Key advice when claiming for a slip, trip or fall
- You can claim compensation for a slip, trip, or fall injury if someone else was responsible.
- Injury claims are possible following work, road or public space accident.
- General damages compensation can vary from £3,000 for a mild back sprain to £80,000 for a disabling, permanent ankle injury. se our compensation calculator to estimate your claim.
- All but the most complex cases, or those with disputed liability, settle out of court.
- You can make a claim within 3 years of your injury date.
- Your claim can claim on a no win, no fee basis.
If a slip, trip or fall injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward
Slips, trips, and falls can happen anywhere - at work, in public spaces, or even at home. If someone else was responsible for your injuries, you may be entitled to claim No Win, No Fee compensation.. If you’ve been injured in a slip, trip, or fall that wasn’t your fault, you can claim compensation.
You can make a compensation claim for a slip, trip or fall with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.
1/3 or work injuries are from slips and trips - you are not alone
Slips, trips and falls on the same level account for 32% of injuries in the workplace (hse.gov.uk).
Injuries resulting from uneven pavements, trailing cables, poor lighting and wet surfaces, are common occurrences in supermarkets, public transport, shops, pavements, parks and other public places.How much compensation can I claim for a slip, trip or fall injury?
The compensation you can claim for your slip, trip or fall injury will depend on:
- the nature and severity of your injury,
- the impact of your injury on your daily life and ability to work,
- any financial impacts or losses resulting from your injury.
Slip, trip or fall injury
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Updated October 2024
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Average slip or trip injury general damages compensation table
The following slip or trip injury payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 17th Edition by the Judicial College (oup.com).
These tables are used by solicitors or by the courts as a starting point when calculating your compensation.
Please note: these average figures represent general damages only, and do not include any element of special damages (e.g. lost wages).
Ankle injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | Minor fractures, sprains, and ligament injuries with full recovery | Up to £15,250 |
| Moderate | A fracture or ligament injury with mild ongoing symptoms | £15,250 to £29,500 |
| Severe | Lengthy treatment required, and your ability to walk has been permanently affected | £34,740 to £55,540 |
| Very severe | Severe ongoing symptoms that are likely to worsen in the future | £55,540 to £77,340 |
Back injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | A back sprain, disc prolapse, soft tissue injury or minor fracture that fully recovers without surgery | £2,720 to £13,870 |
| Moderate | A disc lesion, prolapse, fracture or soft tissue injury leading to chronic conditions, including pain, mobility issues, impaired sexual function, psychological effects, a risk of arthritis, spondylolisthesis, and nerve root irritation | £13,870 to £30,800 |
Elbow injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery within 18 months | Simple fractures, cuts or injuries (e.g. tennis elbow) with no permanent symptoms | Up to £3,920 |
| Recovery between 18 to 36 months | Simple fractures, cuts or injuries (e.g. tennis elbow) with no permanent symptoms | Up to £7,210 |
| Recovery after 36 months | Simple fractures, cuts or injuries (e.g. tennis elbow) with no permanent symptoms or damage | Up to £13,970 |
Leg injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Simple tibia or fibula fracture | Simple fracture with full recovery | Up to £13,140 |
| Minor (relatively) | Short-term and minor soft tissue injuries | Up to £13,140 |
| Simple femur fracture | Simple femur fracture with no damage to articular surfaces | £10,110 to £15,620 |
| Less serious | Less serious injuries, e.g. simple leg fractures | £10,110 to £15,620 |
| More serious fractures | Incomplete fracture recovery with ongoing symptoms | £19,930 to £30,800 |
| Moderate | Including multiple leg fractures and crush injuries | £30,800 to £43,490 |
Pelvis and hip injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | Injury with no residual disability and complete recovery in under 2 years | £4,380 to £13,970 |
| Moderate | Ongoing symptoms but no major disability | £13,970 to £43,460 |
| Serious | Including fracture of acetabulum and injuries with a risk of future hip replacement surgery or leg instability | £43,460 to £58,250 |
Wrist injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lesser | Relatively minor soft tissue injury or displaced fracture, with a full recovery within 12 months | £3,920 to £5,260 |
| Moderate | Uncomplicated Colles' fracture | Around £8,250 |
| Moderate | Fracture or soft tissue injury with complete recovery | £6,750 to £11,480 |
General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA). Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.
