By James Maddock. Last Updated 2nd October 2024. Welcome to our guide about slip, trip and fall claims. In the following sections, we will explain the key aspects of personal injury claims. We start by explaining negligence and looking at the duty of care that certain parties owe regarding your safety. We will also discuss when you may be eligible to claim compensation if someone were to breach the duty of care they owed you.
We then provide some examples of how slip, trip or fall accidents could occur and the types of injuries they could lead to. Following this, we explore the evidence you can gather to help strengthen your case.
Additionally, we will discuss the different forms of compensation you may be awarded, what they compensate you for, and how they are calculated. The final section of our guide looks at the advantages of instructing a solicitor from our panel on a No Win No Fee basis.
If you would like to discuss your potential slip, trip and fall compensation claim, you can contact our advisors. Our friendly team can offer you free advice and help answer your questions about the claiming process. Connect with them today:
- Contact us online to receive a callback.
- Call 0800 408 7825
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Jump To A Section
- Can You Claim Slip Trip And Fall Compensation?
- When Can An Accident Lead To Slip Trip And Fall Claims?
- How Do You Prove Slip Trip And Fall Claims?
- How Much Compensation For A Slip Trip And Fall Claim?
- Why Choose Us To Claim Slip Trip And Fall Compensation?
- Read More About Slip Trip And Fall Claims
Can You Claim Slip Trip And Fall Compensation?
To be successful in slip, trip and fall claims, you need to meet the following criteria:
- Someone owed you a duty of care
- This duty was somehow breached
- The breach caused an injury or harm
There are many duties that can apply to you as you go about your daily life. For instance, your employer will owe you a duty as you work. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 states that they should take reasonable and practical steps to ensure your safety and well being. If such steps are not taken, injury could be caused.
Another duty that is often owed is the duty of care owed to the public as they visit various premises. This comes from the Occupiers Liability Act 1957, which says that those in control of public spaces should take steps to ensure the reasonable safety of visitors.
A slip and fall claim can be brought for a breach of either of these duties, and if you think you have been injured by someone else’s negligent actions, you could try and claim trip or fall compensation. To learn more about this, keep reading the guide or contact one of our advisors, who can offer you some free advice.
When Can An Accident Lead To Slip Trip And Fall Claims?
There are various ways a slip, trip or fall accident could happen. Some examples include:
- An employer failed to provide their employee with essential personal protective equipment (PPE) such as anti-slip boots while working on a construction site. As a result, they slipped and suffered a dislocated a kneecap.
- While in a public library, someone fell down the stairs due to a faulty handrail that had not been repaired. The occupier was aware of this defective handrail. This accident caused the person to suffer a back injury.
- An employer did not ensure computer cables were stowed away safely in an office. This caused a trip hazard, and a member of staff suffered a broken ankle when tripping over these wires.
- A supermarket failed to signpost a known spillage in one of the aisles. This caused a customer to slip on said spillage and suffer a wrist injury.
These are just a few examples. If you have any questions about claiming compensation for you slip, trip or fall accident, you can contact one of our advisors.
How Do You Prove Slip Trip And Fall Claims?
All slip, trip and fall compensation claims need to be supported with evidence. The evidence you collect needs to show how the accident occurred, the injuries you suffered and who was liable.
Examples of evidence that could be used to support slip, trip and fall claims include:
- Any available CCTV footage that captured how the accident happened.
- The contact details of any eyewitnesses to your accident. They could be approached later on to provide a statement.
- Medical evidence of your injuries, such as a copy of your medical records. These could also detail the medical treatment your injuries have needed.
- Photographs of the accident site and your visible injuries.
What Is The Time Limit For Slips, Trips and Fall?
All personal injury claims must be started within 3 years, as stated by the Limitation Act 1980. This usually runs from the date that your accident took place.
However, certain exceptions apply to this time limit. For those injured under the age of 18, the time limit does not begin until their 18th birthday. They will then have until their 21st birthday to begin legal proceedings.
Additionally, those lacking the mental capacity to handle their own cases will have the time limit suspended. It will only be reinstated if the person regains this mental capability, and it would run from the date of recovery.
Can You Make A Slip, Trip And Fall Claim On Behalf Of Someone Else?
In certain cases, a family member or solicitor can act as a litigation friend and start a claim on behalf of the injured person.
