After a slip and fall at work, you might want to learn about how to make a work injury claim. In this guide, we’ll discuss the slips, trips or falls accidents at work claims process. Furthermore, we’ll look at the work injury claim time limit and the eligibility criteria to claim accident at work compensation.
If you’re wondering, “when can I claim for a fall at work?” then you might find it more useful to speak with someone directly about your circumstances. We have a team of advisors who are ready to provide free legal advice on the process of claiming. Furthermore, they can tell you whether you have a valid claim and, if you do, may be able to connect you with a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel to work on your claim.
Here’s how you can get in touch:
- Give us a call on the phone number above
- Send a message to an advisor using our online chat service
- Fill out our contact form for a callback
Slip and fall at work claims guide
Eligibility Criteria When Claiming For A Slip And Fall At Work
Under The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, your employer must take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of injury in the workplace. This is their duty of care If your employer does not adhere to their duty of care and causes a slip at work accident in which you are injured, you may be eligible to make a claim.
Some of the reasonable steps that employers are expected to take to prevent injury include:
- Maintaining a good standard of housekeeping (for example, making sure that clutter is cleared away)
- Providing the appropriate training to employees
- Supplying the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) that employers need to carry out their role safely.
To find out whether you could be entitled to make a workplace injury claim, speak with our team today.
Is There A Workplace Accident Claim Time Limit?
The work injury claim time limit is typically three years from the date of the accident or the date you became aware that your employer’s negligence caused your injuries. The limitation period, which is the time frame you have to take action, is outlined in the Limitation Act 1980.
However, there are some exceptions to the time limit to begin a claim following a slip and fall at work. For example:
- Claimants who were injured at work whilst under the age of 18 cannot start a claim themselves until their 18th birthday. They then have until their 21st birthday to take action.
- If a claimant lacks the mental capacity to claim, the time limit only starts if they become able to do so.
A litigation friend can claim on behalf of a young person or someone who lacks the mental capacity to claim. This is a trusted adult who acts in the claimant’s best interests.
If you tripped and fell at work but are unsure whether you’re within the time limit to take action, get in touch and we can advise you free of charge.
How Could A Slip And Fall At Work Happen?
In this section, we’ll discuss how a slip and fall at work accident could happen as a result of employer negligence. Your employer should carry out regular risk assessments to prevent a potential slip or trip accident from happening.
Below are some examples of employer negligence resulting in an accident at work:
- You might trip on a trailing lead hazard because your employer failed to tidy it away or secure it to the ground.
- You might slip on a wet floor if the hazard hasn’t been marked within a reasonable amount of time.
- You could fall at work if you have not been given adequate training on using equipment such as ladders, resulting in a herniated disc
Even if the scenarios we’ve mentioned above don’t match your circumstances, your claim may still be valid. Speak to us to find out more.
What Evidence Could Help You Claim Accident At Work Compensation?
After a slip and fall at work, as part of the accident at work claim process, it’s important to collect evidence that can prove that you were injured because of your employer’s negligence.
Therefore, after an accident at the workplace, you should consider obtaining:
- CCTV footage of the accident – If your workplace has CCTV footage, you can request this.
- Contact details of any witnesses – A statement from a key witness can prove who was liable for your accident and what happened.
- Accident book – All workplaces with 10 or more employees must have an accident book, which is where you record any accidents or injuries.
- Medical evidence – A medical report could confirm the extent of your injuries.
An expert solicitor from our panel could help you gather evidence and arrange for you to see an independent medical professional as part of the claims process. To see whether you have a valid claim, speak with a member of our team today.
What Compensation Could You Receive After A Slip And Fall At Work?
Accident at work compensation is divided into two heads of claim; general damages and special damages. While we cannot provide you with the average compensation for a fall at work, we will give some insight into how personal injury claims are valued.
General damages compensate you for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity caused by a fall at work in which you were injured. When calculating compensation for a workplace accident claim, solicitors use the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). We have created the table below using figures from the 16th version of these guidelines.
