Slips, trips and falls compensation claims

We're here to help you find out if you have grounds for a slip, trip or fall claim. With us, there's no pressure, no rush and no jargon. We'll guide you through what making a slip and fall compensation claim involves in a friendly, confidential and compassionate environment. Our friendly advisors are great listeners who will hear you out.

If we think you're eligible to make a slip, trip and fall claim and you decide to go ahead with it, we'll connect you with a specialist lawyer from our nationwide panel.

We don't think it's right when people are injured because of somebody else's negligence. If that's what has happened to you, contact us on for free, independent advice on whether you can claim.

Slips, trips and falls generally happen because businesses, landlords or local councils didn't implement the correct maintenance, repair and safety measures to keep you and other employees or members of the public safe.

Employers

A lot of slips, trips and falls happen at work. This can include in the factory, on construction sites and even in offices, leading employees to seek fall at work compensation. Several laws require employers to ensure the health and safety of all employees. You can find out more information on this legislation on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website.

The most recent statistics from the HSE show there were 561,000 non-fatal workplace injuries in 2022/23, with 32% of these involving slips, trips or falls.

Businesses

Businesses such as shops, supermarkets, pubs and restaurants also have a responsibility to keep you safe from slips and trips when you're on their premises. This means they must do things like signpost wet floors clearly, keep walkways or aisles clear, clean up spillages as quickly as possible, ensure adequate lighting and keep railings, steps and ramps safe.

According to HSE, slips and trip injuries are more common in the food and drink industries than in most other industries, making up 35% of all 'major' injuries in the sector, such as causing a broken arm or requiring hospitalisation.

Landlords

Slips, trips and falls don't just occur when you're out and about - they can happen when you're at home too. We know how stressful it can be to feel that the roof over your head isn't safe. If you live in rented accommodation, the responsibility for ensuring the property is properly maintained falls firmly on your landlord. 

That landlord may be the local council, the housing association, a private individual or a property company that owns the home. There's very clear guidance about their responsibilities under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. 

It's easy to feel intimidated about making a landlord complaint, but this legislation protects your rights. If you've been hurt because of their negligence, contact us on for a confidential chat with one of our friendly, personal injury advisors. 

Local councils

Your local council is responsible for keeping public spaces, pavements, steps and walkways in a safe state of repair. These could include identifying and fixing things like broken, cracked or dangerously raised surfaces, damaged or missing railings, plus inadequate lighting.

In slip, trip and fall claims, there's a detailed process to follow but your solicitor will essentially obtain an acceptance or denial of liability from the council's insurance company. They'll then seek to negotiate a fair amount of compensation for you.

Slips and trips are common and can be caused by many hazards.

Slips, trips and falls at work

Employers who don't follow general health and safety regulations like the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 put you and your co-workers directly at risk. Your employer has an important duty of care. If they've failed in that and you've been hurt in a slip, trip or fall at work, you could be eligible to claim compensation.

Slips, trips and falls at work can be caused by a variety of factors including wet floors, obstructions, uneven surfaces and poor footwear.

We understand that you may be wary about losing your job or being treated unfairly if you make a slip, trip and fall claim against your employer after an accident at work. It's a common reaction we hear a lot and our research shows that 43% of those injured were hesitant to claim due to these reasons. But it's important to know that you cannot lose your job if you make a claim.

There's no need to worry: UK employment law is very clear on this and firmly on your side. It's against the law for your employer to sack you or treat you differently because you make a claim for trip or fall compensation. That's why the law says:

• If your employer tries to fire you for making - or considering making - a slip, trip or fall at work compensation claim, you may well have a case for unfair dismissal. 
• If they make your work life so difficult as a result and you end up leaving, you may have a case for constructive dismissal.

You may also be concerned that your employer will be left out of pocket if you make a claim, perhaps damaging the business you rely on for your income with a settlement amount they can't afford. 

But, when a slip, trip and fall at work claim is made against an employer, it is their insurer who pays the compensation. By law, employers must take out employers' liability insurance to cover the cost of claims made against them, so making a work injury claim won't leave your employer with a bill they can't pay.

We're a trusted national helpline with over years_since years' experience helping people claim the compensation they deserve. Slips, trips and falls are common injuries at work, and we've helped many people who've been through the same experience as you. Talk to one of our trained experts about claiming for a workplace trip or fall compensation on .

