A slip, trip or fall can happen in seconds, but the effects can last much longer. You may be left dealing with pain, time off work, medical appointments, mobility problems, lost earnings or worries about your recovery.
Some falls are simply accidents. However, if you were injured because a business, employer, council, landlord or property owner failed to keep an area reasonably safe, you may be able to claim compensation.
Havard Law Solicitors helps people who have been injured after slipping, tripping or falling in public places, workplaces and other premises. We can help you understand what happened, who may be responsible and whether you may be able to bring a claim.
What is a slip, trip and fall claim?
A slip, trip and fall claim is a personal injury claim brought after someone is injured because of an unsafe surface, obstruction, hazard or defect.
These claims can arise in many different places, including shops, supermarkets, restaurants, pubs, hotels, car parks, pavements, workplaces, schools, hospitals, leisure facilities, rented buildings and communal areas.
The key question is usually whether someone responsible for the area should have taken reasonable steps to prevent the accident. That might include cleaning up a spillage, repairing broken flooring, maintaining a pavement, clearing an obstruction, providing warning signs, improving lighting, or making sure a workplace is properly managed.
When might you need help?
You may need legal advice if you have been injured and are unsure who was responsible, or if the business, employer, council, insurer or property owner is denying fault.
Slip, trip and fall claims can involve wet floors, slippery surfaces, uneven pavements, loose or broken flooring, poor lighting, unsafe stairs, missing or defective handrails, trailing cables, spillages, obstructions in walkways, ice, snow, unsafe outdoor areas, or falls at work caused by poor housekeeping or unsafe conditions.
Injuries can range from bruising and soft tissue injuries to fractures, head injuries, back injuries, shoulder injuries, hip injuries, knee injuries and long term mobility problems. Some people also experience anxiety, loss of confidence or psychological distress following a fall, particularly where the accident was traumatic or recovery has been difficult.
If your slip, trip or fall happened at work, please also see our Accident at Work Claims page for more information about workplace injury claims and employer responsibilities.
What can compensation cover?
Compensation is intended to reflect the effect the injury has had on your life.
This may include compensation for pain, suffering and loss of amenity, which means the impact on your day to day life, independence, hobbies, sleep, mobility and general wellbeing.
A claim may also include financial losses. These can include lost earnings, treatment costs, rehabilitation, travel expenses, care and support provided by family members, professional care, damaged belongings, and other expenses caused by the accident.
The value of a claim will depend on the seriousness of the injury, the recovery period, whether there are long term symptoms, how the accident has affected your work and what evidence is available.
How Havard Law Solicitors can help
Havard Law Solicitors can support you from the first enquiry through to settlement.
We can listen to what happened, identify who may be responsible, advise whether a claim may be possible, gather evidence, request accident reports or CCTV where available, obtain medical evidence, calculate your losses, contact the responsible party or insurer, and negotiate settlement on your behalf.
We will explain the process in plain English and keep you updated throughout. Our aim is to make the claim as straightforward as possible so you can focus on your recovery.
Where the claim overlaps with another area, we can also consider the wider position. This may include accidents at work, public liability claims, injuries in rented accommodation or communal areas, serious injury claims, claims involving children, loss of earnings, rehabilitation needs, or fatal accident claims where a fall has resulted in death.
Case study: fall outside a retail shop
Havard Law Solicitors acted for a client who was injured after tripping over an unmarked drain hole outside a retail shop.
The client was walking with a friend when she fell to her knees, then onto her hands, before her face struck the pavement. The accident had a significant impact on her physical and psychological wellbeing.
Her injuries included facial and dental injuries, physical symptoms and psychological trauma. The case was complicated by a number of pre existing health conditions, which meant careful expert evidence was needed to establish which symptoms had been caused or worsened by the accident.
Havard Law Solicitors worked to build the evidence needed to support the claim. This included obtaining reports from several specialists, including dental experts, a rheumatologist, a psychologist and a facial injury expert.
There were also delays in obtaining updated medical evidence, which required careful management. During the claim, the client faced a serious unrelated health issue that required brain surgery. Protective legal proceedings were issued to safeguard her position while the claim continued.
The client also underwent Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and made meaningful progress in her psychological recovery.
After detailed work on her behalf, the claim settled for £35,000. The settlement recognised the impact the accident had on her life, physically, psychologically and practically.
Evidence that can help your claim
The evidence needed will depend on where the accident happened and what caused the fall.
Helpful evidence can include photographs of the hazard, photographs of the surrounding area, CCTV footage, witness details, accident book entries, medical records, details of lost earnings, receipts for expenses, correspondence with the business or council, and notes about your symptoms and recovery.
It is also helpful to record who you reported the accident to, when it was reported and whether an incident form or accident book entry was completed.
Do not worry if you were unable to gather evidence at the time. Many people are in pain, embarrassed, shocked or focused on getting medical help after a fall. Havard Law Solicitors can explain what evidence may still be available and what steps can be taken next.
Speak to our slip, trip and fall team
If you have been injured in a slip, trip or fall, it is sensible to get advice as early as possible. Evidence such as CCTV, accident reports and witness details can become harder to obtain over time.
To speak to Havard Law Solicitors, call 0151 556 1234 or email info@havardlaw.co.uk with a short summary of what happened, where the accident took place, when it happened, and any evidence you already have.
A member of the team can review the information and explain the next steps in clear, simple terms.
