By Cat Jones. Last Updated 9th October 2024. Welcome to our guide on how to sue for a slip or trip accident. Have you been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We’re here to help you understand personal injury claims.
We understand how devastating the consequences of a slip, trip or fall can be, especially at the hands of someone else’s negligence. However, you could get the compensation you deserve by making a personal injury claim.
We’ve tried to cover as much information as possible in our guide. But if you have any questions after reading, our advisors can offer you free legal advice and are available 24/7. You’ll also be under no obligation to proceed with our services after discussing your potential case.
For more information on how you could sue for slip and fall injury, call us on 0800 408 7827. Otherwise, please continue reading about when you might have a valid claim and where to start.
About Suing For A Slip or Trip Accident
- Am I Eligible To Sue For A Slip Or Trip Accident?
- What Evidence Do I Need To Sue For A Slip Or Trip Accident?
- Does A Doctor Need To Assess My Injury Before I Can Sue?
- Work Out How Much You Could Sue For A Slip Or Trip Accident
- How To Sue For A Slip Or Trip Accident With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
- Learn More About How To Sue For A Slip Or Trip Accident
Am I Eligible To Sue For A Slip Or Trip Accident?
Being injured in a slip or trip isn’t enough to form the basis of a valid claim. In order to make any kind of personal injury claim, you need to be able to prove that negligence occurred, which means you need to establish that:
- You were owed a duty of care.
- This duty was breached.
- You were injured because of this.
A duty of care is a legal responsibility for someone else’s health and safety, but the steps that need to be taken can depend on where you are, and what you’re doing.
For example, when you are at work, your employer owes you a duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA). They need to take reasonable measures to ensure your safety. They could breach their duty of care by failing to put out a wet floor sign after mopping, causing you to slip.
Or, when you’re in public, the person in control of that space owes you a duty of care under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1959 (OLA). They need to take necessary measures to ensure your reasonable safety while you are visiting that public space. They could breach their duty of care by failing to grit a car park when ice is forecast, causing you to be injured in a slipping accident.
To learn more about claiming for a tripping accident, get in touch with our team today. They can offer more information on the claims process, and could potentially connect you with a solicitor from our panel.
What Evidence Do I Need To Sue For A Slip Or Trip Accident?
Evidence for an accident is important in a personal injury claim. You’d need to prove the accident caused your injuries and the financial losses you suffered as a consequence of the injuries. Different types of evidence that could be useful include:
- Witness statements
- Pictures of the accident scene
- Pictures of the injury
- CCTV footage
- Police reports
- Reports in the accident workbook
- A written report of the incident after it happened
Evidence to prove your financial losses could include:
- Receipts
- Payslips
- Invoices
- Bills
No matter the severity of the injury, you need evidence because without it, it can be difficult to claim back any money lost and be compensated for the suffering inflicted.
For more information on the evidence you’d need to prove your injuries were caused by the accident, see below.
Does A Doctor Need To Assess My Injury Before I Can Sue?
If you’ve suffered a significant injury, you should seek medical advice regardless of whether you want to make a trip or fall claim. A doctor can assess the severity of the injury and treat it before it leads to any potential complications. Additionally, the medical reports can be helpful in a personal injury claim.
Although pictures of the injuries and the accident can prove both happened, medical documents help assess how the injuries happened.
We also recommend an independent medical assessment in addition to the medical documents already provided by your doctor. The reason being, it can provide an additional unbiased medical opinion of the cause of the injuries. The report the assessor produces can also act as a basis for your solicitor (if you choose to use one) to value your injuries.
See our table below to see the varying degrees of severity of an injury and how the compensation aligns.
Work Out How Much You Could Sue For A Slip Or Trip Accident
It’s possible to receive a slip or trip accident claim payout that includes payments for different effects of the incident. In any case, you’ll receive compensation for physical pain and psychological damage suffered because of the accident if you claim successfully.
That compensation falls under the general damages head of loss. A potential second, called special damages, covers the financial losses stemming from the slip and fall accident.
Naturally, people can suffer all sorts of different injuries, and experience anything from significant expenses to none at all. As a result, there is no use in knowing the average payout for a slip and fall in the UK.
The compensation table just below offers some guidance on what payments could be awarded for different injuries, though it does not offer guarantees. The figures come from the Judicial College Guidelines, a publication that could be useful to those valuing injuries during a slip & fall claim. Only the top line of the table includes a special damages payment, but this line isn’t from the JCG. Special damages are calculated separately and with the help of proof like payslips or bank statements.
| Injury | Severity | Guideline compensation amount |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries And Special Damages | Severe | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Head Injury | Very severe | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Head Injury | Moderate (iii) | £52,550 to £110,720 |
| Head Injury | Minor | £2,690 to £15,580 |
| Hip and Pelvis | Severe (i) | £95,680 to £159,770 |
| Severe Leg | Moderate | £33,880 to £47,840 |
| Wrist | Injury resulting in significant permanent disability | £29,900 to £47,810 |
| Arm | Simple fractures of the forearm | £8,060 to £23,430 |
| Less Serious Leg | Simple fractures to tibia or fibula or soft tissue injuries | Up to £14,450 |
You can get a more detailed estimation of your claim’s potential value by calling our advisors today. You can start a conversation at any time, or an advisor can call with an assessment if you contact us online and share some details.
Do I Need A Solicitor To Sue For An Injury?
Although it’s not a legal requirement to have a solicitor, it can be beneficial. By having a solicitor represent you, you can have support dealing with the complexities of the legal system. Additionally, if you claim against someone who has a solicitor, they might have the upper hand having an experienced advisor helping them.
There are also financial benefits to having a solicitor. For example, many offer No Win No Fee services. They can also work for you from anywhere in the country, so you’re not limited in choice.
Our panel of solicitors have years of experience and will be honest with you about the likelihood of your claim winning. We recommend choosing a solicitor you can trust.
How To Sue For A Slip Or Trip Accident With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
As mentioned above, there is an option to represent yourself. However, there are risks in doing so. Alternatively, you could choose a No Win No Fee solicitor. This means that if your solicitor doesn’t win the case, you won’t pay any solicitor fees. If they do win, you’ll pay a legally capped fee. However, you and your solicitor will set the fee together.
Most importantly, it helps you avoid upfront solicitor fees and solicitor fees that incur over the claims process. That can be especially helpful if you have been put in a tricky financial situation.
Our advisors can put you in touch with a solicitor. They can then give you free legal advice and answer any questions and can advise you on what to do if you choose to sue for a slip or trip accident.
Contact Our Team
We understand that we’ve covered a lot of information, so you may have questions. Making a claim can be overwhelming. However, the most important thing to remember is that we can help with your claim to sue for a slip or trip accident.
Contact us on the following:
- Telephone number: 0800 408 7827
- Live chat at the bottom of the page
- The enquiry form at the top of the page
Learn More About How To Sue For A Slip Or Trip Accident
- See the NHS website for medical advice for more information on injury symptoms from a slip, trip or fall.
- If you’re interested in health and safety in the workplace, visit the HSE website for more information.
- ROSPA can provide you with advice on accident prevention guidance in various places.
- Was your accident a result of medical negligence? See our guide on how to sue the NHS for more information.
- Maybe your accident happened in a workplace. Our guide on how to sue your employer can provide specific information.
- For more information on how to sue your local council, read our guide. We can get back to you at a time that best suits you.
We hope you found our guide on how to sue for a slip or trip accident useful. Thank you for reading.
Article by MIT
Edited by VIC