This article will outline the steps you can take if you’ve been injured in a slip, trip and fall accident. If you can prove that your accident was caused by a breach of duty of care, you may be able to claim.
Slip trip and fall accident guide
A slip, trip or fall can cause a wide range of different injuries. Some of these injuries might be relatively minor, such as a sprain or strain, bruising or soft tissue injuries. In some cases, however, a slip or fall can cause more serious injuries like broken bones or head injuries.
To get free, objective legal advice about your eligibility to claim, speak to one of our advisors today. If they judge your potential claim to have a good chance for success, they could connect you with a lawyer from our panel.
Read on for more information about slip and fall accidents and the circumstances in which you could be entitled to claim. Alternatively, get in touch with us at any time via our website or using the button at the top of this screen.
Select a Section
- The Definition Of A Slip, Trip and Fall Accident
- How Common Are Slips, Trips and Falls?
- The Evidence Needed To Prove A Slip, Trip and Fall Accident Claim
- Personal Injury Compensation Awards For A Slip, Trip And Fall Accident
- Finding A No Win No Fee Personal Injury Solicitor
The Definition Of A Slip, Trip and Fall Accident
Slip, trip and fall accidents can occur in a wide range of different environments. They can also be caused by numerous different factors.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Britain’s regulator for health and safety at work, most slips occur when floors become contaminated. This can happen when something is spilt on the floor and not cleaned up in a timely manner.
Trips, on the other hand, are often caused by poor housekeeping. This can include things like obstructions that are left in walkways, like boxes or wires.
Duty of care is important in these situations, as you could only claim if you could prove that someone has not taken all reasonable steps to keep you safe. For example, employers are required under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to take all reasonably practicable steps to keep employees safe whilst at work.
In public spaces, the person in control of a space is called the occupier. They’re obligated by the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 to keep the space safe for members of the public to use for the intended purpose.
Examples of Slip and Trip Accidents
Some common examples of slip, trip and fall hazards could include:
- A tree root coming up through the pavement
- Raised or uneven paving stones
- Spilt liquids
- Trailing wires
- Obstructions left in walkways
- Inappropriate flooring
- Incorrectly laid flooring
- Inappropriate footwear
- Poorly designed environment (e.g. bad lighting)
However, this list is not exhaustive, and there are many more instances where a slip, trip or fall accident could occur and cause harm as a result of negligence. Get in touch with us today to see if you can make a viable claim.
How Common Are Slips, Trips and Falls?
HSE statistics highlight how common certain kinds of accidents and injuries are in British workplaces. From them, we can see that slips, trips and falls on the same level made up 29% of reported workplace accidents in 2019/20. This is an increase from 28% in 2015/16.
However, despite the slight rise in the percentage of accidents that slips, trips and falls make up, the overall number of slips, trips and falls has decreased from 20,517 to 19,2019.
Even though the HSE statistics mainly focus on workplace injuries, slip, trip and fall accidents can easily occur in other locations. This can include the street, supermarket or a public park. If you get in touch with us about your slip, trip or fall accident today, we could help you figure out if you could hold someone liable for your injuries.
The Evidence Needed To Prove A Slip, Trip and Fall Accident Claim
As we’ve mentioned earlier in this guide, to claim against someone for a slip, trip or fall accident, you would need to show that they had breached their duty of care towards you. You’d also need to show that the accident caused you an injury.
Some examples of evidence could be:
- Medical reports from seeking medical attention after the accident
- Photographs of the circumstances that led to your accident or of your injuries
- Witness contact details to take a statement from at a later date
- CCTV footage of the accident
- Accident reports, such as from the workplace accident logbook
A medical appointment will also be arranged as part of your case, where a medical professional will assess your injuries. The resulting report will help value your injuries and be key evidence for your claim.
Time Limitations
Under the Limitation Act 1980, there are time limitations to making claims, and they differ according to what kind of claim you are trying to make. For personal injury claims, the time limitation is generally 3 years from the date of the accident. However, there are some exceptions to consider.
