Falls from height are the leading cause of fatal workplace injury in the United Kingdom. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), falls from height account for the largest single category of fatal workplace accidents year after year. Many thousands more workers suffer life-changing injuries that are never fatal but permanently alter their quality of life.
No Win No Fee: The law limits our success fee to 25% of the compensation for pain, suffering and loss of amenity and for past financial losses, after any state benefits are repaid. Compensation for future losses is not counted. If you win, our success fee is deducted from your compensation. It is a percentage of our basic charges, and the law limits it as set out above. Any After the Event insurance premium is payable only if you win, and is never charged upfront. Your letter of engagement sets out exactly what you will pay for your type of claim, and we explain it before you sign. If you lose, you pay us nothing. This applies as long as you keep to your responsibilities under the agreement. You may have to pay costs if you end your claim early, fail to beat an offer the other side made, or a court finds your claim dishonest or exaggerated; where we have arranged After the Event insurance, it covers some of these costs if you keep to the policy's terms. See exactly what you pay.
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 place strict duties on employers to prevent falls before they happen.When an employer fails in those duties — through unsafe scaffolding, defective ladders, absent guardrails, or failure to provide a safety harness — and you are injured, you are entitled to claim compensation.
NJS Law handles falls from height claims across England and Wales on a No Win No Fee basis. . This page is part of our Accident at Work Claims service.
If we do not win your case, you pay nothing.
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Injured in a fall from height at work? Find out if you have a claim.
Fall from height are the most common workplace accident — and most are preventable.
If your employer failed to maintain a safe environment, NJS Law will help you claim.
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What Is a Fall from Height Claim?
A fall from height claim is a legal claim for compensation against your employer — or another responsible party such as a principal contractor or site owner — when a failure to comply with work at height safety law causes you to fall and suffer injury.
Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, “work at height” means any place — including at or below ground level — where a person could be injured if they fell from it. A fall from a stepladder, a loading bay edge, a raised platform, or a mezzanine floor is as much a “fall from height” in legal terms as a fall from a roof or scaffold.
Common scenarios include:
- Ladders and stepladders — defective rungs, failure to foot or secure the ladder, incorrect angle of lean, use of a ladder where a more stable platform was required
- Scaffolding — missing or defective boards, absent or inadequate guardrails, toeboard failures, scaffold erected by an unqualified contractor
- Roof work — absent edge protection, fragile roofing materials, failure to provide a safety harness or fall arrest system
- Mezzanine floors and elevated platforms — missing guardrails or gates, failure to mark edges, inadequate lighting
- Mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs) — defective equipment, operator not trained under LOLER
- Loading bay edges and dock levellers — absent edge protection in warehouse environments
- Cherry pickers and scissor lifts — mechanical failure, failure to carry out LOLER examination
The claim is made against your employer’s Employers’ Liability insurance, held under the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969. You are never claiming directly from your employer’s pocket.
What Law Protects You If You Fall from Height at Work?
Health and Safety at Work
Act 1974
The overarching duty on all employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of all employees — including protection from falls when working at any height.
Work at Height Regulations
2005
The primary legislation governing work at height. Employers must: avoid work at height where reasonably practicable; where it cannot be avoided, prevent falls using collective protective measures (scaffolding, guardrails, nets); where collective measures are insufficient, arrest falls (harnesses, airbags). Equipment used for work at height must be suitable, stable, properly maintained, and inspected. The Regulations impose specific requirements for ladders, scaffolds, MEWPs, and fragile surfaces.
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)
Applies to all equipment used for work at height — ladders, stepladders, access towers, and MEWPs. Equipment must be suitable for its purpose, properly maintained, and only used by trained workers. A defective ladder or scaffold that causes a fall is a breach of both PUWER and the Work at Height Regulations.
Who Can Make a Fall from Height Claim?
You may be able to make a fall from height claim if you are:
- An employee — full-time, part-time, or on a fixed-term contract
- A worker or agency worker — including zero-hours and temporary staff injured in a fall from height while carrying out work duties
- Self-employed — working on another party’s premises where they had responsibility for providing safe access, fall protection, or properly maintained work equipment
- A contractor — where the site owner, principal contractor, or another duty holder failed to implement adequate fall prevention measures or comply with health and safety regulations
- A visitor to business premises — including customers, delivery drivers, and members of the public who suffered injuries due to unsafe elevated areas, defective staircases, unprotected edges, or inadequate barriers
- A dependant of someone killed in a fatal fall — claims may be brought under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976
On construction sites, multiple parties may share liability — your direct employer, the principal contractor, the site owner, and the scaffold contractor may all owe you a duty of care. We build your case with evidence to maximise your compensation.
