Slip And Trip Claims – How Much Compensation

From train stations to supermarkets, trips and falls can happen anywhere and lead to serious injuries, stress, and financial loss. If you’re been hurt due to an accident that wasn’t your fault, you could be entitled to compensation. We’re here to explain the process of making slip and trip claims.

In this guide, we will discuss whether you could be eligible to make a claim and detail the steps to take when suing for compensation. You will also learn about some of the most common slip, trip, and fall injuries. Finally, we will show how a solicitor from our panel could help you with your accident claim.

Are you looking to find out whether you can make a slip or trip claim? Please use the following details to get started:

A man holds his knee after accidentally falling, which is a common cause of slip and trip claims.

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Can I Claim Compensation For A Fall?

To answer a question like “Can I claim compensation for a fall?” you will first need to establish your eligibility. Slip and trip claims take into consideration whether:

  • A third party owed you a duty of care
  • Breached that responsibility when an accident occurred
  • This led to you suffering an injury

Essentially, a duty of care is a legal responsibility requiring third parties to take reasonable steps to avoid harm to someone else. In that context, simply tripping or falling may not be sufficient grounds for compensation claims.

Public Liability – What You Need To Know

Public liability applies when an accident occurs in a public place through no fault of your own. Under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, property occupiers have a duty of care to take reasonable steps to keep their premises safe for visitors. 

To establish public liability, you will need to prove that you suffered an injury due to negligence from a third party. Examples of public liability in slip and trip claims include:

  • A local authority failing to maintain a pavement, causing a trip or fall
  • A supermarket neglecting to put signs around a wet floor
  • A pub or bar leaving cracked tiles in the toilets
  • A gym allowing visitors to use a poorly maintained treadmill or exercise bike

Workplace Accidents

Employers are required to take practical measures to reduce the risk of an accident or injury occurring in the workplace. Per the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, that duty of care will have been breached when an employer fails to do so.

To sue an employer after your slip and fall accident, you’ll need to show evidence of negligence. That might include an employer failing to: 

  • Offer employees the necessary PPE to perform a role safely
  • Provide workers with sufficient training
  • Adequately maintain equipment like work tools or heavy machinery 
  • Undertake risk assessments in a work environment  
  • Clean up spillages or address other hazards, like uneven surfaces and obstructions

Do you have more questions concerning your eligibility or trips and falls claims? Get in touch with one of our advisors today.

A woman trips over a cable left on the floor of an office.

How To Sue For A Slip And Trip Accident

When suing someone in the UK, you must establish that a third party was liable for your accident. Slip and trip claims will need to be backed up by evidence, which a legal representative can help to collect. 

Gathering Evidence – Medical Records, CCTV, And More

Whether you suffered a back injury or broken a rib, all claimants need proof for their slip and trip claims. Doing so will strengthen your case against a third party and can establish the severity of your injury. Evidence can include:

  • Witness statements outlining what happened, for which a solicitor will gather
  • Photographs of the accident scene and your injury
  • CCTV recordings from when the accident occurred
  • A police or accident book report, if made
  • Medical records proving your injuries and any appointments made after your accident

How Long You Have To File A Claim

Generally, slip and trip claims must be started within three years in accordance with the Limitation Act 1980. That timescale does not apply in all cases:

  • A minor can either wait until they are 18 years of age or enlist someone as a litigation friend
  • Claimants who do not have the mental capacity are not bound by time limits and can also make use of a litigation friend

No Win No Fee Agreements – How They Affect Your Claim

Some personal injury solicitors offer a financial arrangement known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). A common type of No Win No Fee Agreement, CFAs aim to mitigate some of the financial risks that might come when instructing a solicitor. 

CFAs have several conditions which could benefit claimants, such as:

  • No upfront costs for solicitor’s fees
  • No additional fees as your claim proceeds
  • No fees to pay in the event of an unsuccessful outcome

A solicitor who offers a CFA will make a legally capped deduction from your slip, trip, or fall compensation. This small “success fee” means you keep the vast majority of compensation awarded.

