Who we've helped

Work Accident Stories

Mr Eaves, 42, Ammanford, received £3,400:

"I had asked for a ladder at work to help with my job but was not provided with one. Not having a ladder led me to fall backwards and hurt my hand. The advisor who took my call spoke in jargon-free language, which I found very helpful. They put me in touch with a solicitor in my area, who made sure I knew what was happening and when. Not only did I get £3,400 compensation but my company is now taking notice of health and safety."

Mr Peter Lees, 24, Allerton, won £2,000:

"I had never claimed for anything before but, after badly cutting my fingers on defective equipment at work, I made a call. The advisor who answered my call was very helpful in taking me through how the process would work. They put me in touch with lawyers who were approachable and straightforward, and kept me regularly up-to-date."

Mrs Ward of Durham was awarded £3,600 after an accident at work:

"I was working on an assembly line and a cooker fell onto my arm. The accident wasn't my fault. I went to hospital and discovered I had a broken hand. I wasn't sure about claiming however, a colleague recommended National Accident Helpline to me so I called them. The National Accident Helpline advisor was really helpful.  She went through the process with me and answered all my questions.

National Accident Helpline was brilliant. They put me through to the right solicitor for my case and I am glad I made a claim. I would recommend National Accident Helpline to others who need help with making a claim. After my accident, the employer made changes so that the accident wouldn't happen again.  I made my claim under a no win no fee agreement - I didn't have to pay. If I was asked to pay money up-front, I probably would not have claimed as I would have been worried that the amount of my award would not have been enough to cover the solicitor's fees."

Mr Brown from Norfolk was awarded £3,000 after an accident at work:

"I was working as a volunteer at a nature reserve. Without warning, a tree was felled and knocked my head. I went to hospital and was treated for concussion and whiplash. Making a claim with National Accident Helpline was easy and straightforward. I made a call and the agent put me through to the right solicitor for my claim. They were very helpful and visited me in my home to take my statement. The solicitor investigated the accident and contacted all the witnesses. I was always kept up-to-date with letters and phone calls.  My claim was successful and I was awarded £3,000. After the accident, new procedures were put in place to help prevent another accident.

I made my claim through a no win no fee agreement. If I had been asked to pay money to my solicitor up front, I might have thought twice about claiming because of the risk with my money. The no win no fee agreement helped to provide protection, giving me confidence to make a claim."

Mr David Littlehales was awarded compensation after an accident at work:

"The floors hadn't been cleaned in the working area of the building site where I worked. There was some slippery material on the floor and I fell and broke my wrist. I called the National Accident Helpline and they put me in touch with a solicitor who helped me with my claim. The company now has a cleaner and safer working environment and I'm happy with that. I've been in and out of work since and the compensation has helped me when I've needed it - people need money when they've suffered and they're out of work.

People would be frightened to make a claim if they think it's going to cost lots of money.  Some people have an accident and suffer for years and years.  Lots of firms could take advantage of those people who can't afford to fight them.  People need no win no fee to have access to justice."

Mark Winston was awarded £3,500 after the steering failed on his bus:

"I was driving a bus when the power steering failed as I was going round a corner and it wrenched my left shoulder. I damaged the muscle and had to have surgery. I was off work for six weeks, but the company insisted it was my fault! I left the company in 2008, but didn't claim till a year later. It was a bad year - I lost my job and then my mum. An advert came on TV and I thought 'Why not?  I've got everything to win and nothing to lose'.

I called the National Accident Helpline as they've got a very good reputation and a colleague who'd had similar trouble recommended them. They were great - they took all my details and referred me to a local solicitor. The solicitor was brilliant - his overall attitude was great and he was always informative and supportive. Everything was handled well and quickly. I received £3,500 and managed to pay off some my debts, and when I recovered I passed my motorbike test.  I'd definitely recommend the whole process. If there hadn't been 'No win no fee' then I wouldn't have been in a financial position to make a claim. I lost my job and then had surgery on my shoulder so I couldn't work."

Andrew was awarded £3,000 following an accident at work:

"I was working as an agency driver. I was driving a lorry stacked with bricks which hadn't been shrink-wrapped like they should have been and I nearly lost the load on a roundabout. I pulled over and tried to re-stack the bricks when some of the load slipped and cut my wrist. The wound was wide open - right through to my muscle and tendons. I couldn't drive so I rang the paramedics who came out and took me to hospital. It took two visits to hospital before it was properly sewn up and began to heal. I had a week off work, but just got bored. I went back as soon as I could, but I was all strapped up so there were lots of jobs I couldn't do.

My wife saw an advert for the National Accident Helpline. I phoned up and they were very professional. They took all my information and then a solicitor contacted me. Eventually I was offered £3,000 which I was pleased with.

I would definitely recommend National Accident Helpline. I just sat back and all the wheels were put in motion for me."

Mr Williams from Port Talbot was awarded £4,500 after suffering a back injury at work:

"I was working in an office when the supporting arm of my chair broke and I fell. We had been complaining about the chairs because there'd been accident issues before, but no-one did anything about it. As a result of the fall, I hyper-extended the muscles in my lower back and it caused a lot of pain. I was off work for a month and I couldn't sleep at night.

