Construction accident compensation calculator
Injured on a building or construction site — a fall, machinery, falling materials or manual handling? Estimate what your claim could be worth in compensation (UK £) or settlement (US $), using published Judicial College bracket figures.
Construction Accident Compensation Calculator
Estimate your total payout range in under a minute
Last updated · By Mustafa Bilgic · Figures reviewed against the Judicial College Guidelines
What a construction accident claim is made of
Construction is one of the highest-risk industries, and its injuries — falls from height, being struck by objects or vehicles, machinery and manual-handling injuries — tend to be serious. A claim is built from the injury value (general damages) plus your financial losses (special damages), but the strong safety duties placed on employers and contractors often make liability easier to establish than in an ordinary accident.
The safety duties that underpin liability
In the UK, employers owe a common-law duty to provide a safe system of work, safe equipment, competent colleagues and proper training, reinforced by regulations such as the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and Work at Height Regulations. Where a fall, an unguarded machine, or missing PPE causes injury, that breach is the basis of the claim. (For US workers, a workers' compensation system usually provides no-fault benefits, with separate civil claims available against negligent third parties.)
General and special damages
General damages for the injury come from the Judicial College Guidelines (US: typical settlement ranges). Special damages are often large in construction cases because skilled tradespeople can lose significant earnings — they cover lost wages, treatment, care, travel and, for serious injuries, future loss of earnings and ongoing care.
Construction accident compensation amounts by injury
Indicative general-damages ranges for injuries commonly seen on construction sites. Special damages (lost earnings, treatment, future losses) are added on top. UK figures are bracket-style estimates based on the Judicial College Guidelines; US figures are typical settlement ranges.
| Injury type | UK — Minor (£) | UK — Moderate (£) | UK — Severe (£) | US — typical ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Back injury | 2,500 – 12,500 | 12,500 – 38,800 | 38,800 – 160,000 | 15k – 175k |
| Head / brain | 2,690 – 14,400 | 45,000 – 219,000 | 219,000 – 493,000 | 25k – 500k+ |
| Broken bone / fracture | 2,800 – 12,000 | 12,000 – 45,000 | 45,000 – 135,000 | 12k – 150k |
| Knee / leg | 2,800 – 14,500 | 14,500 – 47,800 | 47,800 – 159,000 | 15k – 180k |
| Wrist / hand | 3,800 – 12,800 | 12,800 – 29,400 | 29,400 – 79,000 | 10k – 90k |
| Facial scarring | 2,000 – 9,300 | 9,300 – 30,000 | 30,000 – 97,000 | 8k – 100k |
* UK whiplash minor/moderate up to 2 years is the fixed statutory tariff (£275–£4,830). All other figures are bracket-style estimates and rounded. Last updated .
Common construction accident causes
- Falls from height — scaffolding, ladders, roofs and unguarded edges (the leading cause of fatal site injuries).
- Struck by objects — falling materials, tools or moving plant and vehicles.
- Machinery and tools — inadequate guarding, training or maintenance.
- Manual handling — lifting injuries to the back and shoulders.
Related: scaffolding accidents, work accident claims, and claiming loss of earnings.
Frequently asked questions
How much compensation will I get for a construction accident?
Construction injuries are often serious, so values can be high. A moderate back injury is roughly £12,500–£38,800 under the Judicial College Guidelines and a serious leg injury far more, on top of lost earnings — which can be substantial for tradespeople off work. In the US, construction settlements vary widely by state and may interact with workers' compensation. Enter your specific injury and losses above for a realistic range.
Can I claim if I was partly to blame?
Usually yes, but your award may be reduced for contributory negligence. If you were, say, not wearing provided PPE, the payout can be cut by a percentage reflecting your share of the blame. Crucially, the employer's duty to provide a safe system of work, equipment and training does not disappear because a worker made a mistake — so a claim often still succeeds, just at a reduced figure.
Who pays a construction accident claim?
Normally the employer's or principal contractor's liability insurer. UK employers are legally required to hold employers' liability insurance, and site operators carry public-liability cover. If several contractors share a site, more than one party may be responsible. In the US, an injured employee may receive workers' compensation and, where a third party (such as an equipment maker or another contractor) was at fault, bring a separate claim.
Will claiming against my employer cost me my job?
In the UK it is unlawful for an employer to dismiss or victimise you for making a genuine personal-injury claim, and the compensation comes from their insurer, not their own pocket. Many construction claims are brought while the worker is still employed. If you are treated badly for claiming, that may itself be unlawful and you should seek advice.
How long do I have to claim for a building-site injury?
In England & Wales the general limit is three years from the accident (or from when you knew the injury was work-related, which matters for conditions like vibration injury), with different rules for those who lack capacity. In the US, deadlines vary by state and by whether the claim is workers' comp or a civil suit. See claim time limits.
Related calculators & guides
Scaffolding accident
Falls from scaffolding and how these serious claims are valued.
Scaffolding calculator →How payouts are calculated
General vs special damages and the maths behind every estimate.
Read the guide →