2023 UK Workplace Injury Statistics: Trends and Insights
Quittance 2023 work injury claimant survey
Our experience in the field of employer liability claims has shown that injured claimants are frequently not aware of their legal rights or how liability is assessed when making a work injury claim.
This survey was designed to identify factors that might discourage or deter potential claimants from pursuing claims. A key focus was on assessing misconceptions or knowledge gaps about the employer liability claims process that could influence an injured worker's decision to take legal action.
This report presents an analysis of a large-scale survey conducted in 2023, targeting thousands of claimants at the outset of the employer liability claims process.
- Sample size: 2203 adults
- Survey period: 01/01/23 to 31/12/23
- Geographic coverage: England, Scotland and Wales
- How compiled: Survey of work injury claimants when making initial claim enquiry
In this report:
Psychological harm in the workplace
Claimant perception of work accident liability
We asked claimants at the initial enquiry stage who they thought was liable for their injury. The following table is a summary of their answers:
| Who claimants thought were responsible | Percentage of respondents |
|---|---|
| The employer | 73.98% |
| The claimant | 2.44% |
| Both employer and claimant partly liable | 4.07% |
| Liability unclear | 19.51% |
Further investigation
26.02% of claimants thought that they were at least partly responsible for their workplace injuries.
A significant portion of potential work injury claimants believe that they are partly or fully liable for their injuries. This indicates a lack of awareness about how the principles of contributory negligence and vicarious liability apply to employer liability claims.
As these legal principles are not generally understood, it may be that a significant number of injured workers do not make even initial enquiries into the viability of a claim.
The psychological impact of work injuries
Psychological injuries, either in isolation, or as a result of a physical injury, are often overlooked. The following data highlights the prevalence of psychological injuries in the workplace:
| Type | % of respondents | % of all data |
|---|---|---|
| Respondents who suffered a psychological injury at work | 25% | 25% |
| Respondents with a psychological injury who also suffered a physical injury | 64.09% | 16.02% |
| Respondents who solely suffered a psychological injury | 35.91% | 8.98% |
The Judicial College make provision for general damages to be paid for PTSD, and all other psychological injuries are considered under a single category of "general psychiatric damage".
Background
Although it is possible to claim for a psychological injury that is not connected to a physical injury, many personal injury solicitors don't accept these claims. Unless a claimant's psychological injury has been diagnosed at outset of the claim, these claims can be harder to win.
Unfortunately in these cases solicitors don't always refer the claimant to firm specialising in psychological claims, or advise the claimant to obtain a second opinion.
Where a claimant has suffered both a physical and psychological injury, it is critical that the psychological injury is assessed during the claims process. It is not possible to make a second claim for psychological harm if a claimant's symptoms worsen after a compensation settlement has been agreed.
Workplace injury severity
This table categorises respondents' workplace injuries as minor, moderate, or severe. These categories align with the three injury claims tracks: small claims track, fast track, and multi-track, in accordance with the Judicial College Guidelines for General Damages.
| Average general damages value by injury | Percentage of respondents |
|---|---|
| Minor - Less than £1,500 | 2.88% |
| Moderate - £1,500 to £25,000 | 57.21% |
| Serious - Over £25,000 | 39.91% |
For reference: General damages claims valued at below £1,500 are handled through the small claims court process. Claims valued under £25,000 follow the fast-track process, and claims worth over £25,000 follow the multi-track process.
Background
The government reformed the process for making a small personal injury claim on 31st May 2021. One stated intention of the reforms was that claimants with less severe injuries would be able to handle claims themselves, without legal representation.
In practice, navigating the claims process remains challenging for laypeople. Claimants must independently establish liability, review medical evidence, prove any financial losses, and correctly assess the value of their claim. Injured workers may, in particular, be discouraged from making a claim by the sometimes mistaken belief that their claim falls into the small claims court category.
Respondent data
This table offers a concise breakdown of different categories of injuries suffered at work, presented as percentages.
| Injury selected by respondent | % of respondents | % of these respondents who suffered multiple injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Ankle injuries | 7.95% | 44.29% |
| Arm injuries | 8.52% | 38.67% |
| Arm injuries | 0.57% | 80% |
| Asbestos-related disease | 0.68% | 16.67% |
| Back injuries | 13.41% | 51.69% |
| Brain damage | 4.43% | 56.41% |
| Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) | 0.68% | 50% |
| Chest injuries | 1.93% | 64.71% |
| Dermatitis | 0.11% | 0% |
| Epilepsy | 0.57% | 40% |
| Facial injuries | 3.98% | 48.57% |
| Finger and thumb injuries | 6.25% | 21.82% |
| Foot injuries | 3.64% | 59.38% |
| Hair damage | 0.91% | 50% |
| Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) | 0.23% | 0% |
| Hand injuries | 0.8% | 57.14% |
| Hand injuries | 2.27% | 50% |
| Illness/health conditions | 3.75% | 27.27% |
| Impairment of taste and smell | 0.34% | 100% |
| Injuries affecting hearing and speech | 0.57% | 40% |
| Injuries affecting sight | 0.8% | 42.86% |
| Knee injuries | 8.3% | 54.79% |
| Leg injuries | 5.57% | 48.98% |
| Leg injuries | 0.57% | 20% |
| Lung-related conditions | 3.18% | 32.14% |
| Neck injuries | 5.11% | 71.11% |
| Organ damage | 2.73% | 41.67% |
| Other injuries | 0.91% | 37.5% |
| Other psychological injury | 10.8% | 63.16% |
| Pain disorders | 3.75% | 75.76% |
| Paralysis | 0.91% | 50% |
| Pelvis or hips injuries | 3.98% | 62.86% |
| Post-traumatic stress (PTSD) | 14.2% | 64.8% |
| Repetitive strain injury (RSI) | 0.45% | 50% |
| Shoulder injuries | 9.66% | 49.41% |
| Teeth loss and damage | 1.48% | 84.62% |
| Tinnitus | 2.27% | 75% |
| Vibration White Finger (VWF) | 0.68% | 16.67% |
| Whiplash | 5.34% | 70.21% |
| Work-related Upper Limb Disorder (WRULDS) | 0.91% | 25% |
| Wrist injuries | 5.57% | 36.73% |
Report disclaimer
Both Quittance and the specialist panel solicitors we work with have expertise in particular areas of personal injury claims. The data collected and presented in the 2023 Quittance Work Injury Claimants Survey is not intended to represent the complete personal injury claims market.
References:
Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases Sixteenth Edition