Special damages will be awarded for any lost earnings, loss of commission or bonuses, and loss of pension contributions. It may also be possible to claim for loss of future earnings, if the medical prognosis establishes that you won't be able to work for any period in the future.
These damages will also cover the cost of any medical procedures you might need to treat or recover from your injury such as pain medication and psychological support.
Read more:
A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim
How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?
Am I eligible for slip, trip or fall injury compensation?
You can make an injury claim for a slip, trip or fall, if:
- you were made ill in the last 3 years, and;
- another party was responsible, and;
- that party owed you a legal duty of care.
Use our injury claim calculator to find out if you can claim. Or you can call 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor. Find out in minutes if you have a claim.
Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?
Determining who is to blame for an accident is not always black and white.
In our recent 2024 Public Liability Injury Claimant Survey, 17.45% of respondents believed they may have been partly (or wholly) responsible for their injuries.
The legal term for cases where an injured person was (to some extent) responsible for their injuries is 'contributory negligence'. If there is fault on both sides of a claim, it is possible to pay reduced compensation on a split liability agreement.
Read more:
Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?
How long after a slip, trip or fall injury do I have to claim compensation?
In most cases, you have up to 3 years from the date of your accident or injury to start a claim.
For an injured child, the three-year limitation period begins on their 18th birthday, giving them until they are 21 to start a claim.
Falls from height
Falls from height are among the most common causes of serious accidents at work.
8% of workplace injuries involve a fall from height. In construction, as an example of a high-risk environment, 18% of injuries resulted from a fall from height.
Cellar falls
Slips, trips or falls on cellar or basement steps are common as they are often smaller and steeper than other stairs.
If you fell down cellar steps in your own home, it would be difficult to identify another party who was liable. However, if you fell down cellar steps in a rented property, you may be able to make a compensation claim against the landlord.
A landlord may have failed in their duty of care if they have not ensured that the cellar steps are safe to use. This may include:
- Broken, sloped or unsafe steps
- Narrow steps
- No handrails
- Inadequate grip protection on the step
- Steps cluttered with items left by the landlord that could form a hazard.
If the accident occurred at work, your employer could be liable for failing to ensure that the cellar stairs were safe.
If your employer or landlord knew about the danger but failed to act to prevent the accident, you may have grounds to make a compensation claim.
Serious and long-term injuries
Some accidents cause life altering conditions, including spinal injuries, concussion and brain damage.
Serious head injuries can lead to seizures and psychological injuries. Complex hip, ankle and wrist fractures can also lead to permanent loss of movement and chronic pain.
If you have suffered a debilitating injury that affects your daily life and ability to work, you can claim compensation for lost earnings (including future lost earnings), care costs and home alterations.
How long do I have to start a claim?
You have three years from the date of your slip, trip or fall to start your compensation claim.
However, most solicitors will not accept a claim if the three-year deadline is close (within a few months). Slip and trip claims can take some time to gather evidence, carry out a medical assessment and negotiate a compensation settlement with the defendant. If the defendant doesn’t accept responsibility for your accident, your claim can take even longer.
If you are thinking about starting a No Win, No Fee claim, you should speak to a solicitor as soon as you can. You can discuss your options with a claims specialist with no obligation to proceed if you are not ready.
Assessing my injuries
When you claim compensation for a slip, trip or fall, your solicitor will arrange an independent medical assessment with a suitable medical professional.
You will not be charged for the medical and the medical will be arranged at a convenient location for you.
A medical report will detail the severity of your injuries and a prognosis for your recovery. The assessment will take existing conditions into account, such as a previous back or hip injury made worse by the accident.
See examples of typical slip, trip and fall injuries:
Typical slip, trip and fall injuries handled by personal injury solicitors include:
- Sprains, strains and other soft tissue injuries, including wrist sprains and ankle sprains that require physiotherapy.
- Colles wrist fractures, broken arms and finger injuries.
- Achilles tendon injuries and ankle fractures.
- Knee injuries, including patella fractures, ligament and tendon damage.
- Skull fractures, jaw fractures and other facial injuries that may require reconstructive surgery.
- Hip fractures, which may require surgery including hip replacement surgery.