You may still be entitled to claim even if you were partly responsible — for example, if you were using a ladder incorrectly. Contributory negligence reduces your compensation proportionally but does not end the right to claim. See our guide:Can I Claim If the Accident Was Partly My Fault?
How Much Compensation Can You Get for a Fall from Height?
General Damages — Compensation for Your Injury
Solicitors use the Judicial College Guidelines, 18th edition (2026) to estimate the value of your injury. Common injuries from falls from height include:
|
Injury Type |
Severity |
Approximate Range |
|
Wrist / forearm fracture |
Minor to moderate |
£4,670 to £32,370 |
|
Leg fracture |
Moderate to serious |
£36,680 to £72,440 |
|
Ankle fracture |
Moderate to severe |
£18,150 to £66,140 |
|
Back injury (fracture or disc damage) |
Moderate to severe |
£16,520 to £212,670 |
|
Spinal cord injury — partial paralysis |
Serious to severe |
Depends on severity: ask us for an estimate |
|
Spinal cord injury — complete paralysis (paraplegia) |
Very severe |
£289,420 to £375,540 |
|
Spinal cord injury — tetraplegia |
Most severe |
£428,850 to £533,720 |
|
Head / brain injury |
Minor to severe |
£2,920 to £533,720 |
|
Pelvis / hip fracture |
Moderate to severe |
£16,640 to £172,970 |
|
Psychological injury / PTSD |
Moderate to severe |
£7,740 to £152,900 |
Special Damages — Compensation for Your Financial Losses
In addition to your injury award, you can recover all financial losses including lost earnings (past and future), medical treatment, rehabilitation, care costs (professional and family), home and vehicle adaptations, and travel to medical appointments. In the most serious cases — spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries — future care and loss of earnings form the largest part of the award and can run to several million pounds. See: General Damages vs Special Damages and Average Compensation Payouts.
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How Do You Make a Fall from Height Claim? (Step by Step)
1. Seek Emergency Medical Attention
Falls from height frequently cause serious injuries. Go to A&E immediately. Ensure the medical notes record that the injury was caused by a fall from height at work — this contemporaneous record is critical evidence.
2. Report the Accident
Report the fall to your employer as soon as you are able and ensure it is entered in the workplace accident book. Ask for a copy. Falls involving specified injuries (fractures, hospitalisations) must be reported by your employer to the HSE under RIDDOR 2013 — your solicitor can check whether this was done.
3. Photograph the Scene and Equipment
If possible, photograph the location of the fall and the equipment involved — the ladder, scaffold boards, MEWP, or edge from which you fell. Capture any missing guardrails, defective rungs, absent edge protection, or inadequate scaffolding. Take photographs before anything is repaired or removed.
4. Request CCTV and Witness Details
Request CCTV footage immediately — most employers overwrite within 30 days. Collect names and contact details of any colleagues who witnessed the fall or are aware of previous complaints about the access equipment.
5. Contact NJS Law for a Free Assessment
Speak to one of our specialist employer liability solicitors for a free, no-obligation assessment. In fall from height cases we will identify all potential defendants — your employer, the principal contractor, the scaffold contractor, and the equipment owner —. We build your case with evidence to maximise your compensation.
6. We Investigate and Issue a Letter of Claim
We gather all available evidence — including scaffold inspection certificates, LOLER examination records, risk assessments, method statements, training records, and the RIDDOR report — and issue a formal Letter of Claim to the relevant insurer(s).
7. Independent Medical Assessment
You will be referred to an independent medical expert — and in serious cases a consultant spinal surgeon, neurologist, or orthopaedic surgeon — to assess your injuries and long-term prognosis. This report is central to valuing your claim.
8. Negotiation, Settlement, and Payment
We present a full Schedule of Loss and negotiate a settlement on your behalf. Most claims settle without going to court. In serious cases we also apply for interim payments to help with immediate financial needs during the claim.
What Are the Time Limits for Fall from Height at Work Claims?
