By Jo Anderson. Last Updated 6th February 2024. Have you slipped on the floor due to the negligence of someone in putting a slippery floor sign on a wet floor? In this guide, we explore your legal rights if you’ve slipped on a wet floor and suffered an injury.
We explain the process of making a personal injury claim, potential compensation payouts for slip and fall accidents, and how our No Win No Fee solicitors can help you.
If you’d rather speak with us now, get in touch via our free helpline. We can answer all of your queries, assess your wet floor injury claim for free, and if you’d like to take action, we can help you get started with a personal injury solicitor today.
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Select a Section
- Am I Eligible To Make A Slip On Wet Floor Claim?
- What Injuries Could I Claim Compensation For After Slipping On A Wet Floor?
- Do You Need Evidence To Make Wet Floor Accident Injury Claims?
- How Long Do I Have To Claim Compensation After Slipping On Wet Floor?
- Calculating Compensation For Wet Floor Accident Injury Claims
- Making Wet Floor Accident Injury Claims With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
Am I Eligible To Make A Slip On Wet Floor Claim?
When it comes to slip and trip claims for a wet floor slip, you would need to demonstrate that someone breaching their duty of care caused you to suffer an injury.
There are several examples of how this could happen, such as:
- At work – should your employer breach their duty of care towards you under the Health and Safety At Work etc. Act 1974, they could be held liable for injuries you suffer as a result. This could include a wet floor slip if you’ve been injured slipping on a wet floor with no sign. Your employer has a duty of care toward employees to take reasonable steps to protect them from foreseeable harm at work.
- In a public place – Slip and trip claims could also be made against negligent parties who have a duty of care to those using their premises. For example, under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, those in control of a public space have a duty of care towards those on their premises, to ensure their reasonable safety. Should a supermarket fail to mop up a spillage, for example, and not signpost that the spillage was there, someone could be injured by a wet floor slip. If this happens, the injured party could be eligible to claim.
These are just a few examples of how such claims could arise. If you believe you could be eligible for compensation for injuries sustained slipping on a wet floor with no sign, please call us. We could assess your case for free.
What Injuries Could I Claim Compensation For After Slipping On A Wet Floor?
There are lots of different injuries you could suffer in a wet floor accident. These include:
- A back injury can occur in a supermarket accident if there was a spillage. If the occupier of the supermarket was informed that liquid was spilt on the floor, they should take steps, such as putting up a wet floor sign until the spill can be cleaned.
- A neck injury could occur if proper mats aren’t installed where there is a known wet floor risk at work.
- Faulty workplace equipment that is leaking liquid can result in a wet floor accident, causing a head injury, if it is not taken out of use until it can be repaired.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE), such as anti-slip shoes, was not provided for working in areas with a wet floor. For example, cleaners may have to work on wet floors and could suffer a broken wrist slipping on a wet floor.
- You could sustain a broken bone at a public swimming pool if anti-slip flooring or mats aren’t installed.
- Damp changing rooms at a gym or swimming pool could also create wet floors resulting in slip injuries, such as a sprained ankle, if they don’t have appropriate mats or anti-slip flooring.
If you have any questions about wet floor accident injury claims or would like to discuss the incident that caused your injury, please contact a member of our team.
Do You Need Evidence To Make Wet Floor Accident Injury Claims?
If you have slipped on a wet floor and are eligible to make a personal injury claim, it’s crucial that you provide evidence that negligence occurred. Examples of evidence you could gather to help support your claim include:
- Medical records: This could state the type of injury you suffered, its severity, and the treatment you required.
- Contact details of witnesses: They could provide a statement about the accident at a later date.
- Footage of the accident: For example, CCTV footage may have captured you slipping on a wet floor.
- Take photographic evidence: Photograph any visible injuries as well as the accident scene. For example, if you had a slip or fall and no wet floor sign was in place, a photograph can help prove this.
Contact our advisors today to discuss your claim and receive free advice. If they believe you may have a valid case, they could connect you with one of our solicitors, who could help you with gathering evidence to support your wet floor injury claim.
How Long Do I Have To Claim Compensation After Slipping On Wet Floor?
If you slipped and fell down on the floor as a result of another party’s negligent actions, you may be able to make a claim. However, you must ensure that you start your claim within the relevant limitation period.
Under the Limitation Act 1980, you will usually have three years to start a claim for your injuries after slipping on a wet floor. This time limit will begin on the date of your accident. However, there are some exceptions to this time limit.
For example, if someone was a minor when they slipped on the floor and injured themselves, then the time limit is frozen until their eighteenth birthday. A litigation friend who has been appointed by the court could make a claim on their behalf prior to this date. Once they reach their 18th birthday, they will have 3 years to start the claiming process if one hasn’t already been made.
