Self-Employed Injury at Work: What are My Rights?

Here are some examples of personal injuries you could claim for as a contractor or self-employed person:

• Knee injuries
• Back injuries
• Eye injuries
• Tendon and ligament injuries
• Brain and head injuries
• Serious injuries
• Amputation claims

Other self-employed accident at work claims include farm accident claims, chemical burns and industrial accidents.

According to UK law, a contractor or self-employed person does not share the same rights and responsibilities as an employee or a worker. This is why it's important to know your self-employed or contractor rights, as nobody should have to suffer due to someone else's negligence.

Being self-employed generally looks like the following:

• Autonomy over the work you do, including where and when
• Not being under direct supervision when working
• Working for more than one client
• Not receiving holiday or sick pay
• Submitting invoices for the work you've done
• Being responsible for paying your own National Insurance and tax

A contractor can be self-employed, have the employment status of a worker, or have the employment status of an employee if they work for a client and are employed by an agency.

You can learn more about the differences between employee, worker and self-employed rights using Government guidance provided online. 

While self-employed rights can be beneficial to individuals when it comes to flexibility and optimising income, it's important to be aware of the risks. These include job uncertainty and limited employment law protections. A legal expert can help you navigate this when making a self-employed accident at work claim.

Despite the differing levels of protection as a self-employed person or contractor, you could still be eligible for compensation from a self-employed accident at work claim. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 can be used to help protect your rights like permanent employees or workers. 

If you've been hired to work onsite by a company, they are required to provide safe working conditions and training. Providing the correct PPE is an example of this. However, if these conditions aren't met and you suffer an injury, you could be entitled to compensation. 

While self-employed people don't always benefit from the same level of protection as employees or workers, health and safety legislation may still apply. 

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 applies to you if your work activity is specifically mentioned in the regulations. You can check the HMRC employment status guidance for more information, as health and safety can be a complex area when it comes to self-employed and contractor rights. This is where our experts can help.

It's important to note that self-employed people must assess whether their work could put others at risk too. The HSE has a detailed guide on risk management while at work.

The person in control of the premises you're working on will be responsible for reporting, so you should make them aware of your injury. 

If you're working on your own premises or in a domestic premises, or if a doctor tells you that you have a work-related disease or condition, you need to report it via RIDDOR. 

A self-employed, contractor or subcontractor accident at work can be tricky to navigate. However, if the accident wasn't your fault, you could be entitled to compensation. You can get in touch and we'll help establish whether you have a reasonable case.

Any personal injury claim requires the claimant to compile as much evidence as possible. Examples of evidence might include:

• Witness statements
• Medical records and certificates
• Photographs of any injuries and the scene of the incident
• CCTV footage

Our fast assessment process means you'll know straight away whether you have a case worthy of discussion with our panel, based on your personal injury circumstances and self-employed rights.

Different factors can dictate how long the rest of the process takes. The amount of evidence gathered and whether the responsible party accepts liability can come into play. The extent of your injuries can also influence how quickly the case progresses.

You can start your self-employed injury claim with us in three different ways.

1. Find out what your settlement could look like using our self-employed injury claim calculator. You can then leave your details with us so we can get in touch.
2. Call us on 0800 587 0344. Our lines are open 8am-9pm Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on Saturdays and 9:30am-5pm on Sundays.
3. Request a call back and let us know a time that suits you.

If you decide to pursue a case as a self-employed person who's suffered an injury at work, you should be able to do so on a no win no fee basis. Unless you win your case, you won't have to pay anything. And if you do win your case, an agreed percentage of your compensation will be deducted.

On top of this, we'll advise you to take out an insurance policy to protect you from any costs if your case is unsuccessful. This can be arranged on your behalf and you won't have to pay the premium upfront.