This accident at work claims guide will focus on your employers responsibility to carry out slips and trips risk assessments and what you could do if they fail to do so.
Employers owe their employees a duty of care to take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of harm.
However, if they fail to uphold their duty of care and you are caused harm, this is known as negligence. If you can demonstrate negligence occurred, you may be able to seek compensation for the harm you sustained. We will explore the different responsibilities your employer has in more detail throughout this guide.
Furthermore, we will explore the potential ways a slip or trip could occur in the workplace and the injuries you could sustain.
Additionally, we will cover how much compensation you could be awarded if your claim succeeds and the evidence needed to support your claim.
We will also look at the option of having a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel represent your claim and how their services can help you seek compensation.
Please continue reading for more information. Alternatively, you can get in touch with an advisor by:
- Calling the number at the top of the page
- Completing our contact form
- Chatting with an advisor via the live chat feature in the bottom right of the screen
Slips and trips risk assessments guide
What Is A Slips And Trips Risk Assessment?
You may slip or trip if you encounter any debris or clutter in your path, sunken or raised walkways, or other conditions that could lead to someone tripping or slipping, such as a slippery surface.
As you can see, a slip, trip or fall can occur in a number ways. In some cases, it may not have been the fault of your employer. For example, you might have not been paying attention. However, in some cases, your employer may have been responsible. For example, they may have failed to carry out slips and trips risk assessments or address any known hazards.
In order to claim for an injury you suffered in a workplace incident, you must be able to prove that your employer was negligent. When you claim compensation, your potential settlement will be dependent on the severity of the injuries you suffer as well as any financial losses incurred. Some injuries could be minor and others more serious.
To learn more about whether you’re eligible to start a claim, get in touch on the number above.
Slip And Trip Stats
According to employer reports made under The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR), there were 51,211 non-fatal injuries to employees in 2020/21.
Additionally, 16,698 of those injuries resulted from slips, trips and falls on the same level and 4,143 resulted from falls from height.
These statistics are from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Calculating Slip And Trip Compensation Amounts
You might be wondering about the average payouts for a trip at work. We have drafted a table using compensation amounts from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) which are based on previous court settlements. This is a document used by legal professionals when valuing the general damages head of claim.
Each compensation payout could be made up of general damages and special damages. General damages account for the pain and suffering caused as a result of your injuries. Both psychological and physical injuries are considered.
Despite these figures being based on previous court settlements, each personal injury claim is completely unique. Therefore, the compensation you may receive for a slip at work claim may be different to the amounts below. As such, please remember to only use the table as a guideline.
| Injury | Notes | Compensation Bracket |
|---|---|---|
| Back | (a) Severe (i) The person will experience severe pain and disability alongside other issues due to a damaged spinal cord and nerve roots. | £91,090 to £160,980 |
| Back | (b) Moderate (i) This bracket includes a damaged intervertebral disc alongside irritation to the nerve root with reduced mobility. | £27,760 to £38,780 |
| Shoulder | (a) Severe: This bracket include injuries associated with damage to the neck and bracial plexus causing a significant disability. | £19,200 to £48,030 |
| Neck | (a) Severe (ii) This bracket includes injuries such as a serious fracture causing disabilities of a considerable severity. | £65,740 to £130,930 |
| Neck | (b) Moderate (i) This bracket can include cases where there have been pre-existing degenerative changes but this will depend on the severity of the injury. | £24,990 to £38,490 |
| Leg | (a) Severe (ii) Very serious injuries that cause permanent mobility issues. | £54,830 to £87,890 |
| Pelvis/ Hip | (b) Moderate (i) A significant injury affecting either the pelvis or hip. However, there is no permanent disability. | £26,590 to £39,170 |
| Arm | (c) Less severe: An injury that has caused a significant disability. However, the person will have made a substantial recovery or it will be expected. | £19,200 to £39,170 |
| Foot | (f) Moderate: A displaced metatarsal fracture that causes deformity of a permanent nature and ongoing symptoms. | £13,740 to £24,990 |
| Wrist | (c) This bracket includes less severe injuries that still lead to a permanent disability. | £12,590 to £24,500 |
Additionally, special damages account for any financial losses sustained due to your injuries. For instance, you might have to pay for prescriptions. Other examples of losses that can be claimed under special damages include:
- Travel costs
- Care costs
- Home adaptations
- Loss of earnings/ future losses
In order to prove these losses, you must provide evidence of the costs, such as receipts, invoices and bank statements.
Call us to find out more about the compensation you could receive after making a successful accident at work claim.
Reasons For Slip And Trip Accidents
There are various ways in which a slip or trip accident could occur. For example:
- Your employer might fail to clean a spillage despite being made aware of the issue. As a result, you slip on a wet floor and suffer an elbow injury.
- Your employer may not do everything they reasonably can to reduce the risk of trailing leads running through a hallway adequately. For example, they may fail to put a cover over them. Consequently, you sustain a head injury after tripping over cables. This could lead to you making an office accident claim.
- Your employer did not carry out the necessary risk assessments and failed to notice a piece of loose tiling in the warehouse. Subsequently, you trip on it and injure your foot which could lead to you making a factory accident claim.
Your employer has a duty of care as outlined by The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. As part of this duty of care, your employer must take all reasonable steps to ensure the health and safety of their employees.
Additionally, The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 outline an employers responsibility to carry out risk assessments. This can include slips and trips risk assessments.
As stated, if your employer breached the duty of care they owed you and you were caused harm as a result, you may be able to make an accident at work claim.
For more information, call us on the number above.
Could I Use A Slips And Trips Risk Assessment As Evidence For A Claim?
There are a number of steps you can take to build a strong case. However, your first priority should always be seeking the necessary medical attention. Not only can this allow you to receive treatment for your injuries, but it can also generate medical records that can be used as evidence to support your claim.
Additionally, you could gather evidence that your employer failed to carry out slips and trips risk assessments. Evidence can include:
- Gather the details of any witnesses
- Request CCTV footage of the incident
- Collect photographic evidence of your injuries and the scene of the accident
You may also find it beneficial to seek legal advice. Our team of advisors are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and could connect you with an accident at work solicitor from our panel if you are eligible to make a claim.
What Are No Win No Fee Solicitors?
A No Win No Fee arrangement, such as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), allows you to access the services a solicitor can provide without paying an upfront fee. Additionally, under a CFA, no payment will be required for your solicitor’s services if the claim fails.
If your claim succeeds, your solicitor will take a success fee from your compensation. This fee is subject to a legal cap.
To find out whether a solicitor from our panel could represent your claim on this basis, use the contact details below to get in touch.
Discuss A Slips And Trips Risk Assessment With Us
You may have tripped and fell at work due to your employer failing to carry out slips and trips risk assessments to address any hazards. If so, please do not hesitate to get in touch today. Our team of advisors can offer free legal advice and help you understand whether you’re eligible to start a claim.
To get in touch:
- Call the number at the top of the page
- Complete our contact form
- Speak with an advisor via the live chat feature below.
Further Information About A Slips And Trips Risk Assessment
Here we have compiled further guides related to slips and trips at work that might be of use to you:
- HSE – Causes And Prevention
- GOV – Compensation After An Accident Or Injury
- NHS –First Aid
Thank you for reading our guide on slips and trips risk assessments. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Writer Beck Pickering
Editor Meg Martin