Similarly, if someone lacks the mental capacity to claim for themselves, the limitation period is permanently suspended, and a litigation friend could make a claim on their behalf. However, if they were to regain the capacity to make a claim for themself, they will have 3 years to start their claim from this date if one hasn’t already been made.
Keep reading to learn about wet floor signs and the regulations in place. Or, contact our team today to find out if you could be eligible to make a personal injury claim.
Calculating Compensation For Wet Floor Accident Injury Claims
After slipping on a wet floor with no sign, you might be wondering how much compensation you could receive after a successful claim. There are two heads of compensation that you could pursue when making a personal injury claim: general damages, and special damages.
Every successful personal injury claimant receives general damages. Compensation under this heading covers both your injuries and the effect they have on your life. This includes the severity of the injuries, the pain and suffering they cause, and loss of amenity.
Those who value this head of claim may use the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) for help. The JCG is a document that contains a detailed list of injuries and illnesses of differing severities with corresponding compensation brackets.
Judicial College Guideline Compensation Brackets
| Injury | Additional information | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Injuries (Severe) With Financial Costs and Losses | Severe - That cause significant levels of pain and suffering as well as financial costs and losses. such as medical and travel expenses. | Up to £250,000+ |
| Back Injuries | Severe (i) - The spinal cord and nerve roots have been severely damaged. | £91,090 to £160,980 |
| Back Injuries | Moderate (ii) - Backache caused by the muscles and ligaments in the back being disturbed. | £12,510 to £27,760 |
| Knee Injuries | Severe (ii) - Constant pain with limited movement due to a leg fracture that has extended into the knee. | £52,120 to £69,730 |
| Wrist Injuries | A wrist injury that has resulted in a complete loss of function, e.g. an arthrodesis has been performed. (A) | £47,620 to £59,860 |
| Wrist Injuries | A less severe wrist injury that causes a form of permanent disability, such as persisting pain and stiffness. (C) | £12,590 to £24,500 |
| Shoulder Injuries | Severe - Involve the brachial plexus being damaged and usually associated with neck injuries. This will cause serious neck and arm symptoms. (A) | £19,200 to £48,030 |
| Shoulder Injuries | Serious - The lower part of the brachial plexus has been damaged and the shoulder has been dislocated. (B) | £12,770 to £19,200 |
| Ankle Injuries | Moderate (c) - The person will struggle to walk on uneven ground, or stand/walk for a long time due to ligamentous tears or fractures. | £13,740 to £26,590 |
What Are Special Damages?
The second head of compensation, special damages, is only awarded to eligible claimaints. This heading covers the financial losses that are caused by your injuries. For example, if you broke your leg and couldn’t go to work as builder, this could result in lost earnings. In this case, you could potentially recoup these losses under special damages.
This heading could also help you recoup the cost of:
- Prescriptions
- Housekeeping
- Medical bills
- Mobility aids and prosthetics
- Home adjustments
These are just a few examples of expenses that could be covered by special damages. To learn more about compensation in slip, trip, and fall claims, or to get started on your claim, contact our team of advisors today.
Making Wet Floor Accident Injury Claims With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
One of our solicitors could help you through the personal injury claims process if you were injured in a slipping accident. Working with a solicitor can be beneficial to your claim, as they can help you gather evidence and they can ensure all areas of your claim are properly evaluated, including special damages.
Our solicitors offer their clients a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This is a type of No Win No Fee arrangement that allows you to access their services without being asked to pay an upfront fee or any ongoing fees for their work. Likewise, if your claim does not succeed and you don’t receive compensation, your solicitor won’t take a fee for their services.
However, if your claim does succeed, then the solicitor you have been working with will take a success fee. This is deducted from your compensation award as a small percentage. A legislative cap regulates this percentage and ensures that the larger share stays with you.
To find out if a personal injury solicitor could help you with your slip and fall claim, contact our team today. Our advisors can offer free advice and guidance and may be able to connect you with one of our expert solicitors.
Begin your free consultation today:
- Call our team on 0800 073 8801
- Use the live chat feature.
- Contact us online.
Learn More About Your Legal Rights If You Slipped On Wet Floor
- HSE Guide to cleaning for wet floors – This guide shows you the importance of ensuring floors are kept clean and without slip risks.
- HSE – Wet Floor Stats – This is the HSE’s page on wet floor slip statistics. You may find this useful when looking to claim compensation.
- Pavement Accident Guide – Have you fallen over pavement and been injured? Why not read our guide or contact our team today?
- Workplace accident guide – Been injured at work and it wasn’t your fault? Contact our team today?
- Building Site Guide – If you have been injured at a building site, then please read our guide.
- Fingers Caught In The Door Claims
- NHS Accident At Work Claims
- Fall At Work Compensation Payouts – if you’ve suffered an injury after falling at your workplace, this guide explains your legal rights and how you can claim compensation.
If you need any more help with a claim if you’ve slipped on a wet floor, please get in touch.
