Slips, trips and falls are among the most common causes of injury in everyday life and they can happen anywhere – at work, in a shop, on a pavement, or in a public or private building.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), slips and trips are the single most common cause of major injuries in UK workplaces. They can also lead to other serious incidents, such as falls from height or machinery accidents.
When can you make a personal injury claim?
You may be able to make a personal injury claim if:
- The accident happened in a public or private space where someone had a duty to keep you safe
- You slipped or tripped as a result of someone else doing something wrong (negligence)
- You suffered a physical or psychological injury as a result
Examples include:
- Slipping on a wet floor in a shop with no warning signs
- Tripping over loose cables or uneven flooring in an office
- Falling on a broken pavement that the local council failed to repair
Who might be responsible?
Depending on where the accident happened, the responsible party could be:
- Your employer (if the accident happened at work)
- A business owner or occupier (e.g. a shop or restaurant)
- A local authority (if the fall occurred on a public pavement or road)
What can you claim for?
If your claim is successful, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Pain and suffering caused by the injury
- Loss of earnings if you had to take time off work
- Medical expenses (e.g. physiotherapy, prescriptions)
- Travel costs related to your treatment
- Ongoing care or rehabilitation if needed
How do you start a claim?
The first step is to speak to a specialist personal injury solicitor. They will:
- Assess whether you have a valid claim
- Gather evidence (e.g. accident reports, photos, witness statements)
- Handle communication with insurers or the responsible party
- Guide you through the legal process
Most claims are handled on a No Win, No Fee basis, meaning you will not pay legal fees unless your claim is successful.
Time limits
In most cases, you have three years from the date of the accident to start a claim. However, there are exceptions – for example, if the injured person is under 18 or lacks mental capacity.
Contact us
If you’ve been injured in a slip, trip or fall and want to know whether you can make a claim, please contact our Louise Plant on 01473 232121 or at lplant@prettys.co.uk to see if we can help.
You can also visit our dedicated Personal injury pages here for more detailed information and support resources.
