Council Employee Claims

Council employees are entitled to work in a safe environment and be protected from the risk of injury. If you are employed by the council and you had an accident at work, you may be entitled to make a council employee claim for injury compensation.

The council is responsible for your safety, whether you work in an office, waste collection or any other capacity. If you had an accident that was due to your employer’s negligence, our team of friendly solicitors are here to help secure compensation for your pain, suffering and related financial costs.

To find out if you can make a council employee compensation claim, call 0800 470 0474 or request a call back for a free case assessment.

Find out if you can claim

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By submitting this form you agree to be contacted by our partners. Find out how we handle your data in our privacy policy. With no win no fee you typically pay 25% of your compensation if your claim is successful, but the fee can vary. Termination fees may apply if you fail to co-operate with your solicitor.

Table of Contents

• Do local councils owe employees a duty of care?
• Am I eligible to make a council employee claim?
• What evidence do I need to support my accident at work claim?
• What types of council workers are there?
• What accidents could lead to a work accident claim against the council?
• Common injuries suffered by people who work for the council
• Could I lose my job if I make a compensation claim against my employer?
• How long do I have to make a claim if I'm injured while working for the council?
• How much compensation could I receive for my injuries?
• Will I be able to claim on a No Win No Fee basis?
• Start your council worker accident claim today!

Do local councils owe employees a duty of care?

If you work for the council, you are owed a legal duty of care by your employer under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The local authorities must take all reasonable measures to ensure your health, safety, and welfare while at work. This duty of care includes:

• Carry out regular risk assessments to identify potential hazards in the workplace
• Implement control measures to eliminate or minimise risks
• Maintain a safe work environment – clean, well-lit, ventilated, and free from obstructions
• Ensure all buildings, equipment and machinery are regularly inspected, maintained and safe for use
• Supply personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves and helmets, when needed
• Offer appropriate health and safety training and instructions for all job roles
• Establish clear procedures for emergencies such as fires
• Ensure the safe use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances that are hazardous to health
• Assess and reduce the risk of manual handling and heavy lifting, and eliminate such tasks when possible

If your employer breached their duty of care and you suffered an injury as a result, you may be eligible to make an accident at work claim against the council.

Am I eligible to make a council employee claim?

If you’ve been injured while working, the easiest way to find out if you are able to make a claim is through a free consultation with a legal adviser. They will ask you some simple questions about what happened to determine whether:

• Your employer owed you a legal duty of care
• They breached this duty and caused an accident or exposure to unsafe work conditions
• You suffered an injury or illness as a direct result of their negligence

You should keep in mind that you typically have three years to make a claim from the date of an accident or after being diagnosed with a medical condition.

If you can proceed, your solicitor will help you gather evidence to support your claim and will offer you support and advice at every step of the claims process.

It is worth mentioning that you can make a claim even if you were partially at fault for the injuries you sustained. In this case, your compensation award would be reduced by a percentage to reflect your part of the blame.

Also, you can claim compensation whether you are a full-time employee, an agency worker, a part-time employee or on a zero-hours contract. Regardless of your employment status, your employer still owes you a duty of care regarding health and safety.

Try our claim assessment form to find out if you have a valid claim:

What evidence do I need to support my accident at work claim?

Your personal injury solicitor will help you gather all the evidence you need to support your claim and secure the maximum compensation amount for your injuries. The evidence must prove how your accident occurred and how it has affected you. Examples include:

• Photographs or videos of the accident scene, taken from various angles, before anything is tampered with
• If available, CCTV footage of the incident can show precisely what happened
• Pictures of your injuries and your recovery process
• A copy of an accident report filed with your employer will prove the date, time and location of the accident
• Statements from witnesses who saw the accident or were aware of the unsafe conditions at your workplace
• Copies of risk assessments, training records and maintenance logs from your employer
• Your diary or personal notes about how the injury has affected your life
• Financial evidence of losses and expenses, such as receipts, payslips and invoices

The more detailed and consistent your evidence, the better the chance of winning your case and maximising the compensation you receive.

What types of council workers are there?

Local councils provide a wide range of public services and employ a large and diverse workforce. Council employees do not include just people working in council offices, but various other types of workers in different sectors. For example:

• Education – teachers, teaching assistants and administrative staff
• Health and social care – social workers, occupational therapists, mental health professionals and public health specialists
• Waste management – refuse collectors, street cleaners and pest control officers
• Transport – road safety officers, parking enforcement officers and road maintenance workers
• Housing – housing officers, builders, building control officers and planning officers
• Administrative and corporate services – accountants, HR staff, finance officers and customer service employees
• Culture – librarians, library assistants and museum staff

Regardless of your job role, if you were injured due to the council’s negligence, our team of solicitors may be able to help you make a council employee claim and get compensation for your losses.

What accidents could lead to a work accident claim against the council?

