By Jo Anderson. Last Updated 26th March 2024. In this guide, we will explain how to claim for a slip, trip, or fall injury. We’ll discuss the health and safety legislation in place to keep you safe in different situations and the duty of care owed to you while at work, in public, and on the roads.
We’ll also explore the evidence you need to make a claim for injuries caused by slips, trips, or falls and the time limits that apply to personal injury claims. Then, we will discuss the compensation you could receive if your claim succeeds, and what a compensation award could be made up of.
Finally, we’ll explore how a No Win No Fee solicitor could help you claim compensation for a slip, trip, or fall injury. Read on to learn more, or get in touch with our team of expert advisors today to get started by:
- Calling us on 0800 073 8801
- Using the live chat feature
- Starting your claim online
Choose a Section
- When Can You Make Slip, Trip And Fall Injury Claims
- Evidence For Slip, Trip Or Fall Injury Claims
- What Is The Time Limit For Slip And Trip Claims?
- Average Payout For A Slip, Trip, Or Fall Injury In The UK
- The Benefits of No Win No Fee Slips, Trip or Fall Compensation Claims
- Helpful Links Relating To Fall Compensation Claims
When Can You Make Slip, Trip And Fall Injury Claims
You could suffer from various injuries from slips, trips and falls. However, in order to claim compensation, you need to prove that your injury was caused by someone else breaching their duty of care.
You are owed a duty of care in various places and situations. In the workplace, your employer owes you a duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Per this duty of care, they must take reasonable steps to ensure your safety while in the workplace. For example, this may include undertaking risk assessments, providing non-slip footwear and other personal protective equipment (PPE), and reporting major injuries to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
You are also owed a duty of care whilst in public places. The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 states that any party in control of a public space must take the necessary steps to ensure your reasonable safety whilst using that public space.
If your employer or an occupier breached their duty of care, you could become injured in a trip and slip accident. Later in this guide, we will provide some examples of how this type of accident could occur.
Contact our advisors today if you have any questions about making a slip, trip or fall compensation claim. Our advisors could offer you free legal advice regarding your potential claim and could connect you with our solicitors if they believe you may be eligible for compensation.
Evidence For Slip, Trip Or Fall Injury Claims
Whether you have serious injuries or minor injuries, collecting evidence remains one of the most important steps of your claim. Evidence can help prove how your injuries occurred, who is responsible for them, and how they will affect you as you move forward.
Some examples of evidence that you could use to support claims for slips, trips, and falls include:
- An accident report: A copy of any reported major injuries caused by workplace slips from the Health and Safety Executive could be used as evidence. Under health and safety legislation such as RIDDOR, your employer is obliged to report certain levels of workplace injuries when they occur.
- Medical records: Your medical records can help demonstrate the severity of your injuries and the treatment you will need going forward.
- Witness statements: If you take down the details of potential witnesses, this means that their statements can be taken by a professional at a later date.
- Photographs: While you may not be able to take pictures of certain injuries, such as broken bones or head trauma, pictures of other common injuries, such as bruises, lacerations, or swelling, could be used as evidence. Likewise, pictures of the trip hazards, such as an uneven paving stone, could also be useful.
- CCTV footage: If your accident was captured on CCTV, you may be able to request the footage to be used as evidence.
Should you choose to work with a solicitor on your claim, they could help you strengthen your case by gathering relevant evidence. To find out how one of our expert solicitors could help you claim for injuries caused by slips trips and falls, contact our team today. Or, read on to find out how much compensation could receive.
What Is The Time Limit For Slip And Trip Claims?
When making a tripping accident claim, it’s important to start proceedings within the time limit. This is outlined by the Limitation Act 1980, which states how long you have to start different kinds of claims.
Generally, personal injury claims must be started within three years, beginning the date of the accident. However, there are some exceptions to this rule.
For example, the time limit doesn’t apply to minors until they turn eighteen. Before then, a litigation friend can claim on their behalf. Otherwise, they’ll have three years to start proceedings from their eighteenth birthday.
Likewise, the time limit doesn’t apply to those who lack the needed mental capacity to make their own claim. In these cases, a litigation friend can start proceedings on their behalf at any time. If they recover the appropriate mental capacity, and no claim has been made, then the time limit will begin on the date of their recovery.
To learn more about time limits in personal injury claims, or to get started, contact our team of helpful advisors today. They can evaluate your claim for free, and potentially connect you with one of our expert solicitors.
Average Payout For A Slip, Trip, Or Fall Injury In The UK
If you make a successful personal injury claim for a tripping accident, your compensation could include general damages and special damages.
General damages is a head of claim that would compensate you for the suffering and pain caused by an injury sustained in a tripping or slipping accident. The various factors of your case could affect how much you receive under this head of claim, such as the type of injury, its initial severity, and the treatment it requires.
