Home › Accident at work guides › Construction site accidents
Guide · Accidents at work
Construction Site Accident Claims: A Guide for Injured Workers
If you were hurt on a construction site because someone didn't keep it safe, you may be able to claim compensation, whether you're an employee, a subcontractor, self-employed or a visitor. More than one party can be responsible, including the principal contractor, your employer and other contractors on site.
Construction is one of the most dangerous industries to work in. This guide explains who can be held responsible for an accident on site, which laws apply, and what your claim could be worth.
- Source
- Health and Safety Executive, Great Britain
- Main law
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
- Who can claim
- Employees, subcontractors, self-employed workers and visitors
- Time limit
- Usually 3 years from the accident
Who is responsible for safety on a construction site?
Construction sites involve lots of different parties, including clients, designers, principal contractors, subcontractors and suppliers. The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, known as CDM 2015, set out each party's health and safety duties.
- The clientThe person or organisation paying for the work must make sure suitable arrangements are in place to manage it safely. Where there's more than one contractor, the client must appoint a principal designer and a principal contractor in writing.
- The principal contractorResponsible for managing health and safety during the construction phase, coordinating all the contractors, keeping the site safe and putting the construction phase plan into practice. If you're a subcontractor or self-employed, the principal contractor may be responsible alongside whoever engaged you.
- Your employer or the contractor who engaged youResponsible for your safety in the work you were doing. They should have assessed the risks, given you suitable equipment and made sure you were trained and competent.
- Other contractors on siteIf another contractor caused your accident, for example by driving a vehicle carelessly, not fencing off a hazard or putting up scaffolding badly, a claim can be made against them too.
Common construction site accidents
- Falls from height, from scaffolding, ladders and roofs, or through fragile surfaces
- Being hit by falling materials, swinging crane loads or reversing vehicles
- Machinery and plant accidents, involving excavators, dumpers, mixers, power tools and lifting equipment
- Trench and excavation collapses
- Electric shocks from overhead power lines or buried cables
- Manual handling injuries to the back and shoulders
- Exposure to harmful substances, such as silica dust, asbestos, cement burns and chemicals
- Scaffold collapses, from scaffolding that's badly put up, overloaded or poorly maintained
Can I claim if I'm self-employed?
Yes, in many cases. CDM 2015 applies whatever your employment status. If the principal contractor or another party had control over your working conditions on site, they may owe you a duty of care, even if you're self-employed. Sending invoices rather than getting a payslip doesn't take away your right to claim. Talk to us about your situation.
Which laws apply to construction site accidents?
These are the main laws that set the safety standards on construction sites. If one of them wasn't followed and you were hurt, it can support your claim.
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
Duties of clients and principal contractors, site safety management and the construction phase plan.
Work at Height Regulations 2005
Falls from ladders, scaffolding, roofs and raised platforms, the most common cause of fatal construction injuries.
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
The safety of all work equipment on site, including plant, machinery, tools and lifting equipment.
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
Lifting operations, including cranes, hoists and mobile elevated work platforms.
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
Employers' general duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of their staff.
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
Electrical safety, including contact with overhead power lines and underground cables.
RIDDOR 2013
The legal duty to report certain serious injuries and dangerous incidents to the HSE.
Compensation guide
How much compensation could I get for a construction site accident?
Construction accidents often cause serious and life-changing injuries. The table below shows indicative ranges for some of the most common, based on the current guidance used by the courts in England and Wales. You can also claim for financial losses, such as lost earnings, care, rehabilitation and changes to your home.
| Injury type | Severity | Indicative range |
|---|---|---|
| Brain injuryTraumatic brain injury affecting memory, concentration, personality or independence | Moderate to severe, with ongoing symptoms or disability | £56,900 – £533,700+ |
| Spinal injurySerious damage to the back or spine, including nerve damage | Serious back or spinal damage with long-term symptoms | £51,200 – £212,600+ |
| AmputationLoss of a hand, arm, foot or leg, including below or above the knee | Loss of part or all of a limb | £113,500 – £372,500+ |
| Leg injuryComplex or multiple fractures, often needing surgery | Serious fractures, permanent symptoms or disability | £36,700 – £117,200+ |
| Arm injuryFractures or nerve damage that leave lasting weakness or loss of use | Serious fracture, nerve damage or loss of function | £25,400 – £172,900+ |
| Serious burnsBurns needing grafts or leaving lasting scarring | Significant burns, scarring or disfigurement | £12,000 – £128,600+ |
| Serious scarringScars to the face or body that are noticeable or permanent | Noticeable or permanent scarring | £5,200 – £128,600 |
| Loss of sightDamage to one or both eyes | Partial or total loss of vision | From £72,400 |
| Loss of hearingDamage to hearing in one or both ears, sometimes with tinnitus | Partial or total hearing loss | From £41,400 |
| Psychological injuryPTSD, depression or anxiety after a serious accident | Severe impact on daily life, work and relationships | £25,200 – £152,900+ |
How to read these figures
- These are indicative ranges for pain, suffering and loss of amenity only. In serious construction claims, financial losses are often much larger and can include lost earnings, future loss of earnings, care and support, rehabilitation, home adaptations, equipment and transport.
- Figures are rounded and based on the Judicial College Guidelines (18th edition, April 2026). A "+" means the most severe cases can be worth more.
- Where the other side accepts fault, you may be able to receive interim payments before your claim settles to help with costs such as care and treatment.
- Every claim is different. The amount you receive depends on your medical evidence and circumstances, and past results don't guarantee future outcomes.
Construction site accident claims: FAQs
Who is responsible for a construction site accident?
It depends on who had control over the part of the site or the work that caused your accident. The principal contractor is responsible for overall site safety under CDM 2015, and your employer or the contractor who engaged you is responsible for your working conditions. Other contractors may also be responsible if they contributed to the accident. Often, more than one party is responsible.
What are the CDM Regulations?
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 are the main health and safety rules for construction projects in Great Britain. They set out the duties of clients, designers, principal contractors and contractors to plan, manage and monitor the work so it's done safely.
Can I claim if I'm a self-employed subcontractor?
Yes, in many cases. If the principal contractor or another party had control over your working conditions, they may owe you a duty of care even though you're self-employed. Talk to us about your situation.
Does my accident have to be reported to the HSE?
Certain serious injuries, and injuries that keep someone off work for more than 7 days, must be reported to the HSE under RIDDOR 2013. It's the responsibility of the employer or whoever controls the site, not you. Whether it was reported or not, you can still make a claim.
Can I claim if I was partly to blame?
Yes, you may still be able to. If you were partly responsible, your compensation may be reduced to reflect your share, but you can usually still claim.
How long do I have to make a construction site accident claim?
You usually have 3 years from the date of the accident to start court proceedings, or from when you first knew an illness was linked to your work. See our guide to accident at work time limits.
Injured on a construction site?
Construction accidents are often serious. Talk to our team for free, with no obligation. We'll look at what happened, work out who was responsible and tell you whether you have a claim. Eligible claims are handled on a No Win No Fee basis.