How To Claim For A Slip Trip And Fall In The Workplace
This guide explains when you could claim compensation for a slip, trip and fall in the workplace due to your employer being negligent.
As you progress, you’ll see how a breach of duty by your employer could lead to a personal injury claim if you were injured as a result. You’ll also see how compensation for a slip at work is calculated.
Our guide will provide some examples of how a slip and fall could happen at work due to your employer not adhering to the duty of care they owe to their employees. You’ll also find out the benefits of working with one of our specialist accident at work solicitors on a No Win No Fee basis.
To help you understand your options, we provide a free initial consultation that carries no obligation. If you’d like to arrange yours, you can:
- Call 0151 375 9916
- Use our live chat service.
- Contact us online to arrange a callback.
Please read on for more on claiming for slips and falls at work or contact us if you’d to discuss your case with a specialist.
Browse Our Guide
- When Can You Claim For A Slip Trip And Fall In The Workplace?
- How To Claim For A Slip Trip And Fall In The Workplace
- Common Slip Trip And Fall Hazards
- How Much Compensation Could You Receive For A Slip Trip And Fall In The Workplace?
- Claim For Slips And Falls At Work On A No Win No Fee Basis
- Read More About How To Claim Accident At Work Compensation
When Can You Claim For A Slip Trip And Fall In The Workplace?
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 places a duty of care on employers to take reasonable and practicable steps to ensure the health and safety of their employees.
To fulfil this duty of care employers can:
- Train all employees to ensure they can carry out their jobs safely.
- Conduct regular risk assessments of the workplace and work tasks
- If risks are identified they should be removed, if they cannot be removed, the risk should be reduced.
- You should be given Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) if required to keep you safe.
- All workplace equipment should be properly maintained and fit for purpose.
To have an eligible personal injury claim following a slip trip and fall in the workplace you will need to satisfy the below criteria:
- At the time of your fall, you were owed a duty of care by your employer.
- The accident occurred because your employer breached that duty of care; and
- You sustained injuries during the accident.
If all of the above is true in your case, you may be entitled to claim compensation for any suffering you’ve endured.
To find out if you have grounds to make an accident at work claim against your employer call our advisors now for a free case assessment.
How To Claim For A Slip Trip And Fall In The Workplace
When claiming for an accident at work, you will need evidence to prove how your employer breached their duty of care and how you’ve suffered as a result.
When claiming for a slip, trip and fall in the workplace, the types of evidence that could help include:
- Photographs of any visible injuries as well as the accident scene.
- CCTV footage of the accident.
- A record of any medical appointments, treatment or surgery.
- Contact details for any witnesses to your accident in case statements are required later on.
- A copy of an accident report form to help prove when and where the accident occurred.
As part of the service offered by our solicitors, they will collect evidence such as medical records to support your claim if it is taken on.
If you have any questions about the evidence that could strengthen your case, why not speak to our team right away?
Common Slip Trip And Fall Hazards
A slip, trip and fall in the workplace could lead to a head injury, back injury, broken bones and many other types of injuries.
Some common examples of scenarios that could cause you to slip and fall at work include:
- Slipping on a puddle of oil caused by a leaking machine which an employer had failed to get repaired.
- Tripping on an extension cable that had been laid across a corridor without being taped down.
- Falling from a faulty ladder that collapsed beneath you.
- Falling down a wet flight of stairs because warning signs were not in place after they had been cleaned.
There are many other scenarios that could cause such accidents at work. Remember, though, your injuries must have been sustained in an accident caused by a breach of duty by your employer if you’re to be compensated for any suffering.
If you believe you have a valid claim and would like free legal advice on how to proceed, please get in touch today.
How Much Compensation Could You Receive For A Slip Trip And Fall In The Workplace?
If you successfully claim for suffering caused by a fall at work, two heads of loss could make up any compensation you’re awarded. They include:
- General damages for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity; and
- Special damages to cover any costs linked to your injuries.
As such, each claim is unique so we can’t say exactly, at this stage, how much compensation you might receive. However, our compensation calculator and the table below do show some guideline compensation brackets for some relevant injuries.
Both use figures from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The JCG can help solicitors and other legal specialists calculate compensation amounts in successful personal injury claims.
Please note that the amounts we’ve listed are for guidance purposes only.
Compensation Table
| Injury | Severity | Guideline Bracket | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back | Severe (i) | £91,090 to £160,980 | Severe injury involving damage to the spinal cord and nerve roots. |
| Moderate (i) | £27,760 to £38,780 | These types of back injuries include a compression/crush fracture of the lumbar vertebrae that requires spinal fusion. | |
| Neck | Severe (iii) | £45,470 to £55,990 | Fractures and dislocations of the neck that cause significant and permanent disabilities. |
| Moderate (ii) | £13,740 to £24,990 | Where the claimant suffers serious movement limitations, permanent pain or discomfort because of a disc lesion or wrenching-type injury. | |
| Arm | Injuries Resulting in Permanent and Substantial Disablement | £39,170 to £59,860 | Where one or both arms suffer significant disability because of serious fractures. |
| Simple Fractures | £6,610 to £19,200 | A simple fracture of the forearm. | |
| Achilles Tendon | Most Serious | Around £38,430 | The Achilles tendon is severed causing restricted ankle movement and necessitating the cessation of active sports. |
| Wrist | Less Severe | £12,590 to £24,500 | Where the claimant will suffer permanent disability because of a wrist injury. |
| Fracture | Around £7,430 | A Colles' Fracture |
Special Damages In Slip Trip And Fall Accidents
The types of special damages that could be covered by a successful slip, trip and fall in the workplace claim include:
- Rehabilitation and medical costs.
- Lost earnings / future loss of income.
- Care costs.
- Travel expenses.
- The cost of adapting your vehicle or home to make it easier to cope with any ongoing symptoms.
Receipts, wage slips, bank statements and other financial documents should be kept as evidence to help you claim back any costs associated with your injuries.
If you have any questions about the compensation you might be entitled to claim, please get in touch.
Claim For Slips And Falls At Work On A No Win No Fee Basis
Our solicitors can reduce the stress associated with personal injury claims by working on a No Win No Fee basis. This means that if your claim is valid, they’ll offer their service via a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).
After you’ve signed the CFA, your solicitor will:
- Collect any evidence needed to support your case.
- Handle all communication with your employer and their insurers.
- Try to secure the right amount of compensation for you
- Keep you informed on the progress of your case with regular updates.
Importantly, the CFA means that you won’t need to pay for your solicitor’s work up front, during the claims process or if the claim is lost.
Should you receive compensation because your claim has been won, your solicitor will retain a percentage of it as a success fee. However, you’ll still receive the bulk of any settlement paid as success fee percentages are legally capped when using a CFA.
To see if you could be represented by one of our No Win No Fee solicitors, you can:
- Call 0151 375 9916 to speak with us.
- Chat online.
- Complete our “Contact Us” page.
Read More About How To Claim Accident At Work Compensation
Here are some more of our guides that may be helpful if you’ve been injured after a fall at work:
- Advice on how to claim for an injury at work caused by your employer.
- Your rights after an accident at work.
- Details on what to do after an accident at work including collecting evidence.
Finally, the external guides listed below may also help:
- NHS information on how to deal with sprains and strains following an accident.
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance on how to prevent slips and trips at work.
- How to claim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if you’re unable to work.
If you need any more information about claiming for a slip, trip and fall in the workplace, please speak with a member of our team today.