How Long It Can Take To Get Compensation

Since no case is alike, the personal injury claims process cannot really offer guaranteed timeframes. Slip and trip claims are no different. How long you wait for a compensation payout will depend on the complexity of your case, including:

  • The severity and extent of your injury
  • Whether the third party disputes liability
  • What type of accident led to your injury
  • If you incurred financial loss
  • How difficult it is for you or your solicitor to gather sufficient evidence

Contact our team of advisors to learn more about the process of making a slip and trip claim. 

Common Injuries Caused By Slips, Trips, And Falls

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Britain’s workplace safety regulator, 31% of non-fatal injuries reported by employers in 2023/24 under The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) were caused by slips, trips, or falls. Only certain injuries need to be reported by employers under RIDDOR. These injuries can range in severity and may affect many parts of the body, such as:

  • Concussion or other head injuries
  • Back damage, including slipped discs
  • Dislocated joints or fractures
  • Sprained feet or twisted ankles

Reach out today to discuss whether you could make a claim for your injury.

A man holds his back after being injured at work.

How Much Compensation You Can Claim For A Fall

Compensation for slip and trip claims can cover both the physical and psychological effects of an injury caused by a third party. You may also receive special damages for any financial impact.

How Compensation Is Calculated

Physical and psychological effects fall under a general damages head of loss. General damages for slip and trip claims will factor in the severity of your injury, the type of injury, and whether there were multiple injuries. 

The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) publishes figures that offer an idea of compensation amounts. These guidelines may be used in conjunction with a claimant’s evidence to calculate compensation. Bear in mind that the JCG does not include special damages in its figures. This table lists figures for some slip, trip, and fall injuries:

InjurySeverityCompensation Guideline
Multiple Serious Injuries and Special DamagesVery SevereUp to £1 million plus
Brain InjuryVery Severe£344,150 to £493,000
Brain InjuryModerately Severe£267,340 to £344,150
Back InjurySevere (i)£111,150 to £196,450
Back InjuryModerate (i)£33,880 to £47,320
Shoulder InjurySerious£15,580 to £23,430
Less Serious Leg InjuriesLess Serious (ii)£11,120 to £17,180
Knee InjuryModerate (i)£18,110 to £31,960
Ankle InjuryModest InjuriesUp to £16,770
Foot InjurySerious£30,500 to £47,840

The topmost figure is not sourced from the JCG and depends on the specifics of a case.

Special Damages

In addition, you could receive a second head of loss, known as special damages, for any financial losses arising from your injury. What special damages you may receive will depend on the severity of your injury, but can cover: 

  • Medical fees for prescriptions, physiotherapy, and tests
  • Modifications made to your home to help you while you recover
  • Transportation costs, such as travel expenses or if you are unable to drive
  • Cost of care if you receive support after your accident
  • Loss of earnings from missed workdays 
  • Loss of future earnings if you miss out on a promotion or cannot return to work
  • Additional childcare expenses caused by your injury 

Any special damages for trip and fall accidents will require supporting evidence, ranging from invoices and bank statements to receipts and payslips.

To find out more about what amount of compensation you could be entitled to, speak to our team today.

Why Trust Our Panel Of Solicitors With Your Claim?

Our panel of solicitors have years of experience in handling personal injury claims. Besides the option for a No Win No Fee Agreement, you can expect:

  • Support throughout the claim process, including regular updates 
  • Complete transparency about costs and fees
  • Clear communication and explanations for legal jargon
  • Total commitment to negotiate a settlement that reflects the damages you’re owed
  • Help with gathering evidence to support any slip and trip claims

To learn more about making slip and trip claims with our panel of solicitors, please get in touch using the details below.

A solicitor takes notes while giving advice and sitting at his desk.

More Information

We understand that an injury caused by an accident that wasn’t your fault can be hugely disruptive. Slip and trip claims offer victims a means of getting justice for a third party’s negligence and being suitably compensated. 

For further guidance on slip and trip claims, reach out to us for free advice. You can:

Check out some of our guides:

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