Being assaulted at work is an experience that no employee should ever have to endure. If you have suffered physical or psychological injuries because of violence in the workplace, you may be entitled to compensation.
At Injury Lawyers 4u, we specialise in helping individuals secure the assault at work compensation they deserve. Our dedicated team of personal injury solicitors is here to guide you through every step of the claims process, ensuring you receive the support, representation, and financial settlement you need to move forward.
What is classed as an assault at work?
The UK’s Health and Safety Executive classifies workplace violence as ‘any incident in which a person is abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work.’ This includes a wide range of incidents, from verbal and psychological abuse to intimidation to physical attacks.
Both one-off incidents and ongoing abusive behaviour can be considered assaults – and the assailant doesn’t have to be a work colleague. Customers, clients, patients, service users, and members of the public can all be responsible for workplace assault.
Can I claim compensation for being assaulted at work?
You may be able to claim compensation for workplace assault if you were assaulted at work and your employer failed in their duty of care towards you.
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, employers are legally required to protect their employees from harm, including foreseeable risks of violence.
In cases where the assault was a criminal act, you may also be able to claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), which provides compensation for victims of violent crime in England, Scotland, and Wales. Contact us and we can help you make a CICA assault at work claim.
Examples of workplace assaults
The perpetrators of an assault at work can include colleagues, managers, or external parties, like patients or customers. Some real-world examples of incidents at work that can lead to compensation for workplace assault include:
- A care worker assaulted by a patient with a known history of violence, coupled with their employer failing to take precautions or provide de-escalation training.
- A teaching assistant is grabbed and scratched by a pupil with behavioural difficulties, and the school has no clear behaviour management plan in place.
- A delivery driver is assaulted by a customer during a routine drop-off, following a dispute about a delayed order. The employer had previously received complaints about this customer but did not inform drivers or issue safety guidance.
- A GP receptionist is subjected to racial abuse and threats over the phone and in person over several weeks. The employer fails to act, doesn’t report the incidents to police, and offers no emotional or mental health support.
These types of incidents are often preventable. If your employer has failed to take the necessary steps to keep you safe from threats and violence at work, you have the right to seek redress via compensation for workplace assault.
What should I do if I’m assaulted at work?
If you’re assaulted at work, it’s important to take the following steps. You should:
- Seek medical attention immediately for any injuries you have, even if they seem minor. This will mean your injuries are formally recorded, and you receive any medical care you need.
- Report the incident to your employer and the police as soon as possible to make sure the incident is recorded both at work and by the authorities.
- Gather evidence: Collect as much evidence as you can, including incident reports, photos of injuries, witness statements, CCTV footage and even written notes detailing exactly what happened.
- Ask your employer for any relevant safety documentation: Request copies of safety reports, risk assessments, or previous incident documents, especially where they reveal failures in your employer’s duty of care.
- Know your rights under RIDDOR. If the assault results in you being off work for more than seven consecutive days, your employer must report it to the HSE under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations.
Following these steps can help protect your physical and emotional wellbeing, and can also strengthen your assault at work claim.
How do I make a workplace assault claim?
Making a claim for compensation for workplace assault is a straightforward process when you have the right legal team by your side. If you’ve been the victim of a workplace attack, whether that was verbal or physical, we can help at Injury Lawyers 4u.
Whilst the details of each assault at work compensation claim can vary, the overall process usually happens like this:
- Contact us for a free consultation: We’ll assess whether you have a valid claim.
- Attend a medical assessment: This will help to determine the extent of your injuries, both physical and psychological, and make sure your harm is documented.
- Gather your evidence: This may include medical and police reports, employer incident reports, photos and CCTV footage, witness statements, and any communications you have with your employer.
- We’ll negotiate on your behalf: We’ll contact your employer, their insurance company, and any other relevant institutions.
- Court representation: Most claims are settled without going to court, but if your case does, we’ll arrange for expert representation for you.
- Your compensation is awarded: Once your workplace assault compensation is awarded, we’ll handle the details of how you receive it.
At Injury Lawyers 4U, we operate on a No-win, No-fee basis, meaning you’ll only pay us when you win your case. There will be no financial risk to you if you choose to seek compensation.
How much compensation could I receive for an assault at work claim?
The value of your assault at work compensation claim will depend on several factors, including the severity of your injuries, lost earnings, medical and travel costs, and care needs.
It’s all important to note that personal injury compensation is divided between general damages, covering the pain and suffering of the injury or condition itself, and special damages, covering the financial implications of the injury or condition.
For a good idea of the general damages of an assault at work claim settlement, use our helpful compensation calculator.
Why choose Injury Lawyers 4u?
At Injury Lawyers 4u, we have decades of experience in representing our clients in successful personal injury compensation claims, including abuse, bullying, and physical assault at work compensation claims.
We’ll guide you through every step of the personal injury assault at work compensation process, taking the stress and confusion out of it so you can focus on your recovery.
We operate on a No Win, No Fee basis, meaning you’ll only pay us when you win your case, so there’s no financial risk to you when making a claim with us.
Start your workplace assault compensation claim today?
If you’ve been assaulted at work, you deserve justice. We can help make sure that happens, including helping you get the financial support you deserve.
Call us 0333 400 4445 to speak to a solicitor now, or fill out our online contact form and we’ll call you back.
FAQs
How long do I have to make a claim for assault at work?
If you claim against your employer, you have three years from the date of the assault or from when you became aware of your employer’s negligence. For a CICA assault at work claim, you typically have two years from the date the assault was reported to the police. However, there can be exceptions.
Will my employer be held responsible?
In many cases of assaults at work, employers will be held legally responsible for failing to prevent workplace violence and protect their employees if negligence can be proven – even if they didn’t commit the assault themselves.
Will I have to go to court?
Most workplace assault claims are settled without the need for a court hearing. At Injury Lawyers 4U, we prepare every case thoroughly to ensure the best chance of success. While court is a last resort, you can rest assured that we will represent you every step of the way should it come to that.