Have you slipped on a wet floor at work that was caused by a breach of duty of care? You could be entitled to make an accident at work claim.
Your employer has a responsibility to ensure your safety as much as is reasonably practicable while you’re at work. This is known as a duty of care.
This guide has been compiled to help answer questions such as “how much can I get for a slip on a wet floor payout?” and “how do I claim after a slip on a wet floor at work?”.
We will cover the duty of care your employer has towards you and how it can be breached, as well as what you need to know about the process of making a claim. We will also look at No Win No Fee solicitors and how a Conditional Fee Agreement could help you fund the work of a lawyer.
You can get in touch with our team of advisors using the details below:
- Call us on the number above
- Fill out our online contact form with your query
- Speak with an advisor using the function at the bottom of your screen
Slipped on a wet floor at work claims guide
I Slipped On A Wet Floor At Work, Can I Claim Compensation?
A slip, trip or fall may happen accidentally, but if this kind of accident happened because of negligence, then you could claim. Your employer owes you a duty of care according to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. This states that if there are reasonably practicable steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of accidental injury, then these should be taken.
Slips, trips and falls can happen in a number of different sectors and working environments. For example, a slip or trip could happen in a factory or on a construction site but could also occur in a work environment such as an office.
The kinds of injuries that you could sustain in a workplace accident can range in severity. Some injuries can be relatively minor, such as soft tissue injuries or sprains; however, you could also sustain a fatal injury. A surviving relative might be able to claim on behalf of someone who died in a fatal accident caused by negligence.
For more information on whether you could claim if you fell at work as a result of negligence, speak with an advisor today.
Slip Accident Stats
According to reports by made by employers under The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), there were 51,211 non-fatal reportable injuries at work to employees last year.
Out of those, 16,698 were related to slips, trips and falls on the same level, making up 33% of the reported non-fatal injuries. 9,958 slip and fall incidents on the same level resulted in an absence from work of more than 7 days.
How To Calculate Compensation For A Slip Accident
You could be awarded two kinds of damages in a successful claim. Firstly, you could be awarded general damages. This is compensation to cover the pain and suffering you experienced due to your injuries.
For example, you might have broken your collarbone, meaning you cannot attend the gym, something you regularly do. Not only would you be compensated for the injury itself, but the effect that this has had on your ability to live your life as you usually would. Furthermore, you could be compensated for any mental impact that the injury has had on you.
The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) is a publication used by legal professionals when valuing claims. We have used the JCG to create a table relating to general damage compensation brackets to help you gauge what you might be owed.
However, these figures should only be used as a guideline because each personal injury claim is unique, and the amount you could receive if you slipped on a wet floor at work could differ.
| Body Part | Compensation Bracket | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Back- Severe (i) | £91,090 to £160,980 | The most severe form of back injury which involves consequences that are rare for back injuries. These injuries will cause severe pain and disability. |
| Back- Moderate (ii) | £12,510 to £27,760 | Includes common injuries to the back such as disturbed ligaments and muscles as well as soft tissue injuries. |
| Leg- Severe (i) | £96,250 to £135,920 | The most severe of leg injuries that do not require amputation. |
| Pelvis/ Hip- Severe (i) | £78,400 to £130,930 | Extensive fractures of the pelvis such as a dislocated lower back joint or a ruptured bladder. |
| Pelvis/ Hip- Lesser injuries (ii) | Up to £3,950 | Minor soft tissue injuries that fully recover. |
| Wrist | £47,620 to £59,860 | An injury that causes complete loss of the wrist's function. |
| Wrist | £12,590 to £24,500 | When some permanent disability is suffered, for example, pain or stiffness, despite the injury being less severe. |
| Shoulder- Severe | £19,200 to £48,030 | Significant disabilty suffered. for example, due to damage to the brachial plexus. |
| Forearm- Less severe | £19,200 to £39,170 | While major disabilities have been suffered, a substantial level of recovery has occurred or is expected. |
| Elbow- Moderate / Minor | Up to £12,590 | Injuries that do not cause permanent damage with no permanent impact on function, such as a simple fracture or tennis elbow. |
Furthermore, special damages are awarded to compensate you for any financial losses sustained as a result of your injury. This can include:
- Travel costs
- Care costs
- Home adaptations
- Medical expenses
For instance, after you slipped on a wet floor at work, you might have to pay for physical therapy that you can’t get for free on the NHS. This may be covered in special damages. Keep hold of any receipts or invoices that could provide evidence of your losses and expenses, as if you don’t provide evidence, you might not be compensated fully.
Speak to our advisors for a more accurate estimation of what you might be owed.
Reasons For A Slip Accident
If you slipped on a wet floor at work, this could have been caused by negligence in a number of ways. We have included some examples below:
- A colleague spilled oil while carrying out repairs on a piece of machinery. This was noticed by your employer but was not cleaned up in a reasonable time frame, causing you to slip and injure yourself.
- A cleaner was mopping a wet floor but failed to put out a wet floor sign, causing you to slip because you weren’t aware that you needed to take caution.
You could also claim if a fall in work caused by another kind of hazard caused you to be injured, provided it was caused by negligence. For example, if you tripped over a cable because your employer failed to ensure that good housekeeping was maintained in the workplace, you might be eligible to claim.
For a free consultation with no obligation, get in touch today. If you have a valid case, you could be connected with a lawyer from our panel.
What Evidence Could Support A Slip Accident Claim?
You might be thinking, “what are the next steps I should take after I slipped on a wet floor at work?”. Gathering evidence is an important part of making a claim.
First, you should seek medical attention after any accident in which you’re injured. This will allow you to receive treatment for your injury and also generate medical records that can later be used to support your claim.
You should also:
- Record the incident in an accident at work book if applicable. Having one is a legal requirement for organisations with 10 or more employees.
- Gather contact details of any bystanders for witness statements.
- Take photographic evidence of your injury or the scene of the incident.
- Acquire CCTV footage (if any).
A personal injury lawyer might be able to help you with the process of collecting evidence. If you speak with an advisor from our team and they feel you have a valid case, they could connect you with a solicitor from our panel.
What Defines A No Win No Fee Agreement?
If a solicitor does take on your case, they might offer you a No Win No Fee agreement. A Conditional Fee Agreement is a popular form of No Win No Fee, and is a way of you funding the work that a lawyer does on your claim.
You can expect to pay no fees to your solicitor upfront or as the claim is ongoing. Furthermore, if you’re not awarded compensation then you don’t pay your lawyer for their services.
However, if you win your case and receive a payout, your lawyer will deduct a legally capped success fee. The legal limit on this fee prevents you from being overcharged.
Ask Us “I Slipped On A Wet Floor At Work, Can I Claim Compensation?”
Find out whether you could be represented by a No Win No Fee solicitor today by getting in touch with our team.
You can:
- Call us on the number above
- Fill out our online contact form with your query
- Speak with an advisor using the function at the bottom of your screen
Further Information About Claiming Compensation After I Slipped On A Wet Floor At Work
Here are some guides related to this topic that you might find useful:
- NHS – First aid
- HSE – Employer’s responsibilities
- GOV.UK – Requesting CCTV footage
We have also included some of our own guides:
Making a forklift accident claim
Who can bring a fatal accident claim forward?
What’s the average compensation for a fall at work?
If you have any further questions about claiming after you slipped on a wet floor at work, or would like to see if you can get the claims process started, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Writer Beck Pickering
Publisher Fern Summers