Key advice when claiming compensation for a garage accident
- Whether you are a full-time or part-time employee, trainee, contractor, or temp, either your employer, or the garage owner or operator, owes you a legal duty of care.
- Claims are often linked to unsafe working conditions, faulty equipment, or negligence by employers or co-workers.
- A claim can be started within 3 years of your injury date.
- Compensation depends on your injury's severity and expenses. Find out how much you could claim with our easy-to-use compensation calculator.
- You can't be dismissed for making a claim.
- A solicitor can handle your claim on a no win, no fee basis.
We'll help you get back on track after a garage injury
If your life, or the life of a loved one, has been affected by a garage accident, we can help. If your injuries were caused by your employer or a co-worker, you may be entitled to claim compensation.
You can make a No Win, No Fee work accident claim with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.
You are not alone
Given the heavy equipment and power tools used in vehicle repair, the consequences of a garage accident can be serious, with injuries ranging from cuts and broken bones to severe spinal injury and head injury.
Around 1,500 injuries (per 100 000 motor vehicle repair employees) are reported under RIDDOR every year (hse.gov.uk).
It is estimated that nearly 2,000 motor vehicle repair (MVR) injuries, 6 fatalities and 400 serious injuries are reported to the HSE and Local Authorities every year.
Employers are responsible for eliminating hazards in a garage environment and providing a safe working environment. Anyone who has suffered an accident or injury in a garage or motor vehicle repair shop, including members of the public, may be eligible to bring a claim against the owner or occupier of the premises.
If you decide to make a garage injury claim, your solicitor will take you through every step of the claims process. Your solicitor will be with you until you win your claim and get the compensation you need to move forward.
How much compensation can I claim for an accident in a garage?
How much you can claim for an accident at a garage is based on:
- the nature and severity of your injury,
- the extent to which your injury limits your daily life and working ability,
- the costs or financial losses you?ve experienced due to the accident.
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General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA). Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.
Special damages are for financial losses and expenses you have incurred because of your accident. In addition to paying compensation for lost earnings, special damages can cover any care costs and medical procedures you need, such as wound care, pain medication and physical therapy.
Read more:
A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim
How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?
Average garage injury general damages compensation table
The following garage injury payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 17th Edition by the Judicial College (oup.com).
These tables are used by solicitors or by the courts as a starting point when calculating your compensation.
Please note: these average figures represent general damages only, and do not include any element of special damages (e.g. lost wages).
Ankle injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | Minor fractures, sprains, and ligament injuries with full recovery | Up to £15,250 |
| Moderate | A fracture or ligament injury with mild ongoing symptoms | £15,250 to £29,500 |
| Severe | Lengthy treatment required, and your ability to walk has been permanently affected | £34,740 to £55,540 |
Chest injuries
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Toxic fume or smoke inhalation | Some lung damage, but lung function is not affected | £5,910 to £13,970 |
| Chest injury (no damage to lung) | A chest injury with no significant, permanent lung damage (e.g. a penetrating chest wound) | £13,970 to £19,930 |
| Damage to chest or lung | Some ongoing disability | £34,740 to £60,840 |
Eye injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term eye injury | Complete recovery within a few weeks | £2,450 to £4,380 |
| Minor eye injury | Pain and temporary interference with vision during your recovery | £4,380 to £9,690 |
| Minor but permanent loss of some vision | Symptoms affecting one or both eyes, including double vision, blurred vision, or sensitivity to light | £10,110 to £23,270 |
| Moderate loss of some vision in one or eye | Serious but incomplete loss of vision in one or both eyes, or blurred vision and light sensitivity in both eyes | £26,270 to £43,670 |
Hernia injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lesser | Uncomplicated indirect inguinal hernia, with no other damage | £3,760 to £8,030 |
| Moderate | Direct inguinal hernia, with some risk of recurrence after repair | £7,780 to £10,110 |
| Serious | After repair, you still experience ongoing pain and your daily life and ability to work is affected | £16,530 to £26,810 |
Tinnitus & Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Slight tinnitus or slight NIHL | Up to £7,780 | |
| Slight or occasional tinnitus with slight NIHL | £8,080 to £13,970 | |
| Mild tinnitus or mild NIHL | Around £13,000 | |
| Mild tinnitus and NIHL | £13,970 to £16,530 | |
| Moderate tinnitus and NIHL | £16,530 to £32,960 | |
| Severe tinnitus and NIHL | £32,960 to £50,520 |
The psychological impact of work injuries
If you have suffered psychological harm as a result of an accident at work, you are not alone.