Slips, trips and falls in shops and restaurants

Just like the council with the public spaces and facilities they manage, shops and restaurants have a duty of care to keep you safe from slips, trips and falls while you're on their premises.

They must make sure they create a safe environment for staff and customers alike. This includes highlighting hazards and making sure pathways and corridors are free of obstacles.

In some cases, even if there was a sign warning you of a hazard such as a wet floor, you may still be able to claim for trip or fall compensation if you were injured. The shop or restaurant is still responsible if the measures put in place are not enough to reduce the risk sufficiently. For example, the spillage may have been left for too long and may have spread beyond the immediate area.

If your accident was caused by any of the above, contact us on . All calls are free and we'll never pressure you into making a slip, trip or fall claim. You can simply get the advice you need to make the decision that's right for you.

Shopping accident claims 

Slips, trips and falls in rented accommodation

If you live in rented accommodation, your landlord, council or housing association is responsible for keeping your home in good order. By law, this means that any faults or problems in your home or communal areas should be fixed as soon as reasonably possible. This will help protect you from accidents such as slips, trips and falls or illness and injury caused by things like damp, mould or carbon monoxide poisoning.

If you've suffered a slip, trip or fall injury at home and you believe it was caused by your landlord's negligence, talk to one of our friendly advisors in confidence on to see if you have grounds for a slip and fall claim. We're here to help.

Slips, trips and falls in public places

Most slips and trips that occur in public are caused by:

• Wet floors or wet/icy pavements with no signage
• Uneven flooring or steps
• Cracked or uneven pavements and kerbs
• Unexpected obstacles
• Poor lighting

It's the responsibility of every local council to ensure your safety by maintaining pavements, paths and other walkways. When paving stones are cracked, uneven or damaged, slips, trips and falls can easily occur - and if those accidents happen close to a busy road, the consequences can be serious.

If you were injured in an accident like this, it may well be the council's fault and you could be entitled to claim trip or fall compensation. Get in touch with our expert team on if you need more information about public highway tripping claims.

If eligible to claim, slip, trip or fall compensation, your exact settlement figure will take into account a number of factors and considerations which will be discussed by your specialist solicitor and the party responsible for your accident. Depending on the type of injury, time taken to recover, ability to work, and whether ongoing care is required, compensation figures vary case by case. 

The guidelines for general damages are set by the Judicial College, which is part of the Ministry of Justice. Below we've included some examples from the latest guidelines covering the kinds of injuries that can occur with slips, trips and falls - and the average payout for a slip and fall in the UK.

We can help give you an idea of how much compensation you could get with our slip and fall compensation calculator. Simply answer a few short questions about your accident injury and it'll give you an estimated figure for how much you might be able to claim.

We understand that making a claim for trip or fall compensation can seem like a daunting prospect, but we're here to help make it as simple as possible for you.

To start your slip, trip or fall claim, the first step is to contact our helpline for a free, no-obligation consultation. One of our expert advisors will assess your situation to determine if you may be eligible to claim. If your claim is valid, you'll be referred to one of our partner specialist solicitor firms that specialise in slips, trips and falls claims, who will discuss your case in more detail. They'll explain the process, answer any questions, and outline the next steps involved in pursuing your compensation claim. There is no pressure to pursue your claim at this stage, take your time and have all your questions answered. If you're happy to proceed, your legal team will take care of the next steps. 

They'll help you set up any necessary insurance without any upfront costs. This will protect you from costs during the claim process should your claim not succeed. From gathering evidence and preparing paperwork to negotiating with the responsible party, your legal team will manage everything on your behalf, leaving you to focus on your recovery with less stress and less financial risk. 

Just contact us free on for a confidential chat or request a call back using the form at the bottom of this page.

The decision to go ahead with a slip compensation claim is entirely yours - there's no rush and no pressure.

You typically have three years from the date when your slip, trip or fall injury happened to begin court proceedings or settle your claim. There's a fixed legal process to follow, so if you're close to the three-year deadline, please call us as soon as possible on .

