Manual Handling Injury Claims

Manual handling is any activity that involves the movement of objects by hand. If you have been injured by lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling items at work you may be entitled to make a manual handling injury claim.

If you have suffered from an injury, this can be both physically and emotionally distressing as well as having a big financial impact.  Compare Compensation Claims are here to help, offering you expert support and guidance.

Legal Experts in manual handling claims

Manual handling injuries often affect the back, shoulders, arms, or hands and can result from poor technique, excessive weight, or repetitive movements.

To protect employees, employers have a legal and ethical duty to assess manual handling tasks, identify potential risks, and implement measures to reduce or eliminate them. This includes providing proper training, ensuring safe systems of work, offering mechanical aids where necessary, and promoting good posture and lifting techniques.

Call us on Freephone: 0800 688 9553 for a free consultation with an experienced manual handling injury solicitor.  We can help you claim the compensation you are entitled to and support your recovery by ensuring you receive the best treatment and rehabilitation.

Our directory of highly rated work accident solicitors allows you to choose the best service for you.  All the solicitors listed work on a no win, no fee basis, so there are no upfront fees or hidden charges, and you will only pay a fee if your claim is successful.

What can you claim for manual handling injuries

The amount of manual handling accident compensation you may be able to claim will depend on the type and extent of your injuries and the amount of financial loss you have suffered.  Compensation can be claimed for general damages and special damages.

General damages is the amount of compensation for the injury itself and can include both physical and psychological injuries. The manual handling injury compensation amount would be negotiated by your legal representatives based on the JC Guidelines and relevant case law. The compensation considers your pain, suffering and loss of amenity.

Special damages refer to the recovery of your financial loss and can include medical expenses, travelling expenses to attend appointments, care and assistance and loss of earnings. Loss of earnings is calculated based on the amount of pay you have lost due to being unable to work during the period you were injured.

It may also be possible to claim for future loss of earnings and to get a compensation award for any disadvantage in the open labour market if you are unable to return to the same job you did pre-injury (known as a Smith v Manchester award).

The amount of general damages compensation for some injuries relating to manual handling injury claims in accordance with the 17^th edition of the Judicial College Guidelines (JC) are as follows:

Manual handling injuries

The most common injuries associated with manual handling accidents are:

• Workplace back injuries – including strains and slipped discs.
•  Musculoskeletal disorders – conditions affecting the bones, muscle joints and connective tissues.
•  Hernias – quite often caused by lifting.
•  Hand injuries – lacerations and crushing of hands and fingers.
•  Injured feet – due to handling the pressure of a load or caused by dropping objects.
• Various sprains and strains – most often caused by twisting and stretching.

Manual handling injuries in the workplace can happen in any workplace including offices, retail settings, warehouses, factories, farms and construction sites.

The Health and Safety Executive reports that manual handling injuries are common in agriculture and construction due to the high volume of manual handling tasks.

How the manual handling claims process works

A manual handling injury claim would be submitted on the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) portal by your work accident solicitor.  The stages of an Employment Liability claim involve:

1. Initial investigations and evidence gathering – your work accident solicitors will gather evidence which may include:

• obtaining a copy of the accident report lodged with your employer
• details of any witnesses to the incident
• any photographic evidence
• wage information
• copies of your medical records and treatment.
• You should keep and provide receipts and details of any expenses you have incurred due to your injury, so that your legal representatives can claim this back too.

2.  Medical examination – a medical examination will be arranged for you with an appropriate expert to provide a prognosis of your injuries. The report will detail your injuries, expected recovery time and details of any treatment required. This will allow your solicitor to request any private medical treatment recommended and to value your claim.

3.  Determining liability – the defendants have 30 working days in which to respond on the MOJ portal as to whether they are accepting responsibility for the claim (liability). If the defendants fail to respond within this timescale, then your claim would proceed under traditional litigation procedures.

4.  Negotiation and settlement – if liability is admitted (fault for the accident) by the defendant insurers, then your solicitor will exchange information including medical evidence. The compensation amount for general damages would be negotiated between your solicitors and the insurers and you would receive advice from your solicitors about the final offer.

5.  Litigation – where it has not been possible to agree on the value of your claim, or where liability is not admitted by the insurers defendants then court action may be necessary. Your solicitors will represent you in the litigation procedure and advise you at every stage.

