If a painter and decorator injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward
Decorator injuries can happen in various circumstances, from home improvement accidents to professional error.
If your life, or the life of a loved one, has been affected by an accident at work, we can help. If your injuries were caused by the negligence or actions of your employer or a co-worker, you may be entitled to claim compensation.
You can make a No Win, No Fee work accident compensation claim with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.
With over 500,000 people injured at work each year, you are not alone
Painters and decorators routinely work at height when painting ceilings or building exteriors. Ladder use presents a particular danger, particularly if the ladder is used incorrectly or the user is tempted to overreach.
Decorators are particularly at risk of falls from height, which account for 17% of injuries in the workplace (hse.gov.uk).
If you decide to make a work 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.
What if I am self-employed?
Many self-employed painters and decorators people work on sites owned or operated by another party e.g. a client's home or a building site.
If you are self-employed and you were injured as a result of the negligence of the operator of the premises where you were working, you may have grounds for a work accident claim.
How much compensation can I claim for a painter or decorator accident?
Compensation for your accident is determined by:
- how significant your injury is,
- how your injury affects your everyday life and work,
- the financial losses or expenses you've faced because of the accident.
Negligent decorator injury
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Updated January 2025
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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 injury. Compensation can include lost wages, bonuses, benefits and other perks, damage to clothing, damage to your property, and any additional expenses directly related to your injury.
These damages will also cover any medical or treatment bills, such as pain medication, anti-inflammatory 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 injury general damages compensation table
The following 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 |
Elbow injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery within 18 months | Simple fractures, cuts or injuries (e.g. tennis elbow) with no permanent symptoms | Up to £3,920 |
| Recovery between 18 to 36 months | Simple fractures, cuts or injuries (e.g. tennis elbow) with no permanent symptoms | Up to £7,210 |
| Recovery after 36 months | Simple fractures, cuts or injuries (e.g. tennis elbow) with no permanent symptoms or damage | Up to £13,970 |
Finger injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Relatively minor injury | Finger fractures that recover in under 6 months, and/or injuries with tenderness, pain in cold weather, or scarring | Up to £5,270 |
| Index finger fracture | Fracture fully heals, but with ongoing pain, disability and an increased risk of osteoarthritis | £10,110 to £13,570 |
| Finger fractures | Fractures that cause deformity, affect sensation, and/or have a long term affect on your grip and ability to use your hand | Up to £40,760 |
Hand injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) injuries to one or both hands | A fracture or break recovering within 6 months, and/or with scarring, tenderness and pain in cold weather | Up to £5,270 |
| Moderate injuries to one or both hands | Moderate crush injuries, penetrating wounds, or deep cuts | £6,280 to £14,730 |
| Moderate/serious injuries to one or both hands | Serious crush injury that causes impaired function andthat cannot be resolved with surgery | £16,040 to £32,170 |
Knee injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | E.g. dislocation, torn cartilage or meniscus, that could cause future symptoms or weakness, or that exacerbated an existing injury | Up to £15,250 |
| Moderate | More serious knee injuries with a greater risk of future symptoms, pain and weakness | £16,460 to £29,050 |
| Serious | E.g. a leg fracture that extends to the knee joint, or injuries that cause constant pain and restricted movement, and/or a risk of osteoarthritis or future knee surgery | £29,050 to £48,210 |
Leg injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Simple femur fracture | Simple femur fracture with no damage to articular surfaces | £10,110 to £15,620 |
| More serious fractures | Incomplete fracture recovery with ongoing symptoms | £19,930 to £30,800 |
Wrist injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lesser | Relatively minor soft tissue injury or displaced fracture, with a full recovery within 12 months | £3,920 to £5,260 |
| Moderate | Uncomplicated Colles' fracture | Around £8,250 |
| Moderate | Fracture or soft tissue injury with complete recovery | £6,750 to £11,480 |
Am I eligible for negligent decorator injury compensation?
You should be entitled to negligent decorator injury compensation if your injury resulted from the negligence or actions of another person or organisation, or from an accident that was not your fault.
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.
Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?
Determining who is to blame for an accident is not always black and white.
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.
Your claim could still be possible if your actions contributed to your injury. If you were injured at work, you can claim compensation from your employer even if you or a co-worker caused the accident.
Read more:
Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?
Risk of injury
Decorators are mainly at risk from:
- Slipping on paint or paste
- Inhaling toxic VOC fumes in poorly ventilated areas
- Slip, trip and fall risks from tools, pots of paint or other equipment left lying around
- Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
- Dust inhalation
Your employer's 'duty of care'
All employers have a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of their employees.
Working at height
By following the procedures set out by the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, your employer should ensure that the risk of injury is minimised.
Where the risks have not been properly assessed and identified and the necessary equipment, appropriate precautions and systems of work provided and correctly implemented, accidents may occur and the employer may be found negligent as a result.
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 sets out detailed information on how to safely work with ladders.
Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
RSI is the term used to describe pain in the tendons, muscles or nerves brought on by repetitive movement. These injuries are also referred to as Upper Limb Disorders (ULDs).
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that there are over 200,000 cases of ULDs every year, with an estimated 2.6 million work days lost last year.
Decorators often experience RSI as a result of working in awkward positions when working on ladders or painting ceilings. RSI is also common as a result of performing the same activity for a continuous period, such as painting and sanding.
RSI most commonly affects the hands, wrists, elbows, fingers and forearms.
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.
If you are injured 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 was the cause of your decorator injury?
The compensation claims process will depend on where and how your negligent decorator injury occurred. Click the icons below for more information:
Can I make a no win, no fee negligent decorator injury claim?
Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim negligent decorator 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
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 (reviewed: 29/07/2024)
Author:
Howard Willis, Personal injury solicitor
About the author
Howard Willis qualified as a solicitor in 1984 and has specialised in personal injury for over 25 years. He is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and is a recognised Law Society Personal Injury Panel expert.