This is our guide on your legal rights after being injured in a slip and fall at work that was caused by negligence. We explain when you could be eligible to make a claim against your employer and what criteria you must meet to do so.
Slip and fall at work claims guide
Additionally, we give examples of instances in which you could suffer a slip and fall at work because of a breach of duty of care. Our guide also explores the time limit that should be adhered to and the exceptions that can apply to the limitation period in some circumstances.
Moreover, our guide discusses the compensation for a slip or fall you could receive and the resources solicitors may use when valuing the injuries in your claim. We also detail the different types of payouts you could receive and the evidence that will benefit your claim.
Furthermore, we outline how a No Win No Fee agreement may be financially advantageous to you when working with a lawyer on your claim.
Please keep reading for more information about your legal rights after a slip and fall at work. If you have any questions about making a claim, you can contact our advisors, who can provide free legal advice.
To reach our advisors, you can use the following methods:
- Call us on 0800 073 8802
- Contact us through our online form
- Use our live support to discuss your queries with a member of our team
Choose A Section
- When Are You Eligible To Claim For A Slip And Fall At Work?
- Is There A Work Injury Claim Time Limit?
- What Compensation Could You Receive From A Slip At Work Claim?
- Potential Evidence That Could Help You After A Slip At Work
- Why Use Our Accident At Work Solicitors?
- Learn More About How To Claim For A Slip And Fall At Work
When Are You Eligible To Claim For A Slip And Fall At Work?
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, your employer has a legal duty to take reasonably practicable steps to ensure your safety in the workplace. This is known as their duty of care.
To be eligible to make a claim, you should be able to show the following:
- Your employer owed you a duty of care.
- They breached this duty.
- This breach caused your injuries.
If you are able to illustrate this, you could be entitled to make an accident claim. A breach of duty leading to injuries is an example of negligence.
There are numerous ways that a slip and fall at work could occur as a result of employer negligence:
- You may slip on a wet floor if it has not been signposted properly, causing a fall.
- If you are not given the necessary personal protective equipment, such as safety boots, you may suffer a head injury if you slip and fall.
- If a handrail is damaged and loose, it could cause a fall down the stairs.
To know more about your legal rights after an accident at work, please continue reading to learn about the time limitations.
Is There A Work Injury Claim Time Limit?
After a slip and fall at work, you may wonder how long you have in which to start a claim. The Limitation Act 1980 states that you generally have three years from your accident or the date you learned of the negligence that caused it in which to start a claim.
There are some exceptions to this limit:
- If a person lacks the mental capacity to claim, they have three years from the date they regain their mental capacity if this occurs.
- A person is under eighteen at the time of the accident. They will have three years from their eighteenth birthday to make a claim.
A litigation friend is a trusted adult with the claimant’s best interests at heart. They can act on behalf of someone who cannot make their own claim, and the time limit for doing so is suspended.
To find out how long you could have to start a claim, speak with an advisor today. They could offer you free legal advice about the process of claiming. Furthermore, they might be able to connect you with a lawyer form our panel to work on your case.
What Compensation Could You Receive From A Slip At Work Claim?
You could be entitled to compensation following the accident at work in which you were injured. There are two heads of claim that you could be entitled to receive. One of these potential heads is general damages. These cover the pain and suffering you have experienced because of your injuries.
When valuing your injuries, solicitors may use the Judicial College Guidelines for to help them. This publication is made up of compensation brackets for various injuries. However, these amounts are not definite and the amount you receive if your claim is a success may be different.
We have used these figures to create the table below. Compensation claim calculators can give you an estimate of what payout you could be entitled to receive. However, their figures are not guaranteed and should only be used provisionally as they tend not to consider certain factors, such as a loss of earnings.
| Injury | Severity | Notes | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back | Severe (a)(i) | Damage to the spinal cord and nerve roots causes severe pain and disability, such as incomplete paralysis and an impaired bladder. | £91,090 to £160,980 |
| Back | Severe (a) (ii) | Nerve root damage causes a loss of sensation and impaired mobility. Potentially involving unsightly scarring. | £74,160 to £88,430 |
| Back | Severe (a) (iii) | Disc lesions or fractures. Soft tissue injuries result in chronic conditions where disabilities persist despite treatment or surgery. | £38,780 to £69,730 |
| Neck | Severe (a) (ii) | Serious fractures or damage to the cervical spine discs. Disabilities are of considerable severity, such as permanent damage or loss of movement or function. | £65,740 to £130,930 |
| Arm | Serious (b) | One or both arms are substantially and permanently disabled due to serious fractures. There is a significant residual disability, cosmetically or functionally. | £39,170 to £59,860 |
| Arm | Less Severe (c) | Significant disabilities persist, but the recovery has been substantial or is expected to be. | £19,200 to £39,170 |
| Leg | Moderate (b) (iv) | Multiple fractures. The amount will be influenced by the extent of the treatment needed and the risk of future surgery. | £27,760 to £39,200 |
| Elbow | Less Severe (b) | The function is impaired, but no major surgery is needed, nor is the disability significant. | £15,650 to £32,010 |
| Pelvis and Hips | Moderate (b) (ii) | Can involve hip replacement or another form of surgery. Whether the surgery was successful will be considered as well as the persistence and severity of the symptoms. | £12,590 to £26,590 |
| Shoulder | Serious (b) | Pain in the shoulder and neck caused by damage to the brachial plexus and shoulder dislocation. | £12,770 to £19,200 |
Another form of damages you could claim is special damages. These cover the financial losses you have incurred because of your injuries. Evidence can ensure you’re fully compensated for the financial losses you’ve experienced.
Examples of potential proof include:
- Invoices to show the cost of home adaptations
- Payslips to show a loss of earnings
- Public transport tickets to show the travel costs
To find out about what could be included in a work-related claim payout, speak with our team.
Potential Evidence That Could Help You After A Slip At Work
When making a claim against your employer, evidence will be important. This can help to illustrate the negligence that caused your injuries. Examples of evidence that you could use include:
- CCTV footage and photographs of the injuries.
- Witness contact information.
- Copies of medical records and a diary showing the mental impact of your injuries.
Solicitors can assist you in acquiring these for your claim. Get in touch with our team to see if you could be connected with a lawyer.
Why Use Our Accident At Work Solicitors?
Slip, trip, or fall accident and injury claims could benefit from the work of a No Win No Fee solicitor. They may offer you a Conditional Fee Agreement, a form of this kind of agreement.
These generally mean that you will not be obliged to pay for your solicitor’s services if your claim is unsuccessful. You also usually won’t need to pay them upfront or as the claim progresses.
If your claim is successful, they will take a success fee. A success fee is a deduction of your compensation that your solicitor will take. This will usually be agreed upon before you choose to enter this agreement. The Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013 legally caps the percentage they are allowed to take.
To learn more about No Win No Fee agreements, please get in touch with our advisors for a free consultation.
Contact Us To See If You Can Make A No Win No Fee Claim Today
If you have any queries about your legal rights after a slip and fall at work, please don’t hesitate to contact us in the following ways:
- Call us on 0800 073 8802
- Complete an enquiry online
- Use our live support for advice
Learn More About How To Claim For A Slip And Fall At Work
Thank you for reading our guide on your legal rights after a slip and fall at work. If you found our information useful and would like to see more of our guides, please visit the links below:
For further resources, please explore the external sites linked:
- First Aid – NHS
- Safe Use of Ladders and Stepladders – Health and Safety Executive
- Statutory Sick Pay – Government Guidance
Writer Emily Mick
Publisher Fern Spall
