Accidents at Home

Accidents at home happen frequently and from a variety of causes. Many people think that because an accident has happened in their own home they cannot recover compensation for it. This is not necessarily so. As with all personal injury claims, if you can attribute responsibility and fault for the accident and consequent injury to somebody else, then you may be able to claim compensation.

What sort of accidents at home might be able to be compensated?
Common accidents at home that can receive compensation include:

• Faulty products. If a household product or fixture was defective and caused injury to a household member or visitor, that person may be able to seek compensation from the retailer, manufacturer or importer. For example, if a new stove blew up and burnt a household member, that person may be able to seek compensation
• Substandard workmanship. If you hire a tradesperson or other profession to undertake improvement or repair work in your home and that work is not performed to an adequate standard, and consequently causes injury, you may be able to seek compensation. For example, if a builder built an outdoor entertainment setting and the floor collapsed, injuring the people on it, they may be able to seek compensation
• Poor property condition in rented or council-owned premises. If council owned or rental property is not properly maintained and the tenant sustains an injury as a result of the poor condition of the property, the tenant may be able to recover compensation from the council/landlord. For example, if the back stairs were in need of repair and collapsed, causing the tenant to fall and sustain injury, the tenant might be able to receive compensation

If you would like some advice about whether you may have a compensation claim for an accident you have sustained at home you can speak to one of our specialist accident compensation solicitors who will be able to help you with this.

How much compensation can be awarded?
If you are successful in making out a case for compensation, the amount of compensation awarded varies from claim to claim, even for similar injuries, depending on various factors. Your individual circumstances will be taken into account.
You may be able to receive compensation for damage such as physical injuries, pain, suffering and loss of amenity, and possibly psychological injury. You may also receive compensation for financial losses and expenses caused by the accident, such as lost earnings, costs of medical treatment, and damage to property. For both physical and financial costs, compensation may also be awarded for how you are likely to suffer in the future, such as for activities that you can no longer do, and loss of future earnings.

If you would like to obtain legal advice on accidents at home, or about compensation, then Contact Law can put you in touch with a local specialist accident compensation solicitor free of charge. So if you have any questions or would like our help in finding local accident compensation solicitors please call us at 0800 1777 162 or complete the web-form above.

Last Updated on 02/03/2010