Injury Compensation Amount Notes
Severe (i) Back Injuries £91,090 to £160,980 There is significant pain combined with incomplete paralysis and impaired function of the bladder and/or bowel.
Severe (i) Injuries to the Pelvis and Hips £78,400 to £130,930 The pelvis is fractured and your lower back joint is dislocated, for example.
Serious Hand Injuries £29,000 to £61,910 Your hand is reduced to 50% capacity.
Severe (i) Leg Injuries £96,250 to £135,920 Your injuries fall short of amputation; despite this, their severity means that they're valued to a similar degree, for example, extensive degloving of the leg.
Severe (i) Knee Injuries £69,730 to £96,210 Your knee injury causes serious disruption of the joint and a limitation of movement.
Very Severe Ankle Injuries £50,060 to £69,700 A fracture with extensive soft-tissue damage causes deformity in your ankle.
Very Severe Foot Injuries £83,960 to £109,650 The pain you suffer is significant and there is permanent disability.
Severe Toe Injuries
£13,740 to £21,070 Your injury causes severe damage and significant ongoing symptoms.
Wrist Injuries (c) £12,590 to £24,500 A less severe injury where pain and stiffness persist.
Minor Neck Injury (i) £4,350 to £7,890 Full recovery within a year or two.
Please note that the compensation amounts featured above are only intended to be used as guidelines only. Payouts for a trip at work are also influenced by special damages, which we’ll discuss in further detail in the next section.
Could You Receive Special Damages Compensation?
Special damages aim to put you in the same financial position that you were in before you were injured in a slip and fall at work. Any monetary losses or expenses you have incurred as a direct result of your injury may be included in special damages.
Examples of costs and losses that could be covered by special damages include:
- A loss of earnings if you need to take time off work to recover from your injuries
- The cost of medication that you’ve paid out of pocket for
- Adaptations to your vehicle or home that you’ve had to make to cope with your condition
As well as evidence of liability and of your injuries, you’ll also be expected to prove your financial losses in a slip or trip claim. For example, a wage slip can show you have suffered from a loss of earnings, whilst a bank statement or receipts can prove that you have had to pay for medication or specialist equipment.
If you have slipped at work and suffered from injuries and financial harm, speak to us. We could connect you with an expert solicitor from our panel and they can assess your special damages.
Our Panel Of Accident At Work Solicitors Could Help You Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis
If you wish to work with a solicitor on a No Win No Fee basis, we could potentially help you with this. Our panel of expert solicitors can offer this service on the condition that you have an eligible accident at work claim.
Benefits of working under this agreement include generally having:
- No upfront costs
- Nothing to pay them as the claim moves forward
- No fees payable to your solicitor for the work they’ve done in the event of an unsuccessful claim
If your slip and fall at work claim is successful, a success fee is taken directly from your compensation by your solicitor. You can’t be overcharged with a success fee as it is capped under the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013.
We can verify your eligibility to make a claim and let you know if an accident at work solicitor from our panel could assist you with a No Win No Fee agreement.
To get in touch with us, you can:
- Contact us online and we’ll get back to you
- Complete the call back form at the top of this page
- Pop up to an online advisor using the live chat feature on your screen
Learn More About How To Claim For An Accident At Work
If you found this guide helpful, you may benefit from reading more of our resources:
- Crush Injury At Work – What to do if you suffered a crush injury at work.
- Forklift Accident Claim – How to claim after being injured by a forklift.
- Cutting Injury Claim – See if you could be owed compensation after suffering a cut injury at work.
Furthermore, the following resources may come in useful:
- Find Urgent Care Services – Locate your nearest NHS urgent care centre.
- Health And Safety Statistics – Key figures on health and safety in the workplace.
- Health And Safety At Work – Government guidance on workplace health and safety.
That concludes our guide on what to do after a slip and fall at work.
Writer Lewis Jenkins
Publisher Fern Summers
