Read more- 23.11.2023
Accident at work claim settled for Hungarian factory...
Forklift trucks are a common cause of warehouse injury claims due to human error on the part of the forklift...
Read more - 17.11.2021
£165,000 settlement for factory accident
Siobhan McIvor, a Partner in the Personal Injury Department of Osbornes Law, has settled a £165,000 accident at work claim, with...
Read more - 13.8.2019
Osbornes settles finger amputation claim for record £1 million...
Osbornes acts for a factory worker who suffered partial finger amputations on his dominant hand when it got caught in...
Read more