Those who are calculating such damages may refer to a publication known as the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This document provides guideline compensation brackets for a range of injuries at various severities.
Below, we have included a table with figures from the 16th edition of the JCG, released in 2022. Please note, however, that these are only guidance, and the first figure is not from the JCG.
Guideline Compensation Amounts
| Injury | Amount | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple serious injuries including financial costs. | Serious combinations of injuries causing pain, loss of income and medical expenses for example. | Up to £500,000+ |
| Severe leg injury (i) | An injury that has fallen short of amputation but is still severe, such as the extensive degloving of the leg. | £96,250 to £135,920 |
| Less serious leg injury (i) | A soft tissue injury or fracture where an incomplete recovery has been made. | £17,960 to £27,760 |
| Severe knee injury (i) | A disruption of the knee joint, gross ligamentous damage with the development of osteoarthritis. | £69,730 to £96,210 |
| Severe knee injury (iii) | Pain and discomfort with limited movement due to a lesser severe knee injury. | £26,190 to £43,460 |
| Moderate knee injury (i) | A dislocation or torn meniscus/cartilage that causes weakness and wasting with a minor instability. | £14,840 to £26,190 |
| Serious achilles tendon injury | The complete tendon division has been successfully repaired but the person will be left with a limp and limited movement. | £24,990 to £30,090 |
| Minor achilles tendon injury | Some damage to the tendon due to the turning of the ankle. | £7,270 to £12,590 |
| Moderate ankle injury | Ligamentous injuries or broken bones that make it difficult to walk on uneven ground or for a long period of time. | £13,740 to £26,590 |
| Wrist injury | A fracture or soft tissue injury that takes longer than a year to recover. | £6,080 to £10,350 |
What Are Special Damages?
On top of the general damages, you may also be compensated for financial costs associated with your injuries. These losses are compensated under the head of claim known as special damages. Under special damages, you could be compensated for:
- Medical expenses – if you have had to pay for prescription medicines or mobility aids, for example.
- Loss of income – if you have been unable to work due to your injury and lost out on income because of this.
- Care costs – if your injuries have meant you have needed paid care at home.
- Travel expenses – if, for example, you have needed to pay to get to a medical appointment or to meet with your solicitor.
In order to claim special damages, you will need to present evidence of your financial losses. Evidence could include payslips, invoices and bank statements.
To learn more about compensation payouts for slip, trip and fall claims or to receive a personalised estimate, please contact an advisor.
The Benefits of No Win No Fee Slip, Trip or Fall Compensation Claims
If you have been injured in a tripping accident or slipping accident and are eligible to make a personal injury claim, one of our solicitors may be able to help you. Our solicitors have experience working on various types of slip, trip and fall claims, and could offer to assist you with yours on a No Win No Fee basis by offering you a Conditional Fee Agreement.
With this No Win No Fee arrangement in place, you generally won’t be expected to pay the solicitor working on your case anything upfront to obtain their services. Furthermore, you will not be required to pay them for their work while your claim is progressing or if it ends unsuccessfully.
If your claim does end successfully, they will take a success fee from the compensation awarded to you. The law implements a legal cap for the percentage that this success fee can be.
Contact Our Team
Contact one of our friendly advisors today to see whether you may be eligible to work with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors for your personal injury claim. They can be reached via the following methods:
- Call 0800 073 8801
- Use the live chat feature.
- Contact us online.
Helpful Links Relating To Fall At Work Compensation Claims
- HSE – Slips, falls and trips at work: The document from the HSE looks at the causes of slips, trips and falls in the workplace and how they can be prevented. It also highlights employer and employee responsibility when it comes to health and safety.
- Major Road Scheme H&S: There are specific schemes, such as ‘Raising the Bar’ that are initiatives to prevent common accidents in the workplace, such as reducing the risks of slipping, tripping and falling within construction.
- HSE Stats on Slips: This looks at the latest accident and slips, trips and falls in the workplace statistics for in the workplace in the UK. It presents a clear picture of the work left to do to ensure safety at work.
- Reporting A Problem With the Pavement: Uneven pavements present significant trip hazards. To prevent pavement trip compensation claims, the Government and local councils are encouraging people to report hazardous pavements, which you can at the above website by entering the postcode.
Other guides for someone with tripping and falling injuries
- Sprained ankle injury claims: If you’ve sprained your ankle in a slip, trip or fall or another kind of accident, then this guide could help you claim.
- Slipping or tripping on snow or ice: Have you injured yourself while slipping or tripping on ice or snow? If so, you could be entitled to claim compensation. Read our guide for more information.
- Permanent scar injury claims: If you’ve been left with a permanent scar after an accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be able to claim. Read our guide to find out how.
- Claim Compensation Following A Fall From A Ladder
- 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.
