Essential points when making a ladder fall claim
- If you were injured due to your employer's negligence, like lack of training or PPE, you can claim compensation.
- You may still be eligible to claim as an employee, contractor, or temp - even if you were partly at fault.
- There is a 3-year time limit from the injury date to start your claim.
- General damages range from £15,000 for minor fractures to over £250,000 for severe head and brain injuries. Use our calculator to estimate your claim
- Special damages can cover any losses, including medical expenses, loss of earnings (or income if self-employed), medical expenses, and any other costs incurred as a result of your accident.
- You can claim on a no win, no fee basis.
- Your employer cannot fire you for pursuing a claim.
Claim compensation with an expert personal injury solicitor
Injuries from ladder falls can lead to significant trauma. Compensation claims often focus on the circumstances leading to the fall, including any breaches of workplace safety or product liability.
If your life, or the life of a loved one, has been affected by a ladder accident, we can help. If your injuries were caused by your employer or a co-worker, you may be entitled to claim compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term rehabilitation.
You can make a No Win, No Fee work accident compensation claim with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.
You are not alone
Each year, around 50,000 people visit A&E due to ladder accidents. According to HSE research, falls from height cause 8% of all workplace injuries, with 30% involving ladders. These incidents often result from overreaching, faulty equipment, or inadequate training, commonly occurring at work or home.
8% of all workplace injuries are caused by falls from height, according to HSE research (hse.gov.uk).
Construction sites are particularly hazardous, with 53,000 non-fatal workplace injuries reported between 2020/21 and 2022/23. Head injuries, affecting about 5% of ladder accidents, may not show symptoms until months later, so seeking medical attention is crucial.
If you pursue a ladder injury claim, your work accident solicitor will guide you through the process, ensuring you receive the compensation you need.
How much compensation can I claim for a ladder fall?
The level of compensation you can claim for a fall from a ladder will depend on:
- the seriousness of your injury,
- the effect your injury has on your daily routine and work life,
- any financial expenses or losses you?ve had due to your injury.
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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 is compensation for quantifiable financial losses you've incurred as a result of your ladder injury. Compensation can include loss of earnings, including lost overtime, holiday pay, benefits and pension contributions, and any additional expenses directly related to your injury.
These damages will also cover any medical or treatment bills, such as diagnostic imaging tests, surgical intervention and physiotherapy.
Read more:
A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim
How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?
Average ladder injury general damages compensation table
The following ladder 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 |
Back injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | A back sprain, disc prolapse, soft tissue injury or minor fracture that fully recovers without surgery | £2,720 to £13,870 |
| Moderate | A disc lesion, prolapse, fracture or soft tissue injury leading to chronic conditions, including pain, mobility issues, impaired sexual function, psychological effects, a risk of arthritis, spondylolisthesis, and nerve root irritation | £13,870 to £30,800 |
| Severe | Severe spinal cord damage, nerve root damage, disc lesions, fractures and soft tissues leading to serious chronic conditions | £43,020 to £178,590 |
Head & brain injuries
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | Minimal brain damage with headaches and/or ongoing symptoms | £2,450 to £14,160 |
| Moderate - level 1 | Good recovery, but with ongoing symptoms (e.g. poor concentration and memory) | £17,000 to £47,770 |
| Moderate - level 2 | Your ability to work is reduced, and ongoing symptoms include poor concentration and memory, and a risk of epilepsy | £47,770 to £100,650 |
| Moderate - level 3 | Your ability to work is greatly reduced, and you have ongoing care needs | £100,650 to £166,540 |
| Moderate - level 4 | Ongoing symptoms include a moderate to severe intellectual deficit, personality change, damage to sight, speech and/or senses, and a risk of epilepsy | £166,540 to £243,040 |
Leg injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Simple tibia or fibula fracture | Simple fracture with full recovery | Up to £13,140 |
| Minor (relatively) | Short-term and minor soft tissue injuries | Up to £13,140 |
