I Fell Down Some Stairs At Work – Could I Claim Compensation?

By Danielle Griffin. Last Updated 8th February 2024. If you fell down some stairs at work, you might be wondering if you could make a claim for compensation. In this guide, we will explain when you could be eligible to make a personal injury compensation claim following an accident while at work. We’ll also discuss the duty of care owed to you by your employer and some of the steps that they should take to keep you safe while working. 

Following this, we’ll discuss how an accident can happen in the workplace. Falling down the stairs can result in a number of different injuries; our guide will explore how compensation for these injuries could be calculated and what it could consist of. 

Finally, our guide will explain the benefits of a No Win No Fee agreement and discuss how one of our expert personal injury solicitors could help you make a claim.

 Read on to learn more about making a compensation claim if your employer breached their duty of care, and you fell down the stairs as a result. Or, contact our team of advisors to learn more by:

a man lying on the ground after falling down stairs at work

Select A Section

  1. If I Fell Down Some Stairs At Work, Could I Claim?
  2. What Evidence Do I Need To Prove My Employer Was At Fault?
  3. What Could Cause Falls Down Stairs At Workplaces?
  4. I Fell Down Some Stairs At Work, How Much Compensation Could I Claim?
  5. Make A No Win No Fee Claim After Falling Down The Stairs At Work
  6. Where To Learn More

If I Fell Down Some Stairs At Work, Could I Claim?

If you fell down stairs at work, you might be eligible to claim for personal injury compensation. While at work, your employer owes you a duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA). This means that they must take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that you are safe while working. Should your employer fail to comply with any health and safety legislation that applies to them, and this results in an injury, you might be eligible for accident at work compensation. 

However, you must meet the personal injury claims eligibility criteria. In order to have valid grounds for an accident at work claim, you must prove that:

  • Your employer owed you a duty of care. 
  • They breached this duty. 
  • As a result of this breach, you suffered an injury.

As part of their duty of care, your employer is responsible for ensuring that the stairs are safe for use. We look at how your employer could prevent injuries from falling down stairs later in this guide. Contact our team of advisors today to learn more about making a claim.

How Long Do I Have To Claim Compensation?

Someone falling down the stairs and becoming injured must start a claim within the allotted period of time. As per the Limitation Act 1980, this time limit is typically 3 years from the date the injury is sustained.

If the injured party is under 18, there is no time limit to consider until their 18th birthday. From this date, the same 3-year time limit becomes relevant. A litigation friend must be appointed to claim on behalf of anyone under 18. This is because children are not permitted to make their own claim.

If the person who fell down the stairs has a reduced mental capacity, whether related to their injury or otherwise, then the 3-year time limit is also suspended in this instance. As with child claims, a litigation friend must be appointed to claim on their behalf. If the injured party ever reaches a point where they are deemed capable of making a claim, then their time limit begins from this date.

Get in touch if you have any questions, including how to make a claim if you fall down the stairs and are injured as a result.

What Evidence Do I Need To Prove My Employer Was At Fault?

If you are eligible to claim compensation for a fall down the stairs at work, you will need evidence to support your case.

Evidence that could be useful in such claims could include:

  • Any video footage that captures you falling on the stairs, such as from CCTV.
  • Photographs of any visible injuries you suffered and of the accident scene.
  • The contact details of anyone who witnessed your accident, so that they can provide a statement at a later date.
  • Medical evidence of any injuries you suffered when falling from the stairs, such as a copy of your medical records.
  • Evidence of any financial losses you have suffered due to your injuries, such as bank statements.

One of our solicitors could help you gather evidence to support your claim. To check your eligibility to work with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors or to get started with a claim, please contact an advisor.

What Could Cause Falls Down Stairs At Workplaces?

In the workplace, the safety of stairs is the responsibility of your employer. This falls under their duty of care. They must take all reasonably practicable steps to make sure the risk of injury is as low as possible. If your employer fails to take these steps and you fall down the stairs, any injury you sustain may lead to a claim for compensation.

We’ve included some scenarios below that could represent an employer’s failure to fulfil their duty of care and injure an employee after they fell down the stairs:

  • Debris on the stairs
  • Damaged steps
  • Lack of a handrail
  • Spillages

There can be other factors that could mean you fell down the steps due to employer negligence. Get in touch today and we can tell you whether your circumstances make you eligible to make a personal injury claim.

Can I Claim For Falling Down The Stairs At Work Because Of Bad Lighting?

