Manual handling injury claims

In most cases, you have three years from the date of your injury, or from the date you first realised your injury was due to work, to make a claim. This is known as the date of knowledge.

There are exceptions to this time limit. If the injured person is a child, the three-year period does not begin until they turn 18. If someone lacks the mental capacity to manage their own claim, the time limit may not apply in the same way.

Whatever your situation, we would encourage you to get in touch as soon as possible. Early advice gives us the best chance of building a strong case for you.

We handle manual handling injury claims on a ‘No Win, No Fee’ basis. This means there are no upfront costs, and if your claim isn’t successful, you will not be charged for our work.

If your claim is successful, our fee is agreed in advance and only payable at the end of the process. We will explain exactly how the fee arrangement works before you commit to anything, so you can pursue your claim without worrying about the financial risk.

Manual handling injuries can affect many parts of the body. The most common types we see include:

• Back, neck, and shoulder injuries, often caused by incorrect lifting technique or lifting objects that are too heavy
• Hand and arm injuries, including broken fingers, strains, fractures, and cuts
• Foot injuries, such as crushed or broken bones from dropped objects
• Strains and sprains affecting the legs, wrists, or arms
• Hernias, particularly from heavy or sudden lifting
• Cuts, bruises, and fractures from handling sharp tools or equipment

Many of these injuries can have long-term effects, particularly back injuries. Even if your injury did not seem serious at first, it’s important to seek legal advice if it has affected your health or ability to work.

The evidence needed to support your manual handling injury claim depends on the circumstances of your injury, but useful evidence can include:

• Records of the accident, including any accident book entry made at work
• Medical records and any treatment you have received
• Details of any training, or lack of training, provided by your employer
• Witness statements from colleagues who saw what happened or can speak to working conditions
• Photographs of the workplace, the task, or any equipment involved
• Records of time off work and any lost earnings

If you don’t have all of this to hand, don’t worry. We will help you gather what is needed and advise you on what will be most important for your specific case.

Yes, in many cases you can still make a claim even if you were partly responsible for the accident. This is known as contributory negligence, which means that responsibility for the injury is shared between you and your employer.

If contributory negligence applies, any compensation you receive may be reduced to reflect your share of responsibility. However, this does not automatically prevent you from making a claim. We will assess your situation honestly and advise you on what this means for your case.

From your first contact with us, we take the time to understand your situation and explain what happens next. We will handle the legal complexity on your behalf, keep you updated at every stage, and ensure you always know where things stand.

Where appropriate, we can also help you access medical treatment and rehabilitation support early in the process so you don’t have to wait until your claim is resolved to start getting the care you need.