Slips, trips and falls: how to know if you have a claim?
Slips, trips and falls are one of the most prevalent personal injury claims. In fact, according to People Safe, they accounted for almost a third of accidents at work alone in 2019, making them the biggest single cause of injuries in the workplace.
They can be embarrassing at best, but at their worst a slip, trip or fall could end up in serious injury or even paralysis, so it’s important to know your rights when it comes to claiming for compensation should you need to.
HOW AND WHY DO SLIPS, TRIPS AND FALLS OCCUR?
Slips, trips and falls can happen anywhere, whether at work or in a public place. Some common examples include:
- Tripping on an uneven or broken pavement
- Slipping on a wet floor that wasn’t properly signposted
- Falling due to a loose floor covering
- Falling down steps that were not suitably lit
Usually, the cause of slips, trips and falls comes back to some form of negligent behaviour. Whether that was a staff member in a supermarket failing to put a wet floor sign down, or an employer not securing a safe working environment for employees.
Some accidents can’t be helped, and it can be unclear at times exactly who is liable for an accident. Generally, if you injure yourself on privately owned land, it will be the owner that is liable, whereas if you injure yourself on public land, the relevant council will be the person to take the claim out against.
HOW DO I CLAIM FOR A SLIP, TRIP OR FALL?
If you have suffered a slip, trip or fall, it is important to ensure you have evidence that it was the result of another party’s negligence. If you are able to, you should take photos of the cause and location, such as the broken or uneven surface, and any immediate injuries you have suffered. Also, take the contact details of any witnesses if possible, as it will help to build your case. If the incident happened at a place that was manned, such as a shop or restaurant, you should also report any slip, trip or fall to a staff member.
Depending on where you are, if it also advisable to make a note of the land or building owner, or if it’s a public place make note of the relevant council. It is important to remember that most councils, landowners and public building owners carry Public Liability Insurance and/or Employer’s Liability Insurance which covers them for any compensation claim which may arise, so the defendant will not be directly affected by you taking legal action.
Once you have gathered evidence, you should seek the help of a dedicated personal injury solicitor. Hampson Hughes has a proven track record of securing compensation for clients who are involved in a slip, trip or fall that wasn’t their fault.
For example, our team of personal injury experts secured compensation for a woman who slipped while walking along Henry Street in Liverpool due to an uneven and wobbly road surface.
As a result of the accident, our client sustained a wound to her left eye which required stitches. She was unable to leave her home for two weeks as she felt conscious of her black eye and stitched laceration.
The defendant, Liverpool City Council, admitted liability however argued our client should be made partially responsible for the accident. In spite of this our team chose to proceed and the claim was settled in the sum of £7,500.