I saw an ad on TV for the National Accident Helpline and I called them. They were very good and a local solicitor phoned me within 2 hours. He kept me up to date with everything that was happening by phone and letter. I was really pleased with the service over-all and within 8 months I received a pay-out of £4,500. I also got some physiotherapy as part of the package and that aided my recovery.

I'm very glad I contacted National Accident Helpline. I'm still working for the same company and they have been very good about everything. They've changed the style of the chairs now and it's a much safer working environment."

Mr Barton was awarded £6,000 following an accident at work:

"I'm a welder and I'd just finished working on a wrought iron gate. There should have been two people to lift it, but I was left to do it alone. I hadn't been given any manual handling training and the gate slipped and trapped my finger. I had an operation to repair a large gash and was off work for three months. My boss immediately put me on standard sick pay, which isn't much, and I got into debt.

I called the National Accident Helpline because I couldn't work and so I couldn't even pay my rent. They took down my details and sent me to a specialist to check on my hand. The solicitor was very reliable and kept me in touch right through the process. I had some physio and received a £6,000 settlement which helped me pay off some of my debts. My finger is now permanently twisted, but doesn't cause me too much trouble.

I'm glad I claimed and would recommend National Accident Helpline to anyone. How are people in difficulty going to be able to pay for solicitors?"

Sian Curtis, 31, was awarded £1,000 following an accident at work:

"I had a part-time job in a newsagents and I was asked to carry some crates of lager. I hadn't been given any training in how to lift things and I strained my neck badly. The muscle damage caused terrible headaches and I still suffer with the pain.

I contacted National Accident Helpline because it's such a well-known company and they passed me on to a solicitor who was brilliant. I was kept in touch with everything and they were very good at phoning me, and called me straight back if I had any queries.  It took about 9 months to settle and I got £1,000. The money helped me to pay the bills, and I went back to work in the same shop.

I wouldn't have done it without No Win No Fee - it gives you the confidence to make a claim."

Mr Martin Davies was awarded £2,500 after an accident at work:

"I was working with a concrete mixer when a colleague pushed the chute and it severed my left index finger. They were able to save the finger at the hospital, but I've been left with a damaged nail and nerves. I saw the advert for the National Accident Helpline on TV and decided to phone. I hadn't really known what I could do as it was the first time I'd claimed for anything. I was very happy with the way they handled the call - it was very easy and they put me on to a solicitor straight away. The solicitor kept me informed of everything. We were planning to go to court but in the end they settled out of court. I received £2,500 and the cost of the solicitor. We spent it on the house to make things easier for me. I'm glad I made the claim because I still suffer from the accident, but at least I got something out of it. I've recommended National Accident Helpline to a few mates who've been successful - one got a £5,000 pay out.  

If the government stopped the No Win No Fee claims it would've changed things for me. I didn't have enough money to pay the solicitors before I got anything back. When you have an accident at work you go down to minimum sick pay and what with solicitors' costs on top it would've been impossible for me. There's no way people can find the money to pay a solicitor when they're on the bare minimum wage and have a family to support."

Mrs Rathbone from Doncaster was awarded £5,000 following an accident at work

"I was working in a supermarket in the storage area when I slipped on some curry that was on the floor. I fell back and twisted my hand. It was nearly the end of my shift so my husband drove me straight to hospital and they x-rayed me and found out I'd broken it in two places. I was off work for nearly 3 months and didn't even think about claiming. Then I got a letter from my employer saying I wasn't going to get any sick pay so I decided I would make a claim after all.

I phoned National Accident Helpline and they were brilliant - everyone was. I only had to see my solicitor twice and I had a private medical set up for me. I got £5,000 and I was really pleased with that, especially as my employer paid my full wages once they found out I'd had my accident at work. I'm fine now and have gone back to work at the same supermarket. I would recommend National Accident Helpline to anyone - I had no problems at all. I wouldn't have done it without No Win No Fee - I know these solicitors charge the earth!"

Mrs Rathbone would give National Accident Helpline a rating of 5/5

Mrs Mary Johnson from Buckinghamshire was awarded just over £2,000 following an accident at work:

"I work in a bank and as you can imagine the safes are very large and heavy. The ground had fallen away just in front of the safe so it wasn't steady on the floor and the door swung onto my left hand - cutting and breaking my little finger. A paramedic was called and I went to hospital where they strapped up my hand in a sling. I was in shock and the cut was an awkward one so although they couldn't use stitches and it bled a lot. I was off work for a month and couldn't do normal things around the house. I couldn't drive and I couldn't even wash my own hair. I was at home, in pain and feeling unhappy that I'd been injured and it wasn't my fault, when I saw an ad for National Accident Helpline.

When I rang they were sympathetic and someone called me back the same day. I felt that someone could help me through the claim when I couldn't have done it by myself. The solicitor was good and I could ring her whenever I wanted. I received a settlement of just over £2,000 and used it to have a few treats, like days out with my mother, because I hadn't been able to drive and see her when I was injured. I'm glad that I claimed and even the safe is safer now - it's been jacked up and has an annual check to see if it's stable.

Mary would award National Accident Helpline 4.5/5 for the whole process.