Our 2025 Work Injury Claimant Survey shows how prevalent psychological injuries are in the workplace. 25.00% of claimants report suffering a psychological injury, 64.09% of which were related to a physical injury.
Garage injuries, often involving tools and machinery, can lead to anxiety or phobias related to mechanical work (mechanophobia). The sights, sounds and smells associated with a garage can also trigger PTSD after serious injuries.
Psychiatric injuries can negatively affect your physical recovery and hinder your return to work. Fearing stigma or a disregard of their mental health issues, some employees are reluctant to voice their concerns.
Diagnosable psychiatric injuries, such as PTSD, are recognised in the guidelines for calculating compensation. The cost of treatment and support for these injuries should be included in your compensation award or settlement.
Our compensation calculator can estimate your compensation for psychological injuries. Or you can call us on 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor.
Am I entitled to make a garage injury claim?
You can start a claim for an accident in a garage, if:
- you were made ill in the last 3 years, and;
- another person was to blame, and;
- that person had a legal duty of care to safeguard you from harm.
Find out online if you can claim with our injury claim calculator. Or you can call 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor. Find out in minutes if you have a claim.
What if the accident was partly my fault?
Attributing blame for an accident isn't always clear-cut.
In our 2025 Work Injury Claimant Survey, we found that 26.02% of injured workers felt they had at least some responsibility for the injuries they sustained.
You could still have a valid claim if you were partly to blame for your injury or illness. Employers may be also be held responsible under vicarious liability for injuries caused by employees, making a claim possible if you or a colleague caused the accident.
Read more:
Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?
What are the employer's duties?
All employers owe a duty of care to their employees. By law, they must take reasonable steps to keep their employees safe from harm. Everyday duties include keeping the floors free from holes, obstructions and other trip hazards and making sure that oil and other spills are cleaned up immediately.
Garages are covered by a number of specific regulations that address the type of risks that may be found in a motor repair setting. These include:
- The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 - this piece of legislation requires that employers provide a safe working environment, assess and manage risks and adequately maintain their equipment, tools and materials.
- The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 - these regulations aim to protect workers from injury caused by lifting activities such as carrying tyres, car parts and jacks, and other manual handling activities such as using a wrench on a wheel.
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 - these regulations place an obligation on employers to ensure that work machines such as vehicle lifts are safe to use, frequently inspected, well maintained and fit for purpose.
- The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations - these regulations require an employer to limit exposure to hazardous chemicals such as benzene and to issue personal protective equipment when there is a risk of inhalation or splashing.
- The Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022 - came into force on 6 April 2022. This legislation means that employers have an obligation to provide free Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to all workers, including workers who are self-employed or on a zero-hours contract. Under the previous 1992 regulations, employers were only required to provide PPE to employees with a formal employment contract.
In addition to the various pieces of legislation, the Health and Safety Executive frequently issues guidance leaflets to help the owners of garages and motor vehicle repair shops minimise the risks and implement good workplace safety practices.
Is my employer liable?
To establish employer liability in a claim, your solicitor must prove that your employer's negligence caused the accident and resulting injuries. This involves gathering evidence to demonstrate your employer didn't take reasonable steps to mitigate risks related to the work process, premises, or machinery. Liability is often clear if there's a breach of specific health and safety regulations. Your solicitor will help collect supporting evidence, like witness statements and safety check logbooks.
What was the cause of your garage injury?
Claiming compensation depends on the cause of your garage injury. Click the icons below for read more:
Can I make a no win, no fee garage injury claim?
Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim garage injury compensation without financial risk. If your claim isn't successful, you pay nothing. If you win, you only pay a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation.
Get expert advice now
Interested in talking to a work accident specialist about your claim?
- Calls are FREE
- Confidential consultation
- No obligation to claim
- No Win No Fee solicitors
Call 0800 376 1001
or arrange a callbackSources
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (reviewed: 30/07/2024)
Motor Vehicle Repair Injury statistics (reviewed: 02/08/2024)
The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (reviewed: 30/07/2024)
The Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (reviewed: 28/07/2024)
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (reviewed: 28/07/2024)
Author:
Chris Salmon, Director
About the author
Chris Salmon is a co-founder and Director of Quittance Injury Claims. Chris has played key roles in the shaping and scaling of a number of legal services brands and is a regular commentator in the legal press.