This article will discuss the ways in which slips, trips and falls at work can happen, the injuries that could be sustained as a result and the steps you could take if you are harmed in the workplace.
Slips, trips and falls at work claims guide
Employers owe a duty of care to their employees. This means they must take reasonable steps to prevent you from experiencing harm in the workplace. If they fail to do so, you could be caused harm. In some cases, you may be eligible make an accident at work claim. We will discuss the eligibility criteria for doing so in more detail throughout this guide.
We will also discuss the compensation you could receive to address the impact your injuries have had on your life.
Additionally, this guide will discuss the benefits of working with one of our solicitors. They can offer to represent your claim on a No Win No Fee basis which generally allows you to avoid paying upfront or while your claim is ongoing for the services they provide.
To learn more, continue reading. Alternatively, you can get in touch with our team. To reach them, you can:
- Call on 0800 073 8802
- Send an enquiry online
- Use the live support option below.
Choose A Section
- What Compensation Could You Receive For Slips, Trips And Falls At Work?
- When Are You Eligible To Make Slip, Trip And Fall Claims?
- What Is The Claim Time Limit For Slips, Trips and Falls At Work?
- Potential Evidence That Could Help You Claim For A Fall At Work
- Our Solicitors Could Help You Claim For An Accident At Work On A No Win No Fee Basis
- Learn More About Making Slip, Trip And Fall Claims
What Compensation Could You Receive For Slips, Trips And Falls At Work?
If you make a successful workplace accident claim, your settlement could comprise general damages and special damages. General damages compensate for the pain and suffering, both emotional and physical, you have experienced due to your injuries.
In order to calculate the value of your injuries, solicitors can use a document called the Judicial College Guidelines. This contains guideline compensation amounts that relate to different types of injuries. We have included these in the table below.
Please only use them as a guide because your settlement will depend on several factors unique to your specific circumstances.
| Injury | Severity | Award Bracket | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head | (c) Moderate (i) | £150,110 to £219,070 | Cases of moderate to severe intellectual deficit, a change in personality and effect on senses is covered in this bracket. |
| Leg | (b) Severe (ii) | £54,830 to £87,890 | Very serious injuries that led to permanent issues with mobility. |
| Pelvis | (a) Severe (iii) | £39,170 to £52,500 | A fracture of an arthritic femur or hip requiring a hip replacement. |
| Wrist | (a) | £47,620 to £59,860 | Function in the wrist is completely lost. |
| Arm | (c) Less Severe | £19,200 to £39,170 | Significant disabilities but a substantial degree of recovery. |
| Knee | (b) Moderate (i) | £14,840 to £26,190 | Injuries that accelerate symptoms of a pre-existing condition over a period of years. |
| Elbow | (b) Less Severe | £15,650 to £32,010 | There is no significant disability or major surgery required but function is impaired. |
| Ankle | (c) Moderate | £13,740 to £26,590 | Fractures and tears to the ligaments causing less serious disabilities. |
| Back | (b) Moderate (ii) | £12,510 to £27,760 | Prolapsed discs requiring a laminectomy or leading to repeated relapses. |
| Foot | (g) Modest | Up to £13,740 | Metatarsal fractures that are simple, ruptured ligaments and puncture wounds are included in this bracket. |
You could also receive special damages within your settlement. This head of claim reimburses monetary losses that have been incurred due to your injuries. You should collect evidence of these losses including receipts to show any travel costs or payslips to show any lost earnings.
To find out more about what compensation you could receive after successfully claiming, please get in touch with our team. Alternatively, to find out when you could be eligible to make an accident at work claim, read on.
When Are You Eligible To Make Slip, Trip And Fall Claims?
If you have sustained harm in a slip, trip or fall in the workplace, you may be wondering whether you could make a personal injury claim. There are a set of criteria that outline your eligibility to seek compensation. These include:
- Showing your employer owed you a duty of care at the time and place of the accident
- Proving that your employer breached this duty of care
- Showing you experienced physical or psychological harm as a result of the breach. This is known as negligence.