If the claimant is a minor, a litigation friend can claim on their behalf as they’re legally unable to. After they turn 18, the claimant has 3 years to start a claim for themselves if this hasn’t already been done by a litigation friend.
Likewise, if the claimant has a limited mental capacity, they will need a litigation friend to make a claim on their behalf. The time limit is suspended for as long as they lack mental capacity, and begins again in the event that they regain the ability to claim.
Personal Injury Compensation Awards For A Slip, Trip And Fall Accident
The table in this section will look at guideline compensation amounts for different injuries relating to slip, trip and fall accidents. The figures shown are taken from the Judicial College Guidelines, which can be used to help value injuries.
| Injury | Severity | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ankle | Severe | £29,380 to £46,980 | This includes injuries that may require extensive treatment, such as plaster casts or pins. The injury could result in instability or severe inability to walk. |
| Ankle | Moderate | £12,900 to £24,950 | This includes injuries such as fractures or ligament tears. Injuries may give rise to moderate disabilities such as walking issues. |
| Wrist | (a) | £44,690 to £56,180 | This includes injuries where there may be total loss of function in the wrist. |
| Wrist | (b) | £22,990 to £36,770 | This includes injuries where the result is some form of permanent disability, but some movement remains. |
| Fingers | Severe | Up to £34,480 | This includes injuries such as severe fractures that may lead to partial amputations. May result in weakness of the grip and deformity. |
| Foot | Severe | £39,390 to £65,710 | This includes injuries such as a fracture in both heels or feet where mobility is restricted. There may also be considerable pain, degloving, osteoporosis or other disability. |
| Foot | Serious | £23,460 to £36,790 | This includes injuries that may have resulted in continuous pain, arthritis, and prolonged treatment with a possible need for surgery. |
| Knee | Severe | £65,440 to £90,290 | This includes injuries such as joint or ligament damage leading to considerable pain or loss of function. |
| Knee | Moderate | £13,920 to £24,580 | This includes injuries such as a dislocation or torn cartilage. It could result in minor instability, weakness or other mild disability. |
| Toe | Moderate | Up to £9,010 | This includes injuries such as simple fractures of the toes or lacerations of one or more toes. |
The figures are calculated based on previous cases where compensation has been awarded. This means you may not receive these exact amounts for your specific case. Each case is judged individually according to the different circumstances.
You could also claim special damages when making a personal injury claim. This part of your claim covers financial losses relating to your injuries. You could claim for:
- Medical expenses not covered by the NHS
- Adjustments to the home if you suffered a disability
- Loss of past and future earnings
- Travel expenses
Special damages could also cover possible future financial losses. To claim, you would need to provide evidence of the costs, such as receipts for travel or invoices for home adjustments.
If you’d like more information on how much your slip, trip or fall accident claim could be worth, why not get in touch with one of our advisors today? They could connect you with a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel; read on to find out more about what this means.
Finding A No Win No Fee Personal Injury Solicitor
A No Win No Fee agreement can be a cost-effective way to fund your solicitor’s services. No Win No Fee means that you will not be asked to pay any upfront or ongoing fees to your solicitor. There will also be nothing to pay your solicitor in the event of an unsuccessful claim.
Before taking on your case, you and your solicitor will discuss their success fee. This is the amount they will deduct from your compensation in the event that your claim is successful. This success fee is capped by law.
To get more information about No Win No Fee or talk to someone about starting a claim, get in touch with our team of advisors today via our website or call using the button above.
More Resources On Slip, Trip and Fall Accident Claims
Below, we’ve included some more relevant links.
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents – A charity that works to reduce the number of accidental injuries using advice and guidance.
Fall Information and Prevention – An NHS guide to falls and who could be affected by them.
Statutory Sick Pay – An explanation on how to claim statutory sick pay from the government if you were not paid in full for the time you’ve taken off work because of your injuries.
We have some other guides that you may find useful:
- Personal Injury Claims
- A Guide To Personal Injury Claims
- What Is The Personal Injury Claims Time Limit?
- Can I Use A Personal Injury Claims Calculator?
Thank you for reading our guide on slip, trip and fall accident claims.