For example, as aforementioned, those under the age of 18 cannot start their own claim until they become 18. A litigation friend could begin the claiming process on their behalf prior to this date.
Furthermore, those lacking the mental capacity to handle their own claim could have a litigation friend handle proceedings on their behalf while the time limit is suspended.
If you would like to know whether you have enough time to begin your own slip and fall claim, you can contact one of our advisors.
How Much Compensation For A Slip Trip And Fall Claim?
Compensation for successful slip, trip and fall claims could consist of two heads of loss. The first is called general damages, and it compensates you for your physical and psychological injuries, including the pain and suffering they have caused you.
Those responsible for calculating your claim for general damages refer to any available medical evidence. Also, they sometimes consult documents like the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This document provides compensation guidelines for a range of injuries. We have used some of these guidelines within the following table, aside from the first entry.
Please only refer to this table as a guide. How much compensation you could receive will be affected by the factors of your case.
Compensation Guidelines
| Area of Injury | Severity | Award Guidelines |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Injuries and Awards for Special Damages | Severe | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Head | (a) Very Severe | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| (d) Less Severe | £18,700 to £52,550 | |
| Knee | (a) Severe (ii) | £63,610 to £85,100 |
| Knee | (b) Moderate (i) | £18,110 to £31,960 |
| Back | (a) Severe (iii) | £47,320 to £85,100 |
| Wrist | (a) Complete Function Loss | £58,110 to £73,050 |
| Pelvis | (b) Moderate (i) | £32,450 to £47,810 |
| Ankle | (c) Moderate | £16,770 to £32,450 |
| Hand | (h) Moderate | £6,910 to £16,200 |
Special Damages For A Slip Trip And Fall Compensation Claim
Special damages are the second head of loss. This compensates the claimant for the financial loss they suffered because of the injuries they suffered in a slip, trip or fall. Evidence will need to be presented to be able to claim special damages. This could include:
- Payslips that show a loss of earnings due to needing to take time off work.
- Bus or train tickets to and from essential medical appointments.
- Receipts for any over-the-counter pain relief or prescription fees.
- Invoices for any care costs if you required care at home due to your injuries.
How Long Does A Slip, Trip Or Fall Claim Take?
There isn’t a precise time frame for slip, trip and fall claims because each case depends on the following factors:
- The length of your anticipated recovery.
- How long it takes to gather evidence
- Whether the third-party accepts or contests liability.
- How quickly any medical reports from specialists can be obtained.
Seeking legal advice could help. You don’t have to use the services of a solicitor, but they could help guide you through the claiming process, allowing you to concentrate on your recovery. Chat with our team today to see whether one of the solicitors on our panel could help you.
Why Choose Us To Claim Slip Trip And Fall Compensation?
If you contact our advisors to discuss your case, they can inform you whether you may have a valid personal injury claim. If you do, they could connect you with an expert solicitor from our panel.
The solicitors on our panel have lots of experience working on slip, trip and falls claims and could help you with gathering evidence for your case and negotiating a compensation settlement on your behalf.
Additionally, they may offer to work on your case on a No Win No Fee basis by offering you a Conditional Fee Agreement. With this agreement in place, you will not need to pay them for their services prior to the claim starting or as it moves forward. Furthermore, you will not need to pay them for their completed work should the claim not be a success.
If you are successfully awarded compensation, however, you will need to pay your solicitor a success fee. This will be taken out of your compensation as a legally capped percentage. This cap helps ensure the majority of your compensation, stays with you.
Contact our advisors today to see whether you may be able to claim with one of the No Win No Fee solicitors on our panel. They can also offer you free advice and answer any questions you may have regarding the personal injury claims process:
- Contact us online to receive a callback.
- Call our advisors on 0800 408 7825
- Ask a question using our live chat pop-up.
Read More About Slip Trip And Fall Claims
Additional personal injury claims guides by us:
- Guidance on whether you could sue someone for falling on their property.
- A guide on how poor lighting in the workplace could cause a fall injury, and when you could make a claim.
- A guide on typical payouts for personal injury claims within the UK.
Some external resources:
- Guidance on when to provide First Aid from the NHS.
- This resource on causes and preventions of slips trips and falls in the workplace from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
- Guidance on fall prevention from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.
If you have any further questions regarding slip, trip and fall claims, you can contact our advisors.