Who is legally responsible for my injury?
Slips, trips, and falls can occur when a business, council, or landlord fails to maintain safety standards for employees and the public. To make a claim, your solicitor must prove that another party owed you a "duty of care", which is a legal obligation to protect others.
The law place this duty on employers, local authorities, landlords, and property owners to prevent harm. Liability for your injury depends on where the accident occurred.
Slips, trips and falls at work
If you were injured at work, your employer will probably be liable.
Businesses have a legal obligation to ensure that workers:
- are provided with a safe place to work
- are trained to carry out their role
- have the necessary tools and equipment
- are provided with any necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Even if your injury was due to the negligence of a co-worker or fellow employee, the employer will usually be held liable under the principle of vicarious liability.
Slips, trips and falls in public places
If you were injured in public place, like a shop, the owner or operator of the public space may be liable. If, for example, you are injured in a park or on a public road, the local authority may be liable.
The owner or operator should have public liability insurance to pay cover compensation if you are injured.
Slips, trips and falls at home
If you live in a rented property, your landlord has a duty of care (under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985) to maintain your home to a safe standard.
A claim against a housing association, local council or a private or commercial landlord may be possible if you were injured in rented accommodation and that was unsafe.
If your injury resulted from a defective product, a claim against the manufacturer or supplier of the defective product may be possible.
A claim against a building contractor may be possible if sub-standard work results in injury.
Can I claim for a slip on ice or snow?
Every year, around 7,000 people are hospitalized due to slips on snow or ice, with injuries ranging from bruising to broken bones. Slips often happen on public highways, business premises, or workplaces that haven't been properly maintained.
Who is responsible?
| Accident location | Who is liable? |
|---|---|
| Public roads and pavements | Under the Highways Act 1980 , local councils must take reasonable steps to keep roads and pavements safe. |
| Shops, schools, and public places | The Occupiers' Liability Act 1957 obliges owners to maintain paths and walkways. |
| Workplaces | Employers have a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to ensure safe access, including clearing snow and ice. |
To claim compensation, it must be shown that the responsible party was negligent in managing the snow and ice. This could include ignoring weather forecasts, failing to stock salt or grit, or not placing warning signs.
Constantly clearing snow is impractical, however, so claims are often judged on whether reasonable steps were taken.
Main walkways should be prioritised for clearing or gritting, especially in larger workplaces or public areas.
Can I claim for a slip on a wet floor?
Wet floors are a leading cause of slip accidents, accounting for 90% of workplace slips, according to the HSE. Wet floors in public spaces like restaurants, supermarkets, and council premises also pose a risk.
If you slipped on a wet floor, you may be able to claim compensation. Success depends on the accident's circumstances, such as whether the business had time to place warning signs. Providing detailed evidence, like photos and witness statements, can help your case. For example, if a shop failed to address a wet floor after prolonged rainfall, they might be liable for your injury.
How likely am I to win my slip and trip claim?
The likelihood of winning your claim will depend on the circumstances of your accident.
Your solicitor will gather evidence to show:
- The severity of your injuries
- That another party owed you a duty of care
- That their negligence caused the accident
For example, if you tripped on a loose paving stone and were injured, your solicitor will investigate who was responsible for maintenance, if they were aware of the hazard, and if there is any supporting evidence, such as witnesses or CCTV.
Proving a duty of care is usually straightforward, as employers, shop owners, and property occupiers are legally required to ensure safety.
See also:
How often do injury claims go to court and what if they do?
What evidence do I need to make an injury claim?
Can I claim for an injury if I didn't get medical attention?
How the cause of your slip, trip or fall can affect the claims process
Your slip, trip or fall injury circumstances will shape the claims process. Click the icons below for more information.
Can I make a no win, no fee slip, trip or fall injury claim?
Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim slip, trip or fall injury compensation without financial risk. If your claim isn't successful, you pay nothing. If you win, you only pay a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation.
Get expert advice now
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What to do when heavy snow is forecast | Official blog of the Met Office news team (reviewed: 29/07/2024)
Author:
Chris Salmon, Director
About the author
Chris Salmon is a co-founder and Director of Quittance Injury Claims. Chris has played key roles in the shaping and scaling of a number of legal services brands and is a regular commentator in the legal press.