Needlestick injury compensation claim lawyers

Needlestick injuries are typically accidents at work and can include any situation where your skin has been pierced by sharp and/or contaminated items. These lines of work are some of the most vulnerable:

• Healthcare
• Social care
• Local council 
• Charity work
• Police officers and law enforcement
• Prison officers

Whatever your circumstances, a needlestick injury obtained at work can be incredibly worrying and stress-inducing. We're here to get you the workers' compensation you deserve.

A needlestick injury, otherwise known as a sharps injury, is when someone's skin is punctured, pierced or broken by a needle or any other sharp object. These wounds are usually minor, but the threat of disease transmission can be extremely damaging, if not life-changing. 

Diseases transmitted through blood include HIV, hepatitis B and C, and tetanus - all of which can have serious consequences for your health and wellbeing. Even if the object that pierced your skin was 'clean', the psychological damage can already be done and you may still be able to make a needlestick injury claimfor the distress you suffered.

Contaminated needles, scalpels and other objects pose a real danger to workers in many industries. Health and social care workers are some of the most vulnerable to needlestick injuries because of the prevalence of medical equipment in their day-to-day jobs. But police officers, charity workers, prison officers and a range of other professions can also be at risk.

Preventing these accidents at work is ultimately the responsibility of your employer in line with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. If they fail to do so, you can potentially claim needlestick injury compensation if you can prove they were responsible. 

Certain needlestick injuries in the workplace must be reported by your employer in line with the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013. 

If a minor wound is inflicted and the sharp is not contaminated, it doesn't need to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). However, if there is contamination, a severe wound or a disease develops after the injury, your employer has a legal duty to report this incident.

The incident report created by your employer may play an important role in your needlestick injury claim, so it's advised you get a copy as soon as you can.

You may be able to make a needlestick injury claim against your employer if you can prove they were negligent. This could be because of poor health and safety procedures, a lack of personal protective equipment, or insufficient training.

The NHS received 2,600 claims for needlestick injuries from 2012-2022, of which nearly 2,000 were successful. This suggests that making a claim for a needlestick injury compensation payout could be worthwhile if you have all the evidence required. This usually includes:

• Incident records from your workplace accident book
• Photos of your needlestick injury (if possible)
• Medical reports (where necessary)
• Psychological reports (where necessary)
• Any witness statements (if available)
• Receipts of expenses and any proof of loss of earnings

If you're unsure about your needlestick injury at work case, talk to us for more information and advice about possible next steps.

Successful claimants can receive different needlestick injury compensation amounts depending on a few key factors. These normally include: 

• The type, extent and severity of your injury and/or illness
• The impact you've suffered in relation to your physical and mental wellbeing
• The financial consequences of your injuries and/or illness, such as lost income, travel expenses and ongoing medical bills

For an initial estimate of what your needlestick injury compensation payout could be worth, try our handy compensation calculator. Damages are evaluated based on the most recent edition of the Judicial College Guidelines, as instructed by the Ministry of Justice.

Most of our needlestick and sharps injury claims are taken on a no win no fee basis, so you don't have to pay anything if your claim is unsuccessful. If you do win, a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation amount will be taken as a fee for your solicitor.

When you make a no win no fee claim with us your personal injury lawyer will take out insurance on your behalf that will cover all your claim costs and expenses including medical report fees, court fees and any barrister fees; so long as you comply with their terms and conditions, you won't have to pay any costs upfront, and there are no hidden surprises.