Funding your manual handling claim

All our panel solicitors offer a no win, no fee contract, known as a Conditional Free Agreement (CFA). This enables you to make a claim without having to pay any upfront fees and generally you will only pay a fee if your claim is successful.

If your claim is successful and you receive compensation then you will pay a percentage of the compensation recovered, which is referred to as a success fee. The success fee is capped at a maximum of 25% by law.

In the event your claim is not successful, as long as you have complied with the terms of the CFA, you will not pay any fees.

In order to achieve the maximum amount of compensation it is important to choose experienced and specialist solicitors who have a proven record of negotiating the best settlements possible.

Legal right to make a manual handling compensation claim

Many people are hesitant to make a claim because they are worried about the potential repercussions, or they blame themselves for the accident. Some people even carry on working after an injury, even though they are in pain because of financial worries which can make your injury worse.

If your GP or hospital consultant recommends you should not work for a given period due to your injuries, then you are entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).  You should always follow the advice of a medical professional.  Any loss of earnings, including future loss of earnings can be recovered when making a manual handling injury claim.

Your employer is legally required to have insurance in place to cover any potential work accident claim. Therefore, any manual handling accident compensation would be paid directly by the insurer and not your employer.

There are strict employment laws in place to protect you against being treated unfairly or dismissed when making a claim.

To discuss your potential claim with a specialist work accident solicitor without any obligation, call us on Freephone: 0800 688 9553 for a free initial consultation.

How can Compare Compensation Claims help me if I have suffered a manual handling injury

Compare Compensation Claims can help if you have suffered from a manual handling injury.  We can put you in touch with a dedicated and specialist solicitor to make a claim on your behalf, who will advise you at every stage.  All our panel solicitors:

• Offer a free initial consultation without obligation to help you decide whether to make a manual handling injury claim.
• Work on a no win, no fee agreement, with no upfront fees or hidden charges, so you do not pay unless you receive compensation.
• Operate nationally throughout England and Wales, with some offering a 24-hour helpline service.
• Come highly rated with a proven track record of success in achieving the maximum amount of compensation for their clients.
• Are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and members of the Law Society. Some are also members of APIL (Association of Personal Injury Lawyers).

See our case studies section on how Compare Compensation Claims has helped others to get work accident compensation.  Mr Flores, suffered a crush injury when unloading wooden pallets at work.  He found a personal injury Solicitor on Compare Compensation Claims, who helped him get private medical treatment and achieve compensation of £124,000. The Defendants denied any responsibility for the accident. However, the work accident solicitor used their experience and expertise to prove liability and negotiate compensation, showing how crucial it is to find the right legal experts to represent you.

Contact us to start your no obligatory manual handling accident compensation claim.

FAQs manual handling compensation claim

What are the most common manual handling injuries according to the HSE?

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports that the most common manual handling injuries are back injuries.  Workplace back injuries from manual handling are often caused by incorrect lifting techniques, particularly with heavy loads, or repetitive tasks involving awkward postures. The HSE states that manual handling is a significant workplace injury, with one in three accidents reported due to manual handling. Other common injuries mentioned are musculoskeletal disorders, strains and sprains, hernias and crush injuries.

Who is at risk of manual handling injuries?

Anyone involved in manual tasks at work is at risk, regardless of the industry. This includes warehouse workers, healthcare professionals, construction workers, retail staff, and office workers who frequently lift or move items.

What are the legal responsibilities of employers?

Employers are legally required to protect employees from manual handling injuries by conducting risk assessments, providing proper training, using mechanical aids where possible, and ensuring safe systems of work are in place.

What should I do if I suffer a manual handling injury at work?

Report the injury to your supervisor or health and safety officer immediately. Seek medical attention if needed, and make sure the incident is documented. This helps ensure appropriate support and prevents similar incidents in the future.

How long after a manual handling injury do you have to make a claim?

You have 3 years from the date of accident, or the date of knowledge to make a manual handling accident compensation claim.  The date of knowledge can often be relevant with manual handling injuries as the diagnosis is often made when you have been carrying out a manual handling activity over a long period of time at work.  There can be exceptions to the time limit (known as the limitation date) such as if you were a minor at the time.  A specialist work accident solicitor will be able to advise you about this.

How long does a manual handling injury claim take?

Most employment liability claims take 6-9 months to settle on the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) Portal.  However, some manual handling compensation cases can take a year or more depending on the complexity of your case, the extent of your injuries and if litigation is required.