Needlestick injuries, whether in the workplace, on private property or out in public, can be as mild as a slight prick to as severe as life-altering. Health risks like infectious diseases or mental health problems can crop up after any kind of needlestick injury, so no matter how severe, if you have been victim to one of these personal injuries, you could be entitled to compensation. Get in touch with Injury Lawyers 4U today, and we can get the process started and get you the justice you deserve sooner, rather than later.
What is a needlestick injury?
A needlestick injury happens when a sharp object — often a hypodermic needle — pierces the skin. This kind of injury is common in workplaces where sharps are prevalent in daily tasks, like hospitals, clinics or other medical environments. If these workplaces fail to have a proper sharps disposal process, or have a general lack of precaution around disposal, needlestick accidents can happen. Some of the most common types of needling accidents are:
- Medical professionals being pricked during procedures.
- Cleaning staff encountering needles in bins or on floors.
- Police officers or public service workers handling confiscated items.
Why is a needlestick injury so dangerous?
If the worst has happened and you have been pricked by a contaminated sharp, like a used needle, you could be facing serious physical, psychological and financial consequences:
Physical consequences
The most prevalent issues when it comes to needlestick accidents are the physical dangers it poses. According to Public Health England, these risks include:
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- HIV/AIDS
- Tetanus
These blood diseases come with varying infection rates, so there is no guarantee you could catch them. However, the first thing to do after a needlestick incident is to immediately visit A&E to get checked out.
Psychological consequences
When the idea of catching a blood disease from a needlestick accident is on the brain, the fear you might have while waiting for results might be overwhelming. Even worse would be the psychological impact of developing said diseases. Mental health problems like anxiety and depression could manifest, sleep could be affected and you may even become fearful of catching other illnesses while dealing with current issues.
However you might handle the physical nature of a needlestick injury, you must also put as much stock in your mental wellbeing during your recovery journey.
Financial consequences
If you have been unlucky enough to develop a blood disease or a mental illness from a needlestick accident, the financial struggles that come with either could be substantial. From therapy to work on your mental wellbeing to specialist treatments for your blood.
Who can make a needlestick injury claim?
If you have been the victim of a needlestick injury and it wasn’t your fault, you could make a personal injury claim and, if successful, receive compensation. These claims will usually fall into two categories:
1. Accidents at work
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, employers have a duty of care over their employees to prevent foreseeable risks. Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 this duty of care extends to needlestick accidents. To adhere to these regulations, employers must:
- Provide adequate training for handling sharps.
- Supply proper safety equipment, such as gloves and sharps containers.
- Implement clear policies for needle disposal.
- Have regular COSHH risk assessments.
2. Medical negligence
If your injury occurred during a medical procedure due to improper handling of needles or unsafe practices, you might be able to claim against the medical professional or institution at fault. To do so, you’ll need to prove that:
- The medical professional or institution breached their duty of care over you.
- The breach of duty of care directly or indirectly caused your injury.
The more evidence that you have to prove this negligence, the more likely your case will be successful.
What evidence do I need to make a needlestick injury compensation claim?
In order for us to put together a strong claim for you, we’ll need some information about the needlestick injury. These are some of the key pieces of evidence we’ll need:
- The date, time, and specific location of the accident.
- Details of the needlestick incident, including your account of what happened and who you believe was at fault.
- Contact and insurance information of all parties involved.
- Any available police reports documenting the incident.
- Photos or videos from the scene, which could include photos taken by you or CCTV from the scene.
- Contact details for any witnesses.
- Records of any medical treatment you received for the injury, whether at the scene or afterwards at the doctor’s office or hospital.
At Injury Lawyers 4U, we will help you in collecting any of the evidence you haven’t already gathered when you approach us. We’ll help you understand your rights and get your claim kicked off in good stead.
Can I still claim compensation if I didn’t develop an illness after the needlestick injury?
Even if you never developed an illness because of your needlestick injury, you can still claim compensation for a personal injury. You might still be eligible to claim for:
- Psychological trauma caused by the injury
- Fear and anxiety during the waiting period for test results
- Disruption to your personal and professional life
What are the time limits for making a needlestick injury compensation claim?
As with most personal injury cases, there is a three year time limit from the date of the injury or the date of diagnosis if a later illness develops. However, there are two main exceptions to this rule:
- If the injured person is mentally incapacitated, the time limit only starts if or when they regain capacity.
- If you were under 18 when the accident happened, you have until three years after your 18th birthday to start your claim. Alternatively, a responsible adult, called a ‘litigation friend,’ can start the claim for you sooner.
How much compensation could I get for a needlestick injury claim?
Compensation levels will differ with every injury as no two will be the same. This compensation will cover both general damages — the pain, suffering and emotional distress caused by the accident itself — and special damages — the medical expenses, loss or earnings or costs of travel needed after the accident.
For a better idea of what your general damage compensation amount might be, consult our helpful compensation calculator and tell us more about your injury.
Reporting a needlestick injury
Under the RIDDOR 2013 regulations, needlestick injuries must be reported to the relevant authorities, even if the injury seems minor. This reporting ensures that proper investigations take place to prevent similar incidents in the future.
If you have suffered a needlestick or sharps injury then you must get your injury assessed as soon as possible to determine whether or not you’ve been exposed to contamination.
Can I make a no win, no fee needlestick injury compensation claim?
When you approach Injury Lawyers 4U, our team will do all we can to get you the justice and compensation you deserve — what’s more, we always operate on a no win, no fee basis, which means your claim is risk-free. You can kick off your case without having to pay a penny, or pay legal fees if you are unsuccessful. This approach ensures that anyone, regardless of financial circumstances, can take on the individual or business that are at fault for their injury.
How Injury Lawyers 4U can help you
Don’t let a needlestick injury go unaddressed. Take the first step towards justice and compensation today. You can reach us directly on 0333 400 4445 or, if you’d prefer, please feel free to fill in the contact form to arrange a call back at a time that suits you.