| Simple femur fracture | Simple femur fracture with no damage to articular surfaces | £10,110 to £15,620 |
| Less serious | Less serious injuries, e.g. simple leg fractures | £10,110 to £15,620 |
| More serious fractures | Incomplete fracture recovery with ongoing symptoms | £19,930 to £30,800 |
| Moderate | Including multiple leg fractures and crush injuries | £30,800 to £43,490 |
| Serious | Serious leg injury e.g. compound or comminuted fractures;Injuries to joints or ligaments;Long period of no weight bearing;Probability of arthritis; | £43,490 to £60,840 |
| Very Serious | Permanent mobility problems that require mobility aids (e.g. a stick, walker or wheelchair), and/or deformity and limited movement where future surgery is likely | £60,840 to £99,350 |
Neck injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | Soft tissue injury | £2,720 to £8,750 |
| Moderate | Fracture or dislocation injuries, or worsening of existing conditions, including wrenching, disc lesions and cervical spondylosis | £27,730 to £42,700 |
| Serious | Severe fractures, dislocation, soft tissue damage, ruptured tendons, and/or chronic disability | £50,450 to £62,120 |
| Severe | Serious fractures or damage to discs, with disability and substantial loss of neck movement, including loss of function in one or more limbs | £72,950 to £145,250 |
The psychological impact of work injuries
Are you concerned about the mental and emotional impact of your injury? You are not alone.
Our 2025 Work Injury Claimant Survey reveals the extent of psychological trauma, with 25.00% of claims involving a psychological injury, 64.09% of which related to a physical injury.
Ladder injuries can cause a phobia of heights (acrophobia) or even PTSD, affecting future work and daily activities involving height.
Some workers remain hesitant to seek help for potential psychological injuries, fearing that their concerns will be dismissed or they will be treated differently.
A specialist solicitor will ensure that the psychological harm you have suffered is considered when calculating your compensation. This can be vital to ensure you receive mental health support and other therapies that may not be readily available on the NHS in your area.
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.
Do I have a ladder injury claim?
Yes, you can claim for a ladder fall, if:
- you were made ill within the last 3 years, and;
- another party was to blame, and;
- that party had a legal duty to protect you.
Use our injury claim calculator to find out if you can claim. Alternatively, you can speak to a claims advisor on 0800 376 1001 and find out if you have a claim in minutes.
Am I still eligible to claim if I was partially responsible?
Determining legal responsibility for a claimant's injuries can involve myriad factors.
In our recent 2025 Work Injury Claimant Survey, 26.02% of injured workers believed they may have been partly (or wholly) responsible for their injuries.
You could still be able to claim even if you were partly responsible for the accident. If you were injured at work, you can claim compensation from your employer under the principle of vicarious liability - even if you or another employee caused the accident.
Read more:
Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?
How long do I have to make a ladder injury claim?
In most cases, you have 3 years from the date of your accident or injury.
If you were injured when you were under 18, a parent, guardian or adult 'litigation friend' can make a claim on your behalf. Once you turn 18, you have until your 21st birthday to start an injury claim.
Common ladder accidents
One of the most common ladder accidents occurs when the ladder is effectively too short for the job. The natural inclination is then to stretch or 'overreach'.
Overreaching can unbalance the ladder resulting in a fall. For this reason, employers have a duty to train staff to use ladders appropriately, including always maintaining at least three points of contact with the ladder.
Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022
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.
PPE is often overlooked when using a ladder. In most cases the use of gloves, boots, and bump caps can protect your extremities when climbing or descending a ladder. Fall arrest equipment should be used if you are climbing particularly high.
If you are injured when using a ladder at work and your employer failed to provide you with suitable PPE, you may be entitled to claim compensation - even if you are self-employed.
What caused your ladder injury?
The compensation claims process will depend on where and how your ladder injury occurred. Click the icons below for more information:
Can I make a no win, no fee ladder injury claim?
Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim ladder 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
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - NHS (reviewed: 29/07/2024)
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.