There are some exceptions to the time limits:

• If the claimant has also suffered serious brain trauma that has impaired their psychological capacity, there's no time limit. An official litigation friend will be able to claim on their behalf subject to assessment on a case-by-case basis. But, if the person does regain mental capacity, even for a short amount of time, the three-year limit will begin.
• A parent, guardian or another legally responsible adult can begin court proceedings or settle a claim for a child at any time up until their 18th birthday.
• If no claim has been made, the child has until they turn 21 to begin court proceedings or settle a slip, trip or fall compensation claim

If you don't issue your slip and fall claim within those time limits, you won't usually be able to proceed. This is called being ‘time-barred' - your legal team will be able to advise you further.

We know that slips, trips and falls can be very painful and sometimes embarrassing. Understandably, your first thought is just to pick yourself up and get on with your day as best you can.

However, if your accident was someone else's fault, recording the evidence of what happened will help your legal team if you're eligible to claim slip, trip or fall compensation. The following will be extremely useful:

• The date, timeand location of the accident
• The weather i.e. whether it was wet or icy
• Photos of the siteand your injuries
• Witness statements if any passers-by stopped after seeing your slip, trip or fall
• A diary detailing your recovery

Providing as much proof and useful detail as possible will help your legal team build the strongest possible case for your slip compensation claim.

If you need to make a claim for someone unable to do so themselves, we're here to support you throughout the process. There are several circumstances where you can act on behalf of a loved one to seek compensation for their injury or loss. 

Claiming for a child

Children under the age of 18 cannot legally make a claim on their own, so a parent or guardian can act on their behalf as a ‘litigation friend.' A litigation friend manages the claim process and makes legal decisions that are in the child's best interests.

You can start the claim any time before the child turns 18, and once they reach 18, they will have until their 21st birthday to pursue the claim themselves if it hasn't already been resolved. Until they are 18, we'll work closely with you to ensure your child's needs are fully represented, and that the process is clear and manageable. 

Claiming for someone who lacks mental capacity

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 is the legislation that protects vulnerable people and establishes when a person lacks the capacity to make their own decisions.

a loved one is unable to make decisions about their claim due to a mental health condition or a brain injury, you can act as their litigation friend to manage the process on their behalf. This role involves ensuring their rights are protected and making sure the compensation reflects their immediate and future needs.

There is no specific time limit for claiming on behalf of someone who lacks mental capacity unless they regain capacity. If this happens, no matter how briefly, the three-year limitation period for making a claim begins from the date they're able to manage their own affairs again.

Your legal team will provide full guidance throughout the process to ensure your loved one's care and future financial stability are considered.  

Fatality

Tragically, sometimes slips, trips and falls can be fatal. If your loved one has died in an accident, we know there's nothing that can take away your loss. If the accident wasn't their fault, making a compensation claim could help relieve some of the financial pressure you may be facing. Making a trip and fall claim may also help shine a light on what happened so it doesn't happen to someone else.

A personal injury claim can be made on behalf of someone who has passed away by the estate's representative, either the Executor (if there's a will) or Administrator (if not). The claim must be filed within three years of the death or when it was discovered to be linked to an accident or illness.

What is a Litigation Friend? 

As a litigation friend, your role is to guide and support your loved one through the claim process stages and act on their behalf. In some cases, the person you're assisting will need to be present for key steps in the claim process, such as medical assessments. They must participate in the claim wherever possible, and your responsibility is to ensure their input is included, their voice is heard, and instructions are made accordingly. 

While it can seem daunting to claim on behalf of someone else, your legal team will be with you every step of the way, helping you understand your role and making sure the claim progresses smoothly. We'll provide clear guidance on how to manage the process and ensure that both you and the person you're assisting feel supported throughout.

When you make a claim with us, you'll benefit from:

• Access to a nationwide panel of solicitors with deep experience in slip, trip and fall claims
• Solicitors and partner firms that are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and registered by The Law Society and the Law Society of Scotland
• Quality customer service that has seen us earn an 'Excellent' rating on Trustpilot

Use our claim calculator to get an idea of how much slip and fall compensation you could be entitled to. When you're ready, give us a call on or request a call back.

We've been lending a helping hand to people hurt in slip, trip and fall accidents that weren't their fault for years_since years.  

Our friendly, expert and personal injury advisors will listen carefully to what's happened to you, at your pace, in a compassionate, supportive and confidential environment. If you've suffered a slip, trip or fall that may have been someone else's fault, call us free on [Medtel] or request a call back using the simple form below.

You're in safe hands.