Key advice when making a falling object injury claim
- Employers and owners and operators of places accessible to the public must take steps to manage risks associated with falling objects, such as training to ensure correct stacking, use of safety barriers and PPE.
- Where there is a foreseeable risk of falling objects, such as on a building site or in a warehouse, protective headgear should be provided.
- You can claim if you were negligently injured by a falling object.
- You can make a claim within 3 years of your injury date.
- Your claim can proceed on a no win, no fee basis.
- The amount of compensation you can claim depends on the severity of your injury and any financial losses or expenses. Use our compensation calculator to find out how much you could receive.
If a falling object injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward
Objects falling from heights can pose a significant hazard, especially in environments such as construction sites or areas with stacked materials. These incidents can lead to severe injuries like head traumas, fractures, and spinal damage. The risk increases if materials or stock has not been stored securely, inadequate safety measures are taken, and suitable PPE is not provided.
If you or a loved one has been affected by such an accident, a personal injury solicitor can assist you in making a claim for the No Win, No Fee compensation you deserve.
With approximately 6,500 serious injuries from falling or moving objects each year, you are not alone
Numerous falling object accidents happen in public places or private residences every year. However, a large majority of serious accidents of this type occur in the workplace.
Injuries from falling objects are common and as such, are addressed in a specific section 13 of The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (legislation.gov.uk).
11% of non-fatal injuries at work involve a moving or falling object (Health and Safety Executive (HSE)).
If you decide to make a falling object injury claim, your personal injury 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 a falling object injury?
The amount of compensation you can claim for being hit by a falling object is determined by:
- the degree of your injury,
- the extent to which your injury impairs your daily life and work,
- the financial costs and losses you have experienced 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 are for financial losses and expenses you have incurred because of your accident. In addition to paying for loss of earnings, including lost overtime, holiday pay, benefits and pension contributions, special damages can cover any care costs and medical procedures you need, 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 falling object injury compensation payouts
The following falling object 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).
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 |
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 |
| Loss of sight in one eye | £54,660 to £60,840 | |
| Loss of one eye | £60,840 to £72,920 |
Facial scarring
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | A hardly noticeable scar (or scars) | £1,890 to £3,920 |
| Moderate | A single scar that can be camouflaged with makeup, or multiple small scars that don't markedly affect your appearance | £4,380 to £15,250 |
| Significant | Significant scarring where the worst affects are reduced by cosmetic surgery, and/or with causing a psychological impact | £10,110 to £33,380 |
| Serious | Substantial disfigurement and/or a significant psychological impact | £19,930 to £53,720 |
| Severe | A younger person (under 30) with substantial disfigurement and/or a significant psychological impact | £33,040 to £107,990 |
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 |
| Severe | Symptoms include serious physical and/or cognitive disability that requires constant care, a risk of future medical issues and reduced life expectancy | £243,040 to £312,860 |
| Very severe | Full time nursing care is required | £312,860 to £448,180 |
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 |
| Very Severe | Incomplete paraplegia, spastic quadriparesis, and/or very restricted neck movement | Around £164,560 |
Shoulder injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Soft tissue injury | Soft tissue injury with recovery in under 1 year, causing considerable pain | £2,720 to £8,750 |
| Clavicle fracture | Injuries causing some pain and disability, e.g. a displaced, fractured clavicle | £5,710 to £13,580 |
| Moderate | Soft tissue injury with recovery in under 2 years, and/or limited shoulder movement or frozen shoulder | £8,750 to £14,160 |
| Serious | Including dislocation of the shoulder and damage to the lower part of the brachial plexus, shoulder, neck and elbow pain, rotator cuff injury, leading to weakened grip and restricted movement | £14,160 to £21,300 |
| Severe | Serious shoulder/brachial plexus injury resulting in significant disability; | £21,300 to £53,280 |
Psychological trauma following an injury or illness
Although psychiatric injuries are less obvious than physical injuries and illness, mental health conditions can be no less debilitating.
Our 2025 Public Place Injury Claimant Survey reveals the extent of psychological trauma, with 29.03% of claims involving a psychological injury, 70.97% of which related to a physical injury.
Injuries from falling objects, especially in public or work settings, can lead to anxiety and fears including kinemortophobia (fear of falling objects). These anxieties can trigger PTSD in severe cases.
Compensation for psychological harm can help you access mental health support and therapies not always available through the NHS.
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 falling object injury compensation?
You can claim for a falling object injury, if:
- you were made ill within the last 3 years, and;
- someone else was to blame, and;
- they owed a duty of care to prevent harm.
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.
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 Public Liability Injury Claimant Survey, 17.45% of respondents believed they may have been partly (or wholly) responsible for their injuries.
Claims are possible even when your actions partially caused the accident. In instances of 'contributory negligence', claims are usually settled with a split liability agreement.
Read more:
Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?
How long after a falling object injury do I have to start a claim?
For most injury claims, you have up to 3 years from the date of your injury to start the claims process.
The 3 year limitation period does not apply to minors (under 18s). A parent, guardian or litigation friend can start a claim on a child's behalf up to their 18th birthday and the child has until their 21st birthday to claim for themselves.
Who is responsible for falling object accidents?
In a workplace setting the responsibility for accidents lies with the employer and/or site manager. Employers are governed by a number of regulations which should ensure the health and safety of their employees.
Regulations include, amongst others:
- The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
- The Working at Height Regulations 2005
- Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
- The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER).
The legislation contains relevant provisions such as:
- Providing risk assessments, adequate safety measures and staff training
- Preventing or stopping objects from falling, which could include attaching ties or safety lines, placing suitable guards or safety mesh below, using exclusion zones, storing objects safely, using covered platforms, only placing equipment at height that is absolutely necessary
- Providing suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as safety helmets and hard hats
The employer's duty of responsibility extends from the employer to the public if the work setting presents a risk to pedestrians or those nearby. An example would be an accident involving an item falling from a scaffold or ladder and injuring a member of the public.
For other accidents involving falling objects in another public or private setting, responsibility lies with the owner of the land or property. This could be a shop keeper whose sign fell onto a passer-by or a building owner where something dropped from a window or balcony.
Where did your falling object injury happen?
Claiming compensation for a falling object injury is dependent on how your injury occurred. Click the icons below for more detail:
Can I make a no win, no fee falling object injury claim?
Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim falling object 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 an injury 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
Statistics - Non-fatal injuries at work in Great Britain (reviewed: 29/07/2024)
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 (reviewed: 01/08/2024)
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (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.