No Win, No FeeIn practice, no workplace will ever be completely free of risks. That said, employers must do all they can to prevent foreseeable accidents. As such, if you’re injured because you slipped at work and your employer’s negligence caused the accident, you could be compensated. This article on slipped-at-work claims explains the types of accidents and injuries you could be compensated for.
We can check whether you might be entitled to sue your employer because you slipped at work during a free initial consultation. A specialist will consider the facts of your case, offer free legal advice and answer your questions. If a personal injury lawyer from our panel offers to represent you in a personal injury claim against your employer, they’ll work on a No Win, No Fee basis.
To speak to a specialist right away, please call 0800 652 1345 today. Otherwise, please read on to claim more about slipped-at-work claims.
Can I claim compensation if I’ve slipped at work?
Because of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, your employer has a duty to “ ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work” of all employees. This is their legal duty of care. Therefore, if you’ve slipped at work and want to claim compensation for personal injuries you’ll generally need to demonstrate the following:
- Your employer breached their duty of care towards your well-being (negligence); and
- You slipped at work as a result; and
- You sustained an injury.
Proving that you slipped at work and how you’ve suffered is crucial if you’re to receive compensation. For this reason, we’ll review what proof could be supplied to support slipped-at-work claims later on.
What can employers do to prevent slips and falls at work?
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), employers must try to reduce the risk of injuries caused by slips, trips and falls. Some guidance and tips that employers could follow to try and reduce slips and falls include:
- Use mats to reduce wet floors at entrances.
- Fix leaks from buildings and machinery.
- Clean up spillages promptly.
- Prevent access to areas that have been recently cleaned (with warning signs for example).
- Gritting icy surfaces in the winter.
- Carry out regular risk assessments to check for floor damage regularly.
- Provide anti-slip footwear for those working in areas that cannot be kept dry.
- Install handrails in areas that are prone to becoming slippery.
If your employer fails to act and you’re injured because you slipped at work, you might be entitled to compensation. If you’re in any doubt about your options, please don’t hesitate to get in touch to discuss your claim with a specialist.
What does At Work mean?
Generally, slip-at-work claims are based on accidents in your normal workplace or within the company’s grounds (such as the company car park).
However, your employer is liable for your health and safety even if you’re working away from the company’s main premises.
This includes if you work away as an engineer, salesperson, homeworker, cover teacher, cover nurse, locum doctor, consultant, project manager or similar roles.
Essentially, your employer should try to ensure that any location they ask you to work in is as safe as possible. So, if you slipped while working off-site, you could also be entitled to claim for any injuries.
Types of injuries you could claim compensation for
In essence, any injury sustained in a fall from slipping at work could lead to a personal injury claim. Some of the most common our solicitors deal with include:
- Fractured and broken bones.
- Head injuries.
- Soft tissue strains, sprains and tears.
- Joint dislocations.
- Concussion.
- Back injuries.
While some falls lead to short-term injuries where recovery is fairly quick, others can lead to a much more serious injury. Some injuries will be long-term, lead to hospitalisation or be life-changing. s such, any settlement made by your employer must cover the suffering you’ve already endured and any that will continue in the future.
Whether we’ve included your injury here or not, please contact us if you’d like to check if you might be entitled to claim for your suffering.
Will making a slipped-at-work claim affect my employment?
There are two main reasons people don’t like to make compensation claims against employers.
The first is that they worry if they’ve had a fall at work is that their employer’s business will suffer if they have to make a compensation payout. However, employers don’t pay compensation from their own funds. Instead, claims are generally made against the company’s employers’ liability insurance policy (this is legally required) so will not affect the company’s profits at all.
The next reason for not claiming is the fear that the employee will be sacked for doing so. Legally, you cannot be dismissed, picked on, demoted, bullied or treated differently because you’ve made a personal injury claim against your employer. If you were to suffer any repercussions as a result of your slip at work claim separate action could be taken for unfair or constructive dismissal.
If a solicitor from our panel takes on your claim, they’ll handle all communication so you won’t need to discuss your claim with anyone in your workplace.
How much compensation will I get if I slipped at work?
The amount of compensation you might receive if you’ve slipped at work should account for any suffering you have already endured and any future suffering too. As such, your solicitor will need to get a full understanding of your injuries before calculating how much compensation you could be paid.
If you win a slipped-at-work claim, a settlement could cover:
- Physical pain, discomfort and suffering caused by the slip at work.
