I am concerned about losing my job if I make broken finger at work claims. Is my employer allowed to terminate my employment for making a personal injury claim?
It is understandable that you are concerned about your losing your job if you make broken finger at work claims against your employer’s liability insurance policy. We cannot speak for your employer and predict the actions he or she will take, but it is unlikely that your employment would be terminated for exercising your legal right to claim compensation for breaking a finger in an accident at work.
Numerous legislative acts (Unfair Dismissals Acts, 1977 to 2007) have been introduced to protect employees from losing their jobs, and it is now only possible for workers to be dismissed if there are substantial grounds for terminating a work contract. An employer would not be permitted under these legislative acts to terminate employment if an employee were to claim compensation for breaking a finger at work, provided the claim is genuine. I.e. the injury was sustained due to employer negligence or negligence of a co-worker.
If your employer were to terminate your employment on the grounds of you making broken finger at work claims, you would be entitled to take your case to an Employment Appeals Tribunal. Your employer (specifically his or her insurance company) would still be liable to pay personal injury compensation in addition to compensation for unfair dismissal. Your employer may not be happy about you claiming compensation for breaking a finger at work, but it is unlikely that your contract would be terminated due to the possible financial repercussions of taking such an action.
Not all employees are covered by the Unfair Dismissals Acts, so it is important to speak with a personal injury solicitor about your case. Your right to claim compensation for breaking a finger in an accident at work will be assessed, and if a claim is possible, a solicitor will advise you about your employee rights. You will need to explain how long you have been working for your employer and the nature of your work contract and you will be advised if your employer is able to terminate your employment without repercussions. Should this be the case, you would need to decide whether it would be worth your while to claim broken finger injury compensation, after you have found out the level of damages you would be able to recover if you.
You will not be under any obligation to proceed with a claim simply by seeking legal advice, and most solicitors assess potential injury claims without charge. All information provided to a solicitor is treated as confidential, and your employer would not be contacted without your expressed consent. It is recommended that you speak with a personal injury solicitor about your case as soon as possible to find out about your legal rights and any actions which you must take in order to preserve your right to claim broken finger injury compensation.