Inadequate lighting in the workplace could pose significant risks of injury to employees. After all, if you cannot see where you are going, you could slip, trip or fall. Employers have a duty of care to ensure you can move about the workplace safely, and failing to provide adequate lighting could be considered a breach of this duty of care.

Slips, trips and falls are the top cause of non-fatal accidents at work, according to the Health and Safety Executive, and could cause a range of injuries. Inadequate lighting, walkway obstructions, and spillages could all contribute to a fall down the stairs at work.

If you’ve been injured falling down stairs at work due to poor lighting, you could be eligible to claim compensation. Please contact an advisor for a free eligibility check on your case. Our advisors could also offer you free advice or help you to begin your accident at work claim.

I Fell Down Some Stairs At Work, How Much Compensation Could I Claim?

A person falling down the stairs may suffer a multitude of injuries. If you fell down steps at your workplace, it is possible that you could claim against your employer if you could prove it was due to their negligence.

Compensation for falling down stairs can include both the general and special damages you suffer as a result of your injury. General damages compensate for the pain and suffering due to your injuries.

The severity and impact of the injury you sustained when you fell down steps in your workplace will be factored into determining your compensation for falling down stairs.

Solicitors will also use compensation amounts from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) as a guide when valuing claims. The compensation amounts in the table may not match the compensation you receive since these amounts are only used as a guide. The compensation amounts in the table below are from the April 2022 edition of the JCG, except for the first entry.

Guideline Compensation Brackets

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Type of Injury Level of Seriousness Notes On The Injury Settlements
Multiple severe injuries with combined financial losses. Severe A combination of injuries that are severe, with associated financial costs such as medical expenses or loss of income. Up to £1,000,000+
Brain injury Very severe (a) (i) With little to no responses to any outside stimulai £282,010 to £403,990
Neck injury Severe (A) (i) Leading to incomplete paraplegia or spastic quadriparesis for example. In the region of £148,330
Neck injury Moderate (i) Moderate neck injuries could present as a dislocation. There may be immediate symptoms or the injury may result in a chronic condition. Injuries may affect the neck and back at the same time. £24,990 to £38,490
Back injury Severe (a) (i) Instances where the With nerve root or spinal cord damage causing permanent impacts. £91,090 to £160,980
Back injury Moderate (i) There are several levels of moderate back injury. At this level there may be compression or crush fractures to the back, damage to the discs and the possibility of reduced mobility. £27,760 to £38,780
Wrist injury (A) Those injuries which result in a total loss of the use of the wrist affected. £47,620 to £59,860
Wrist injury (B) Whilst some movement or usage may remain, there will be a significant and permanent disability. £24,500 to £39,170
Ankle injury Severe Such injuries could require extensive treatment such as periods in plaster or with the use of pins. There may be residual disability in the ankle. £31,310 to £50,060
Ankle injury Moderate This may include injuries such as ligamentous tears , fractures and similar injuries which could cause difficulty walking on uneven grounds. This may also cause less serious disabilities. In the future, there may be risk of osteoarthritis. £13,740 to £26,590
Hand injury Moderate Penetrating wounds, crush injuries or other similar types of injury which may affect the hand. £5,720 to £13,280

What Else Can I Claim For After Suffering An Injury At Work?

On the other hand, special damages aim to help you recover financial losses caused by your injury. Financial losses that could be included in your compensation for falling down stairs are:

  • Travel costs
  • Loss of pension contributions
  • Care costs
  • Loss of earnings
  • Prescription costs

Other types of special damages you may be able to claim include; funds for mobility equipment expenses, and home or car adaptation expenses.

Make A No Win No Fee Claim After Falling Down The Stairs At Work

If you decide to make a personal injury claim after your fall down the stairs, one of our lawyers may be able to assist you with your case. They could offer to represent you under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which is a type of No Win No Fee arrangement.

Under this arrangement, you will not be expected to pay any upfront fees for your lawyer’s services. You also will not be expected to pay for their work if your claim is unsuccessful.

Should your claim be a success, you will pay your lawyer a success fee for their work. This is a small legally capped percentage taken from the compensation awarded to you.

If you have fallen down the stairs, and would like to know if you could be eligible to make a personal injury claim with one of our No Win No Fee lawyers, you can contact our advisors. You can contact them by:

Where To Learn More

Thank you for reading our guide on claiming if you fell down the stairs