- Physiotherapy, private hospital treatment and other medical expenses.
- Lost income (now and in the future).
- Psychiatric damage caused by depression, distress or anxiety.
- Care costs if you had to be supported while you were injured.
- Mobility aids (wheelchairs, sticks, frames etc).
- Loss of enjoyment of family activities, sports and other hobbies impacted by your injuries.
- Additional travel expenses linked to your injuries.
- The cost of modifying your home or car to make it easier to cope with any long-term injuries.
Your solicitor will go through all aspects of your suffering with you to try and ensure that you get a fair level of compensation if your claim is successful.
How will the solicitor know how I’ve suffered?
The compensation awarded for your physical and emotional suffering is based on the severity of your injuries. For this reason, work injury claims will usually need to be supported by an independent medical assessment.
You shouldn’t worry about this at all. During the appointment (which your solicitor will arrange for you), a specialist will examine your injuries and read your medical records. They’ll then ask you some questions about how your injuries have caused you to suffer.
The report that follows the meeting will be sent to your solicitor and your employer’s insurance provider to help determine compensation levels if the claim is won.
Usually, medical assessments are booked locally.
Providing proof for slipped-at-work claims
Even in straightforward claims, your employer’s insurers will only pay compensation if there is enough proof that you sustained injuries because of your employer’s negligence. As such, your solicitor will present as clear a case as possible and use proof to demonstrate what happened and how you’ve suffered as a result. This may include:
- Medical proof. To prove the severity of your injuries and prognosis, your solicitor will ask for copies of any medical notes and X-rays from your doctor or the hospital that treated you.
- Accident report forms. You should always inform a supervisor or manager about the fact you had a fall at work. A copy of your accident report (that companies must log by law) can be used to prove where you slipped at work and when the accident occurred.
- Witness statements. If any colleagues, customers or visitors can verify you slipped at work, they may be asked to give your solicitor a statement of events. This can help if your employer provides a different version of events.
- Video footage. To prove that a) the accident happened and b) how it happened, you could ask your employer for a copy of any CCTV recording of the accident. Bear in mind that most companies only keep data for up to a month so you should make your request quickly.
- Photographic proof. Take photos (if you can) of what caused you to slip at work before the scene is cleared up. This could include spillages, recently cleaned floors without warning signs or leaks.
When you call to discuss a slipped-at-work claim, we’ll review any proof you have already. Your solicitor will try to collect anything else that’s needed if your claim is taken on.
Slipped at work claim time limits
The limitation period for personal injury claims in most cases is three years from the date of the accident or from the date when you became aware of your injuries.
One exception in this type of claim is if the person who slipped at work does not have the ability to make decisions or understand the consequences due to a mental impairment or condition. In cases where a person lacks mental capacity, the standard limitation period of three years may not apply, or it may be extended.
We’d suggest contacting us about your claim as soon as you can after that date. The sooner you begin, the sooner you’ll be compensated if the claim is successful. Also, starting early will give your solicitor the time they need to prepare your claim before it is filed.
No Win, No Fee claims
We think that it’s wise to work with a personal injury solicitor if you decide to sue your employer after slipping and injuring yourself at work. We do understand that legal costs can be prohibitive so the solicitors on our panel provide a No Win, No Fee service for all accepted slipped-at-work claims.
Your financial risks are lowered if you use a No Win, No Fee solicitor because:
- You won’t pay legal fees upfront.
- Your solicitor doesn’t get paid by you if the claim fails.
- Legal fees are deducted from any compensation you receive rather than you having to send funds to your solicitor.
The deduction from your compensation is called a success fee. It’s legally capped at 25 per cent of any award you’re paid and it covers your solicitor’s time and expenses.
As soon as you’ve signed and returned your No Win, No Fee agreement, your solicitor will begin working for you. Their role is to find the proof to support your claim, deal will all enquiries from the defendant’s insurance company and fight your corner throughout the claims process.
They won’t necessarily settle for the first compensation offer made though. If it’s not deemed to be fair, your solicitor will go back and try to negotiate a settlement that covers all of your suffering.
Start a slipped-at-work claim today
To find out if you’re entitled to compensation after slipping and hurting yourself at work you can call us on 0800 652 1345.
You’re under no obligation to take action but if you decide that you want to claim and a personal injury solicitor from our panel offers to help, your claim will be managed on a No Win, No Fee basis.
Please use live chat to connect with us if you have any further questions on slipped-at-work claims, or claim your free consultation here.