No matter where you work, there can always be a risk of injury. Your employer has a duty to assess such risks and take control measures to prevent them as much as reasonably possible. If they fail to do so, you could suffer various types of workplace accidents, including:

• Slips, trips and falls – These are some of the most common workplace accidents and can be due to loose carpets, trailing cables, potholes, wet floors and other similar hazards.
• Manual handling accidents – Many council workers may suffer injuries from lifting heavy loads, repetitive movements, overuse of a body part or poor lifting technique.
• Falls from height – Working at height presents serious risks and can lead to falls and injuries if equipment is faulty or unstable, or safety harnesses are not provided.
• Vehicle accidents – Council employees who drive vehicles such as lorries, vans or maintenance trucks may be involved in road traffic accidents.
• Accidents caused by faulty equipment – Tools and machinery that are not regularly maintained and inspected can lead to various incidents and injuries, such as electric shocks or burns.
• Exposure to hazardous substances – Council workers may also come into contact with various types of dangerous substances and materials, such as asbestos, pesticides and cleaning chemicals.
• Physical assaults – Employees who must interact with the public, such as social workers, may be assaulted or attacked while doing their jobs.
• Stress – Council employees may also experience stress, anxiety and depression due to excessive workloads, bullying, harassment or exposure to traumatic situations.

Common injuries suffered by people who work for the council

Council workers are often exposed to hazards that could result in injuries if proper safety measures are not in place. Common injuries include:

• Sprains and strains – These soft tissue injuries can be due to acute trauma or may develop over time due to poor posture, heavy lifting or repetitive movements.
• Cuts, lacerations and puncture wounds – These injuries can result from sharp tools, broken glass, falls or malfunctioning machinery. Deep cuts can lead to infections, scarring and nerve damage.
• Back injuries – Back injuries can range from mild sprains and strains to herniated discs and spinal cord damage. They can cause chronic back pain, limited mobility and, in the most severe cases, paralysis and loss of function.
• Head injuries – Such injuries are commonly caused by falls, vehicle accidents or being struck by falling objects. They can range from mild concussions to traumatic brain injuries with catastrophic consequences.
• Broken bones – Fractures are typically caused by slips and trips, falls from height and road accidents. They can affect any body part and can significantly impact your work and daily activities.
• Burn injuries – Burns can be caused by chemicals, fire or electrical incidents. They can be very painful and may cause permanent scarring and disfigurement.
• Crush injuries – These injuries can be very severe and occur when workers are caught between heavy objects or moving parts of machinery.
• Mental health conditions – Working in some public sectors can be very mentally demanding and can lead to chronic stress, anxiety, depression and even PTSD.

Could I lose my job if I make a compensation claim against my employer?

If you are a council employee, the council has a legal duty to provide a safe working environment. Your employer must take all reasonable measures to keep you safe from injuries at work. If they fail in this duty, they may be liable for any harm you suffer as a result.

It is your legal right to make a personal injury claim following a workplace accident caused by your employer’s negligence, and you cannot be sacked or otherwise disciplined for it.

You are protected by unfair and constructive dismissal laws, and you can make a further claim at an employment tribunal if your employer retaliates in any way.

Read More: Could I lose my job for making a claim?

How long do I have to make a claim if I’m injured while working for the council?

Under the Limitation Act 1980, you have three years from the date of the accident to start a claim for compensation. If you miss this deadline, your case will be statute-barred and no longer valid.

In some cases, the three-year limitation period may begin from the date of knowledge. This refers to when you first knew you suffered harm due to your employer’s negligence and mainly applies to illnesses such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Below are a few exceptions to the standard time limit:

• If you were under 18 at the time of injury, you have until 21 to start your claim.
• If a person cannot handle a claim due to a brain injury or another condition that affects their mental capacity, the time limit is suspended.
• You have two years to make a claim through the CICA if you were the victim of an assault while doing your job.

How much compensation could I receive for my injuries?

The amount of compensation you can receive for a successful work accident claim against the council is calculated based on two types of damages:

• General damages cover the pain, suffering and other subjective losses caused by the injury. Examples include physical pain, psychological trauma, loss of companionship, scarring, disfigurement and impact on hobbies and daily activities.
• Special damages cover financial losses and expenses linked to your accident. These could be loss of earnings during recovery, private medical treatments, travel expenses to medical appointments or care costs.

General damages depend on the type and severity of your injuries and are based on the Judicial College guidelines. Special damages are calculated from financial documents such as receipts and invoices.

Your solicitor will carefully calculate how much compensation you are entitled to and will negotiate hard to secure the best settlement possible.

You can use our injury compensation calculator to get a rough idea of how much your claim could be worth.

Will I be able to claim on a No Win No Fee basis?

If you are entitled to personal injury compensation following an accident while working for the council, the solicitors we work with will offer you a no win no fee service. That means you will not have to pay them anything upfront, and you can start your claim regardless of your financial situation.

Under this agreement, your solicitor is entitled to a percentage of your compensation if you make a successful claim. This is known as a success fee and is capped at 25% of your settlement. If they don’t win your claim, you won’t have to pay them anything.

Start your council worker accident claim today!

If you want to make a council employee compensation claim, our team of expert solicitors would be happy to help you. They will offer you a free case assessment, and if you can proceed, they will also:

• Offer you a 100% no win no fee service
• File the claim with your employer
• Keep you updated throughout the claims process
• Offer you support and advice at every step
• Negotiate the best compensation award for you

To find out if you can claim compensation, call 0800 470 0474 or use our contact form to request a call back. You will receive a free consultation with a friendly legal adviser who will answer all your questions with no obligation to proceed.

Last edited on 8th Aug 2025

With over 15 years’ experience in the legal sector, Nicholas Tate (LLB Hons, LLM in Health Law) has extensive experience across all areas of personal injury and medical negligence claims.