Slip, Trip & Fall Claims – How Much Compensation Can I Claim?

In the grand scheme of things, you might not regard a slip or trip as a serious accident. While it’s true that they can often lead to minor issues, in some circumstances, the victim can be left with serious and life-changing injuries. If you’re injured from a slip, trip and fall because someone else was negligent, there’s a chance you could be entitled to compensation. In this article, we’ll explain when slip and trip claims might be made and what the compensation could cover.

Whether you’ve slipped and fallen in a supermarket, tripped at work, or fallen over a raised paving slab, our team could help you to get compensated. Initially, they’ll review your claim with you and offer free legal advice. They could then ask one of our personal injury solicitors to look at your case in further detail. If the claim appears viable and the solicitor agrees to represent you, they’ll work on a No Win, No Fee basis. That should make the claims process a lot less stressful. That’s because you won’t need to pay for your solicitor’s work unless they win compensation for you.

Would you like us to review your injury claim straight away? If so, please call us on 0800 652 1345 today. Alternatively, please read on to learn more about how slip and trip claims work.

Am I Entitled to Compensation for a Slip, Trip and Fall?

If a personal injury lawyer is to represent you in a slip and trip claim, they’ll check the viability of your case before agreeing to work for you. Essentially, they will try to identify whether:

• The defendant (the party you blame) owed you a legal duty of care; and
• An act of negligence by the defendant caused you to slip, trip or fall; and
• As a result, you sustained injuries.

Importantly, it is possible for slip and trip claims can be made by customers, members of the public, visitors and staff as businesses will need to try to protect anyone who is on their premises.

Common Examples of Slip, Trip, and Fall Claims

A slip, trip, or fall accident claim typically involves incidents where individuals are injured due to another party’s negligence. Common examples include:

• Wet Floors: These can result from spillages and leaks from pipes, roofs and containers.
• Slippery Flooring: Commonly due to recently cleaned or polished flooring without proper warning signs.
• Uneven or Damaged Surfaces: Accidents caused by loose flooring, broken pavements, or potholes in public or private spaces.
• Cluttered Walkways: Obstructions like cables, boxes, or debris left in walkways can lead to trips and falls.
• Inadequate Lighting: Poor lighting conditions can make it difficult to see potential hazards, increasing the risk of accidents.
• Weather Hazards: Icy or wet conditions outside that haven’t been properly managed, such as untreated pathways or slippery entrances.

If you’ve experienced a slip, trip, or fall injury due to negligence, you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injuries.

What Types of Slip Trip and Fall Injuries Can I Claim For?

There are various ways in which you could be injured following a slip or trip. We won’t list each of them here but some of the more common injuries from slips, trips and falls you could get compensation for include:

If you’ve suffered any type of slip, trip or fall injury, please contact us here to see if your suffering could be compensated.

What Evidence Do I Need for a Slip and Trip Accident Claim?

If you decide to pursue a slip, trip and fall compensation claim, you’ll need evidence to show what happened. There are several steps you could take at the time and after the accident to make the claims process easier. They include:

• Report Your Accident: Accidents at work, in shops, on business premises and in many public places should be recorded in an accident report book. As such, you should report your fall as soon as possible. Having a copy of your accident form will make it very difficult for the defendant to deny that the accident took place.
• Visit A&E or a Minor Injuries Unit: It’s important to have any injuries dealt with by medical professionals. If you decide to claim compensation for a fall, medical reports and X-rays can be requested to help determine the extent of your injuries.
• Take Photographs: Try to take as many pictures as possible before you leave the accident scene if you can. Ideally, try to capture the scene before anything is moved.
• Obtain CCTV Recordings: You are legally allowed to ask for camera footage that contains a recording of you. Act swiftly to secure any footage of your accident before it is deleted.
• Speak to Witnesses: If anyone else was present when you slipped or tripped, ask them for their contact details. Your solicitor might contact them during the claims process to provide a statement of what they saw.
• Keep a Diary: It can be quite difficult to recall everything when asked by your solicitor. For that reason, it’s a good idea to write things down. Try to keep track of any expenses you incurred as well as dates that you couldn’t work or attend social events as a result of your injuries. Also, take pictures of your injuries throughout your recovery.

Our team are happy to review your evidence with you during your free consultation. Collate what you may already have and give us a call on 0800 652 1345.

What Is the Time Limit to Make a Slip and Trip Claim?

The time limit for making a slip and trip claim is generally three years, as set out by the Limitation Act 1980. This period typically begins on the date of your accident. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For instance, if the injured party is under 18, a parent or guardian can claim on their behalf at any time before they turn 18. Once the child becomes an adult, they have three years (until their 21st birthday) to start a slip and trip claim.

Additionally, if the injured party lacks the mental capacity to lodge a claim the time limit is suspended. It will only begin if they regain capacity.

In some cases, the three-year limit starts from the point you became aware that negligence contributed to your slip, trip or fall injury. This could apply if the injury or its cause was not immediately obvious.

While you might consider 3-years to be plenty of time, we’d suggest that you start the claims process as soon as possible. That will give your solicitor plenty of time to arrange for medical reports and supporting evidence to be gathered. Furthermore, you’re likely to find it much easier to recall how the events leading to your accident unfolded.

How Much Compensation for a Slip, Trip or Fall Can I Claim?

When you submit a compensation claim for a slip, trip or fall, it’s not a matter of coming up with a sum of money you would like to be paid to settle the matter. Instead, your solicitor will typically need to separate your claim into general damages and special damages. No two claims are the same but you could be entitled to compensation for:

• Any pain and suffering you’ve had to deal with following your fall.
• The impact your injuries have had on your hobbies and social life.
• The time or costs associated with a carer who supported your recovery.
• The cost of replacing any personal property that was damaged in the accident.
• Medical or rehabilitation costs.
• The cost of modifying your home to help you deal with any long-term injuries.

Getting the slip and trip claims process right is important as you aren’t allowed to request any additional compensation once you’ve settled your case in full. For that reason, if your case is accepted, your solicitor will review all aspects of your suffering to try and secure the highest amount of compensation possible for your injuries.

Will I Need a Solicitor to Claim Slip, Trip and Fall Compensation?

We believe that it’s easier to win a personal injury claim if you have specialist legal representation. We also understand that most claimants don’t want to risk losing money on solicitors’ fees. To enable as many people as possible to benefit from their legal skills, our solicitors offer a No Win, No Fee service.

If your claim is accepted, your solicitor will send you a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This is the technical name for a No Win, No Fee agreement. It will explain what criteria need to be met before you’ll need to pay your solicitor for their work. Head over to this page for more information on how a CFA works.

If your claim fails, you don’t need to pay your solicitor for their time or expenses. If the claim is won, they’ll deduct a success fee from your compensation. This is an agreed percentage of your settlement amount. Legally, you will not be charged more than 25% of your compensation when using a CFA.

If you’d like to check whether you could use one of our No Win, No Fee solicitors, please contact our team today.

Slip, Trip and Fall Claims Frequently Asked Questions

Start a Slip, Trip and Fall Compensation Claim Today

We hope our article about slip and trip claims has been helpful. If you are thinking of starting a claim, call our team to discuss your options on 0800 652 1345.

You’ve got nothing to lose by calling as you’ll be given free legal advice whatever you decide to do and any claim that our solicitors accept will be dealt with on a No Win, No Fee basis. What’s more, everything is done on the phone, by email or online so everything’s as easy for claimants as possible.

If you would like to know anything else about slip and trip claims, please contact our team via live chat, or arrange a claims consultation here.