Under the Limitation Act 1980, there are strict time limits for bringing a personal injury claim. Act within these limits — missing the deadline is the most common reason valid claims cannot be pursued.
|
Claim Type |
Time Limit |
Notes |
|
Standard workplace accident |
3 years from date of accident |
The most common scenario |
|
Industrial disease or occupational illness |
3 years from date of diagnosis (or “date of knowledge”) |
Applies where symptoms developed gradually over time |
|
Child injured at work (or as a visitor) |
3 years from their 18th birthday |
A parent or guardian can bring a claim at any time before the child turns 18 |
|
Person lacking mental capacity |
If someone lacked mental capacity when the injury happened, the three years do not start until they regain it. If they lose capacity later, the time limit keeps running, so act quickly. |
A litigation friend manages the claim |
|
Fatal workplace accident |
three years from the death, or from when the family learned the facts if later |
Dependants may claim under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 |
For a full explanation of all time limit exceptions and what to do if you are approaching your deadline, see our guide: Personal Injury Claim Time Limits in England and Wales.
For guidance on how long the claim process itself takes once you have started: How Long Does a Personal Injury Claim Take?
Case highlight
£3.7m - A life rebuilt after a devastating workplace accident
Forklift accident · Spinal injury · Employer negligence
Our client was seriously injured in a forklift accident at work. What followed was four years of rehabilitation, specialist hospitals, and legal complexity — with NJS Law by his side throughout.
“Nichola, my solicitor, took on two professional barristers who got my claim going. Without NJS Law, I wouldn’t have gotten this far. They helped me far beyond things I wouldn’t have known about.”
— NJS Law client, £3.7 million settlement
Nichola JohnsonSpecialist Solicitor · Employer & Serious Injury · Qualified 2014
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No Win No Fee Accident at Work Claims — Explained Clearly
All accident at work claims at NJS Law are handled under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) — what most people call No Win No Fee. Here is exactly what that means for you:
- No upfront cost: You pay nothing to start your claim. There are no consultation fees, no retainer, and no disbursements charged upfront.
- No cost if you lose: You pay nothing upfront, and if you lose you pay us nothing.
- A success fee if you win: If your claim succeeds, we deduct a success fee from your compensation. We explain every deduction in writing before you sign.
- ATE insurance: Where we arrange After the Event insurance, it covers the other side's costs and your disbursements if you lose, on the policy's terms.
You can read a full plain-English explanation of how No Win No Fee agreements work at No Win No Fee Claims Page.
Meet Your Accident at Work Legal Team
Our dedicated solicitors specialise in slip and trip claims and have more than 200 years of combined legal experience securing fair compensation. We understand how stressful an accident can be and provide clear, supportive guidance throughout the process.
Contact us today for a free consultation and move forward with confidence under our No Win No Fee promise. Taking early legal advice can strengthen your claim and protect your rights.
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Injured at work? Find out if you have a claim.
680,000 workers were injured in the workplace in 2024–25. You may be entitled to compensation.
Why Choose NJS Law as Your Accident at Work Solicitors
Being injured at work can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure of your rights or worried about your job. Our solicitors provide clear, honest advice and manage every aspect of your claim, so you can focus on recovery. We gather the evidence, value your claim and negotiate with the insurer.
Falls from Height at Work Claims – Frequently Asked Questions
Making an accident at work claim can feel overwhelming. Below we’ve answered themost common questions our clients ask. These cover eligibility, time limits, compensation, and what happens if your case goes to court.
What counts as “work at height” in legal terms?
Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, “work at height” means any place where, if precautions were not taken, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. This includes working on roofs, scaffolding, ladders, and MEWPs — but also working at or below ground level where a fall into an excavation or pit is possible. There is no minimum height threshold.
Can I claim if I was using my own ladder that I brought to work?
Yes, in most circumstances. Under PUWER 1998, your employer is responsible for ensuring all equipment used at work — including equipment you bring yourself — is suitable, properly maintained, and appropriate for the task. If your employer directed you to use a ladder for a task where a safer access platform should have been provided, they may be liable regardless of who owned the ladder.
What if the scaffold was provided by a scaffold company, not my employer?
Both your employer and the scaffolding contractor may be liable. Your employer has a duty to ensure that any scaffold erected for use by their workers is safe and compliant — they cannot simply delegate this responsibility to the scaffold contractor. The scaffold contractor may also be directly liable for defective erection or inadequate inspection. NJS Law will identify all available defendants.
My fall was from a relatively low height — can I still claim?
Yes. There is no minimum height for a valid claim — what matters is whether your employer failed in their legal duty and whether that failure caused your injury. Falls from even modest heights can cause serious fractures, spinal injuries, and head injuries. The severity of your injury determines the value of your claim.
What if my employer says I was not supposed to be on the roof or platform?