Employers owe a duty of care to their employees. This is outlined in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. As per this duty, they must carry out steps that are considered reasonable and practical as a way to prevent employees from being injured at work or while performing work-related duties.
These steps could include carrying out regular risk assessments and addressing any hazards they become aware of, providing adequate training and ensuring employees have the necessary personal protective equipment to carry out their duties safely.
A failure to uphold this duty of care could lead to employees experiencing harm for which you could make a claim. Get in touch with our team to find out more.
Examples Of Slips, Trips And Falls At Work
Slips, trips and falls on the same level accounted for 30% of non-fatal accidents in 2021/22. This is according to employer reports made to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which is the national regulator for workplace health and safety in Britain.
Examples of how slips, trips and falls at work could occur include:
- A wet floor that hasn’t been signposted
- A faulty handrail on the stairs that hasn’t been fixed
- Objects and other items blocking a walkway and causing a trip hazard
- Trailing wires or cables in an office that haven’t been covered
However, not all incidents of slipping, tripping or falling at work will form the basis of a valid claim. Additionally, not all incidents that employers report to the HSE will have occurred due to negligence.
Please call our team to find out more about making a fall at work claim.
What Is The Claim Time Limit For Slip, Trips and Falls At Work?
There is a general three-year time limit for starting a personal injury claim as outlined by the Limitation Act 1980. This time scale can start from the date of the accident itself or the date you realised that an employer breaching their duty of care caused you harm.
There are instances when the time limits differ. For example, if the claimant is under the age of 18, the time limit is paused until they reach the age of 18. In this time, a suitable adult can apply to act as a litigation friend on their behalf. If this is not done before the child’s 18th birthday, they will have until they turn 21 to start their own claim.
Likewise, if the claimant lacks the mental capacity to claim, the time limit is paused indefinitely. An appointed litigation friend could make a claim on the claimant’s behalf during this time. If the person gains back their mental capacity and no claim has been made, the three years will start from the date of recovery to start their own claim.
For more information on the time limits for personal injury claims, get in touch on the number above.
Potential Evidence That Could Help You Claim For A Fall At Work
As slips, trips and falls at work can occur in different ways, it’s important to gather evidence to show a breach of duty contributed to the accident and your subsequent injuries. Evidence you could gather can include:
- Medical records, including X-ray scans, doctor reports, prescriptions and hospital reports.
- Photographic evidence of your injuries and the hazards that contributed to the accident.
- Video footage including CCTV footage.
- Witness contact details for people who would be willing to provide a statement at a later date.
- A copy of the incident report in the accident at work book.
You may also benefit from seeking legal advice. An advisor from our team could provide you with free advice regarding your potential claim. You can get in touch by calling the number at the top of the page.
Our Solicitors Could Help You Claim For An Accident At Work On A No Win No Fee Basis
Our solicitors have experience handling claims for slips, trips and falls at work. They can help you collect evidence to support your case and ensure you put forward a complete claim.
Additionally, they can offer to represent your claim under a specific type of No Win No Fee agreement called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). Generally, under a CFA:
- There are no upfront or ongoing costs for the services your solicitor provides.
- A successful outcome means that a small percentage is deducted from your compensation. This is referred to as a success fee and is legally capped.
- An unsuccessful outcome means that you won’t be required to pay for the work completed on your claim.
To find out whether one of our solicitors could represent your claim for a fall at work under a CFA, please get in touch using the details provided below.
Contact Us To See If You Can Claim For Slip, Trip and Fall Injuries
We hope this guide on compensation payouts for falls at work and whether you could be eligible to make a claim has helped. However, if you have any other questions, please get in touch using the details provided below.
- Call on 0800 073 8802
- Send an enquiry online
- Use the live support option below.
Learn More About Making Slip, Trip And Fall Claims
For more of our guides relating to personal injury claims:
Other helpful resources include:
- GOV – Statutory Sick Pay
- HSE – The Law On Working At A Height
- NHS – When To Call 999
Thank you for reading this guide on slips, trips and falls at work and how much compensation you could be owed if you make a successful claim. If you have any other questions, please get in touch on the number above.
Writer Jeff Wynch
Editor Meg Moot
