Key advice when making a scaffolding accident claim
- If you were injured on or around scaffolding due to someone else's fault, you can claim compensation.
- The fault may lie with your employer, a co-worker, or a third party.
- As an employee, contractor, or temp, you can still make a claim, even if you believe you were partly responsible.
- You can make a claim within 3 years of your injury date.
- You take no financial risk with a no win, no fee claim.
- Use our calculator to estimate your potential compensation.
- By law, you cannot be fired for claiming compensation.
If a scaffolding injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward
Scaffolding accidents can happen on construction sites, in industrial facilities, and even in residential areas. They often result from falls due to unsecured scaffolding or collapses caused by faulty construction or poor maintenance.
These accidents can be severe and life-changing. If you or a loved one has been injured in a scaffolding accident, we can help.
This article explains how to make a scaffolding injury claim, including time limits and steps to get started. With the help of a personal injury solicitor, you can pursue a No Win, No Fee claim.
You are not alone
Building sites are dangerous workplaces, as reflected in the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics showing that 53,000 workers sustained non-fatal injuries at work averaged over the three-year period 2020/21-2022/23.
87 serious scaffolding accidents were reported in 2023/24, from a combined scaffolding workforce of 16,667 operatives (nasc.org.uk).
In 2022 there were 67 serious scaffolding accidents reported.
Despite this improvement, scaffolding accidents continue to cause serious injury, not only to scaffold operators and construction workers but also to passers-by and site visitors.
The majority of these accidents could be avoided with proper health and safety measures. Employers and occupiers who neglect their duty of care to staff, visitors, and the public may be liable for injuries resulting from these breaches.
If you were injured in a scaffolding accident, you can make a work accident claim or occupiers liability claim. Your solicitor will guide you through each step of the claims process, supporting you until you win your claim and receive the compensation you need to move forward.
How much compensation can I claim for a scaffolding accident?
How much you can claim for a scaffolding accident is based on:
- the nature and severity of your injury,
- the extent to which your injury limits your daily life and working ability,
- any economic losses or costs you?ve incurred 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 will be awarded for any lost earnings, loss of commission or bonuses, and loss of pension contributions. It may also be possible to claim for loss of future earnings, if the medical prognosis establishes that you won't be able to work for any period in the future.
These damages will also cover the cost of any medical procedures you might need to treat or recover from your scaffolding injury such as emergency care, 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 scaffolding injury compensation payouts
The following scaffolding 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 |
Mental health support after a work accident
Are you concerned about the mental and emotional impact of your injury? 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.
Injuries from scaffolding accidents often lead to acrophobia or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
You should not feel pressured to return to work before you are fully healed, including less obvious psychological injuries. A premature return could worsen your mental health, prolonging a full recovery.
Considering the potential for psychological harm following a traumatic incident at work is critical. Diagnosable psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, are recognised in the official guidelines for compensation awards, and it is appropriate to include the cost of mental health treatment and support when calculating your compensation.
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 qualify for scaffolding injury compensation?
You can start a compensation claim for a scaffolding accident, if:
- you were made ill in the last 3 years, and;
- someone else was responsible, and;
- they owed you a duty of care.
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.
What happens if I share some of the blame?
Figuring out who is legally at fault for an accident can sometimes be complex and nuanced.
According to our recent 2025 Work Injury Claimant Survey, 26.02% of injured workers thought that their actions could have contributed, either in part or wholly, to their injuries.
If you believe you were partly responsible, you may still have a claim. If you were injured at work, you should be able to claim compensation from your employer even if your actions, or the actions of a colleague, contributed to your injury.
Read more:
Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?
Common causes of scaffolding accidents
Scaffolding should be used as a temporary structure to support workers and materials during the construction, maintenance and repair of buildings and other constructions.
When used correctly and within legal requirements, scaffolding is regarded as being a safer alternative to a ladder when working at height.
One of the most obvious dangers involved in the use of a scaffold is working at height. Another significant reason accidents occur is the incorrect assembly of the scaffold by an untrained worker, or the use of damaged or substituted parts. This can lead to collapse, partial collapse or movement of safety rails or boards.
Other causes of scaffold accidents include:
- Incorrect manual handling of the scaffold
- Using scaffolding when wet
- Leaving tools and materials on the scaffold which can cause trip accidents or which could fall injuring someone below
The main types of scaffolding accidents include slips, trips and falls on the same level and falls from height.
These types of accident are responsible for many workplace injuries each year. An object falling from scaffolding is a common cause of injury to members of the public.
Typical injuries
Quittance's panel of injury solicitors have assisted with scaffolding accident claims for lacerations, broken bones, back injuries, neck, head and brain injuries.
In addition to the potentially serious injuries that can be sustained in a scaffolding accident, injured people also sustained other losses, having to pay medical bills and travel expenses and through loss of earnings.
Compensation exists specifically to account for the pain and suffering experienced and for these financial losses.
Legislation protecting workers
There are three main pieces of regulation in place aimed at protecting people from scaffold accidents in a work environment. These pieces of legislation also ensure that negligent parties can be held responsible when accidents do happen.
Work at Height Regulations 2005
Intended to prevent injuries caused by a fall from height, these regulations impose a responsibility on employers to make sure work is ‘properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people'. Employers should take into account all possible dangers and manage risk.
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)
This requires that employers ensure all work equipment is suitable for use. Regular maintenance and inspection should be carried out. Employers should also take appropriate measures to provide adequate safety in terms of both hardware and training.
Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022
Where there are risks to health and safety that cannot be controlled in other ways, these regulations guide the correct provision and maintenance of suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as safety helmets, by the employer.
For scaffold accidents which involve members of the public who may have been injured when passing by, different rules apply. If, for example, they were hit by a pole falling which feel from the scaffold, they could sue the company responsible for the scaffold for negligence.
The duty owed by companies to the public to prevent injury by falling objects, scaffolding and other hazards, generally comes under the common law ‘duty of care'.
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.
Proving liability in scaffold accidents
If any of the above regulations are not adhered to, an employer may be held liable and made to pay compensation for injuries sustained by the claimant. In order for this to happen, it must be shown that their action or inaction was the cause of the scaffold accident.
Evidence that would help prove negligence includes:
- Medical reports
- Witness evidence
- Photographs of the scene
- Accident books
Even with evidence, the process of making a claims be complicated. Many site contractors have their own legal team who will look for ways to counter the claim.
The employer dispute full liability by arguing that there was ‘contributory negligence. They could, for example, argue that the claimant played a part in causing the accident as they were following correct procedures at the time. If successful they would avoid paying the full compensation fee.
For injured members of the public, proving liability can be more straightforward, but negligence would need to be demonstrated in the same way.
How did your scaffolding injury happen?
The claims process will vary depending on how your scaffolding injury happened. Click the icons below to learn more:
Can I make a no win, no fee scaffolding injury claim?
Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim scaffolding 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 callbackAuthor:
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.