Did you know that a slip and fall is the single most common cause of major workplace injuries in the UK? Well, now you do. They account for over a third of all reported major injuries and cost employers £512 million yearly. While most slips and falls will result in broken bones, they can also cause fatal injuries .

A slip and fall accident happens when a wet surface makes you fall and causes your injuries. Sometimes, people use the term to include a trip and fall, where someone falls after hitting an object on the floor. Slips, trips, and falls are a part of the UK’s personal injury law. This means that you can get compensation for your injuries if someone else’s negligence caused the accident.

However, if your slip and fall injury happens at work, it can be challenging to know your options. For example, can you sue your employer for the accident, or do you have to deal with the financial implications yourself?

This article will provide detailed answers to these questions. Contact Claims Bible if you need help determining the worth of your case.

Employer’s Health and Safety Regulations

The Health and Safety at Work Act (HASAWA) governs workers’ safety in the UK. Under this law, employers have a duty of care toward their workers. A duty of care is a legal obligation to ensure someone else’s safety. To that end, employers must take every reasonable step to protect their workers from foreseeable hazards.

This includes doing a risk assessment to identify likely hazards, removing them, and providing proper training to staff. It also involves supervising their jobs, storing equipment properly, providing safety gears and devices, etc.

Can I File a Lawsuit Against My Employer in a Slip, Trip, and Fall Accident?

Yes, you can sue your employer for your work-related slip and fall accident. However, it depends on your case’s specifics, especially what caused your injuries.

In the UK, injured workers can sue employers when the accident results from the employer’s breach of duty. That is, the employer failed to protect you from harm according to HASAWA’s regulations. Such violation of the duty of care amounts to negligence and makes them liable for your injuries.

These are examples of common causes of slip, trip, and fall accidents that your employer may be responsible for:

Uneven Floors

Uneven or unlevel floors can be difficult to notice at a glance. Even when they’re noticeable, they may not look dangerous. However, they cause some of the most devastating trips and falls.

There may be tiles that fall out of position, poorly constructed walkways, cracked sidewalks, etc. Unleveled floors may also result from carpets that wouldn’t stay in place. Regardless of the causes of the uneven ground, they create hazardous conditions that can cause severe injuries.

Inappropriate Footwear

There are different kinds of footwear for various flooring types. Therefore, your employer must provide you with the appropriate ones to suit your job and kind of floor. For example, shoes with non-slip soles are among the personal protective equipment (PPE) employers must provide workers in some industries.

If your slip and fall were due to your employer’s inability to provide such safety footwear, they’d be liable for your injuries.

Poor Housekeeping

Employers must carry out routine maintenance to ensure that the work environment is perfect. But unfortunately, many UK employers are masters of poor housekeeping.

Examples of poor housekeeping include leaving obstructions on the ground, cluttered workspaces, etc. In addition, you can hold your employers liable for your injuries if they result from the company’s lack of maintenance.

Wet Floors

Wet surfaces are among the most common causes of slips and falls. They typically occur when spills and leaks are not cleaned as quickly as possible. Also, wet floors reduce feet/ground fiction and put you at high risk of a fall.
Sometimes, employers may still be liable for your injuries even if they cleaned spilt liquids in time. This will be the case if they neglect to put up warning signs before the ground dries completely.

Poor Lighting Conditions

Inadequate lighting is a hazardous condition in the workplace. That’s because it makes it difficult for you to see hazards on your way. Workers who sustain injuries from stumbling and falling as they groped in the dark can sue their employers for compensation.

Lose Cables and Other Trip Hazards

Any object scattered on the floor can cause a trip and fall accident in the workplace. Therefore, employers should ensure that they arrange equipment orderly to avoid such mishaps.

Falls From Height

Falls from heights are among the most dangerous cases of trips and falls in the UK. In many cases, the victim dies or sustains life-altering injuries. Employers who don’t keep up with industry safety regulations may be responsible for such accidents.

Note that you may also be responsible for your slip and fall if you were negligent. However, you may still be able to file a claim under split liability.

Common Injuries in a Slip, Trip, and Fall Accident in the UK

You’re likely to sustain these injuries in a slip and fall mishap:

Broken Bones/Fractures

Broken bones are typical in falls from height. This happens when your bones cannot withstand the force with which you hit the ground. Fractures cause excruciating pain and can take a long time to heal, requiring urgent medical attention.

Sprains and Strains

Sprains and strains are injuries to ligaments, muscles, and tendons. Common symptoms include pain, swelling, amd bruising. It can also cause limited motion range, muscle spasms, and limited flexibility.

Cuts and Lacerations

Cuts and lacerations are one of the most easily diagnosable slip and fall injuries. They refer to cuts or wounds due to a sharp object piercing the skin. Excessive bleeding from lacerations can result in fatalities. In addition, untreated and exposed cuts and lacerations can put you at risk of life-threatening infections.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

You’ll likely hit your head on an object or the ground as you fall. When such a bump to the head causes damage to your brain, it’s called a traumatic brain injury. TBIs are medical emergencies and can quickly become fatal.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Injuries to the spinal cord in a slip and fall can affect every area of your life. They can result in loss of movement, loss of sensation, difficult breathing, weakness, and extreme back pain.

What To Do After a Work-Related Slip and Fall Accident in the UK

Your actions after a workplace slip and fall accident can drastically affect the success of your case. Be sure to take these steps to increase your chances of maximum compensation:

Report the Accident

The first step after an on-the-job injury is to report it to your employer or supervisor in writing immediately. Make sure a record of your injury is in an accident book. If you take too long to report your injuries, your employer may argue that they happened outside the work environment. Be sure to keep a copy of your letter to your employer safely. You may need to refer to it at various points in your case.

Take Photographs and Gather Evidence

Take photographs and videos of your injuries and the condition that made you slip or trip. This will serve as viable evidence to prove the extent of your injuries. If possible, obtain CCTV footage of the accident too.

Speak With Witnesses

Did anyone witness your fall? If yes, be sure to speak with them. Ask them to describe the accident and collect their contact details. They may help collaborate your claims later on.

See a Doctor

Visit a qualified medical professional as soon as possible. This will reduce your risk of injury complications. Your medical records can also serve as evidence in your case.

Contact a Personal Injury Solicitor

Hiring a solicitor is one of the wisest decisions in a slip and fall case. They’ll give you valuable advice on how to proceed with your claim and ensure that you get justice in no time.

How Much Compensation Will I Receive?

The damages you’ll receive in your case depend on numerous factors. For example, the more severe your injuries are, the more likely you will receive substantial financial compensation.

You can also know how much you’re entitled to using the Judicial College Guidelines . Below are examples of what you can expect:

• Moderate brain damage — ££140,870 to £205,580
• Chest injuries — Up to £3,710
• Serious hand injuries — £27,220 to £58,100
• Serious Achillies tendon injuries — around £36,060
• Multiple fractures of facial bones — £13,970 to £22,470
• Toe injury — about £29,380
• Minor back injuries — Up to £2,300
• Shoulder injuries — £2,300 to £4,080
• Elbow Injury — £36,770 to £51,460
• Wrist injury — £11,820 to £22,990

Begin Your Claim

If you sustained injuries in a workplace slip and fall accident, you could sue your employer for compensation. However, a successful claim starts with ascertaining how much your case is worth.

Getting the maximum compensation for a your injury is essential, and we understand this at Claims Bible.

Read more about injury claims on our Personal Injury page or read more articles about Employment Law claims.

Ready to submit your claim? Use the enquiry form on this page.