This is a common defence. However, if your employer directed you to work there, if working at height was part of your role, or if the area was accessible without adequate signage or physical barriers preventing access, your employer may still be liable. Your solicitor will obtain all relevant risk assessments, method statements, and witness evidence to establish what you were instructed to do.
Should my employer have filed a RIDDOR report for my fall?
Under RIDDOR 2013, employers must report to the HSE: any work-related accident that causes a worker to be away from work for more than seven days; any specified injury (including fractures, amputations, crush injuries); and any dangerous occurrence. Most significant falls from height will trigger a RIDDOR reporting obligation. If your employer failed to report when they were required to, this itself may be evidence of poor safety compliance — though it does not prevent you from claiming.
Can I claim if I am a contractor on a construction site?
Yes. Under CDM 2015, the principal contractor has a duty to ensure the safety of all workers on site — including subcontractors. Your direct employer may also be liable. NJS Law frequently handles construction fall from height claims involving multiple defendants.
What compensation can be claimed following a fatal fall at work?
If a family member has been killed in a fall at work, dependants can bring a claim under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 for loss of financial dependency (income and services provided by the deceased), as well as a bereavement award (currently £15,120 for qualifying relatives). The estate can also claim for the deceased’s pain, suffering, and financial losses between the accident and death under the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934. NJS Law handles fatal accident claims with care and sensitivity.
Can I get compensation before my fall from height claim settles?
Yes — in serious cases where liability has been admitted. Your solicitor can apply to the court for an interim payment, a sum paid on account of your final compensation to help with immediate financial needs such as lost wages, medical costs, or care. This is particularly valuable in spinal injury or serious fracture cases. For more details: Interim Payments in Personal Injury Claims
How long do I have to make a fall from height claim?
In most cases, you have three years from the date of your accident to issue court proceedings under the Limitation Act 1980. If your injury resulted from a gradually developing condition (such as an industrial disease), the three-year clock may run from when you first knew, or ought reasonably to have known, that the condition was linked to your work. For children, the three years starts on their 18th birthday. For full details, see our guide: Personal Injury Claim Time Limits
Our solicitors have written a library of plain-English guides to help you understand your rights. Read the articles most relevant to your situation:
Accident at Work: What to Do Immediately -Complete UK Guide-
Injured at work? Learn the key steps to take straight away to protect your health, evidence, and legal rights.
Accident at Work Claims: How Much Compensation Could You Get?
Find out how workplace injury compensation is calculated and what factors can affect the value of your claim.
No Win No Fee Accident at Work Claims – How It Works
Learn how No Win No Fee accident at work claims work and how you can start a claim without upfront legal fees.
Personal Injury Claims: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide
A simple guide to the personal injury claims process, from starting your claim to reaching a settlement.
Can My Employer Sack Me for Making a Work Injury Claim?
Understand your rights if you are worried about your job after making a workplace injury claim.
RIDDOR Explained — What Gets Reported and Why It Matters to Your Claim
Learn what RIDDOR is, which workplace accidents must be reported, and how it may support your claim.
Construction Site Accident Claims — A Complete Guide for Injured Workers
Find out your rights after a construction site accident and how to claim compensation for your injuries.
Machinery and Equipment Injury Claims — Your Rights Under PUWER 1998
Learn how PUWER 1998 protects workers injured by unsafe machinery, tools, or workplace equipment.
Falls from Height at Work Claims
Understand when you may be able to claim compensation after a fall from height at work.
How Long Does a Personal Injury Claim Take in England and Wales?
Find out what affects the length of a personal injury claim and what to expect during the process.
What Is The Most Common Worksite Personal Injury Claims?
Learn how PUWER 1998 protects workers injured by unsafe machinery, tools, or workplace equipment.
What Is the Average Personal Injury Compensation Payout in the UK?
Learn how personal injury payouts are assessed and why compensation varies from case to case.
Personal Injury Claim Time Limits in England and Wales: A Complete Breakdown
Understand the key time limits for making a personal injury claim in England and Wales.
Can I Claim Personal Injury Compensation If the Accident Was Partly My Fault?
Find out how partial fault can affect your personal injury claim and compensation amount.
General Damages vs Special Damages: Personal Injury Compensation Explained
Learn the difference between compensation for pain and suffering and compensation for financial losses.
Interim Payments in Personal Injury Claims — What Are They and Can I Get One
Find out when interim payments may be available before your personal injury claim fully settles.
Thinking about a claim? Read about Accident at Work Claims and how No Win No Fee works, or send us your enquiry.