According to the Labour Code, an employer is fully liable for an accident at work of its employee. This also applies to temporary workers who work under an agreement. The employer is obliged to compensate for all damages – that is, not only lost wages, but also the costs of treatment, pain and suffering, and, if applicable, social disability. In addition, the employee is entitled to compensation for health care costs.
The employer is exempt from liability only if it proves that the employee caused the accident through no fault of his own, in breach of the regulations or instructions, and that he could not have prevented the accident in any way. In practice, this burden of proof is on the employer. If the employer denies liability, it is appropriate to contact the labour inspectorate or a solicitor and pursue the claim vigorously.