Slips, Trips and Falls Compensation Claims

In the aftermath of a slip, trip, or fall accident, you may wonder if you’re eligible to make a compensation claim. Being injured doesn’t necessarily mean you have a valid claim – here we will help you to understand whether or not you should proceed with claiming compensation.

Ian Morris, Claims Expert

Chat with claims expert Ian Morris to see if you can claim injury compensation after a slip, trip or fall.

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    Can I claim injury compensation after a slip, trip or fall?

    In the UK, you can make a personal injury claim if you were injured due to a slip, trip, or fall that was caused by someone else’s negligence, usually as a result of breaking health and safety rules. The accident could have happened in a variety of locations such as in a shop, at work, on a pavement, or in public places like pubs and restaurants. You could also potentially claim against a local council for falls due to uneven paths or potholes.

    If an organisation fails to minimise the risk of injury on their premises, for example, by not repairing defects, cleaning up a spillage, erecting a hazard warning sign, or removing a hazardous obstruction, they can be found liable to compensate the injured party. All have a responsibility to ensure people’s safety under the Occupier’s Liability Act 1957.

    The questions raised about slip, trip and fall claims will further help you to understand the wide range of scenarios involved.

    Our slip and trip solicitors can help you to claim no win no fee compensation to ease some of the problems you’ll face after an injury, with a settlement that can include the recovery of lost wages, expenses and private rehabilitation therapies.

    The criteria for having a valid claim

    Simply being injured doesn’t mean you are eligible to claim personal injury compensation, you have to meet some criteria for a claim to be valid. Here’s what you need to know.

    Establishing Liability

    The fundamental basis for a successful slip, trip, or fall claim is to establish that a third party was responsible for your accident. This could be a business owner, an employer, or a local authority, among others. If they failed to uphold their duty of care to you — for example, by not cleaning up a spillage, repairing a defect, or adequately signposting a hazard — they may be found liable for your injuries.

    Adverse weather conditions, poor lighting and unexpected obstacles can all have a role to play in such claims, but often the accident is ultimately due to negligence. However, if the accident was entirely your fault, you would typically not have a valid claim.

    Severity and Impact of the Injury

    The injury suffered needs to be serious enough to warrant a compensation claim. Minor scrapes or bruises may not qualify. If the injury has had a significant impact on your life — for example, if it has led to loss of earnings, required medical treatment, or caused ongoing pain and suffering — then it may meet the criteria for a claim.

    Time Limits

    In most cases, a personal injury claim must be initiated within three years of the accident. This time limit is essential, and failing to adhere to it can result in your claim being dismissed, regardless of its validity. There are, however, exceptions for individuals who were minors at the time of the accident, or for those who were unable to make a claim due to mental incapacity.

    Evidence

    Having strong evidence to support your claim can greatly increase your chances of success. This can include photographs of the accident scene, medical records of your injuries, witness statements, and any incident reports filed at the time of the accident.

    321 questions have been answered on this subject, view questions or why not ask your own?

    Understanding liability in slip, trip, and fall accidents

    Establishing liability is a key aspect in any slip, trip, or fall compensation claim. But what exactly does it mean and how is it determined? Here’s a closer look at understanding liability in these types of accidents.

    What is Liability?

    In the context of a slip, trip, or fall accident, liability refers to the responsibility for the accident and the resulting injuries. If a third party — an individual, a business, a local council, or another entity — failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the accident, they could be held liable for any injuries that occurred as a result.

    Duty of Care

    Entities such as business owners, employers, and local authorities have a legal obligation, or ‘duty of care,’ to ensure the safety of individuals on their premises. This includes regular maintenance, prompt clean-up of spillages, adequate signage for potential hazards, and ensuring all health and safety regulations are adhered to. If this duty of care is breached, and an accident occurs as a result, they could be found liable.

    Proving Liability

    Proving liability can sometimes be a complex process. It involves demonstrating that the third party was negligent and that their negligence directly led to the accident. Evidence, such as photographs of the hazard, witness statements, accident reports, and medical records, can help establish liability.

    Shared Liability

    In some cases, liability may not be entirely clear-cut. There may be situations where both parties share some degree of responsibility for the accident, a concept known as ‘contributory negligence’, or ‘split liability‘. For example, if you tripped over a clearly signposted hazard, you may be deemed partially responsible. However, you could still make a claim, although any compensation awarded may be reduced proportionately.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Start your slip, trip or fall claim with us

    You can start your claim online or , and one of our expert team will be in touch. Alternatively, call us on 01225 430285. We’ll only need a few minutes of your time to let you know if you can make a claim. If you decide to go ahead we’ll connect you with our specialist slip and trip solicitors who have a proven track record of success.

    With over 20 years’ experience, you can use our knowledge and expertise to get your claim off to the best start. There is no charge for assessing your case, so you have nothing to lose and much to gain if you can make a successful claim.

    We’ve helped many clients win compensation after a fall, including:

    • A lady who tripped over a raised paving stone caused by a tree root growing under the surface of pavement, sustaining a broken arm.
    • A mother of 3 who slipped on water that had leaked from a broken freezer unit in a supermarket, causing a dislocated knee.
    • A man who fell in a large pothole in a cul-de-sac, fracturing his ankle.
    • A worker who slipped on oil leaking from a faulty forklift truck, breaking his leg in the process.

    Importantly, claims are made on a No Win No Fee basis, so you pay nothing if your claim fails.

    321 questions have been answered on this subject, view questions or why not ask your own?

    Latest questions

    • Asked on: Slip, Trip and Falls Compensation Claims – Your Questions Answered

      Question: Hi, I've slipped and fallen on a council carpark due to shales of slate, used for flower beds were all on pavement and the carpark. I've had 4 stitches in my head and a fractured arm. I've so far have a month of work with no sick pay and I've also broken my spectacles. I went to accident and emergency and have xrays to support my event. I've tried everywhere to take my case, but said the council were not negligent. I feel they have not assess the risk factor, this is the 2nd time I've fallen on these stones. I have a witness to the event.
      • Answer: Do you have any photographs of the shale slate and the loose slates causing a hazard on the adjacent pavement? If so, please forward to us at justice@direct2compensation.co.uk so that we can further review this.
    • Asked on: Slip, Trip and Falls Compensation Claims – Your Questions Answered

      Question: I slipped and fell on wet leaves on the pavement that hadn’t been cleaned by the council. I fractured my ankle and had to undergo surgery to stabilise the ankle. I have a plate and several screws and I have suffered from mobility issues and ongoing pain for the past two years. Can I claim compensation from the council?
      • Answer: Unfortunately, even with the severity of your injury, the scenario you describe here would not lead to a successful claim against the local authority in our view. The cause of your fall being wet leaves on the ground is not something that the courts would deem a local authority to have been negligent and therefore liable. Leaves falling from trees in Autumn and Winter is a naturally occurring issue and although local authorities undertake road sweeping and have cleaning staff, they are not able to or expected to ensure that all fallen leaves are removed - indeed, such a task would be impossible with the way the wind blows the leaves around and further leaves will fall in any event even after previous leaves are removed.
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