A slip and fall due to no wet floor signs can lead to a variety of painful injuries. While some might heal fairly quickly, others can be much more serious and even life-changing. If you were unable to see that the floor was wet because no sign for a wet floor was used you may have the grounds to seek compensation for any suffering that ensued. Therefore, we’ve written this guide to answer the question “Can you sue for no wet floor sign?”.

It can sometimes be hard to verify if you’ve got a valid claim. Therefore, we offer a free initial consultation where you can call and ask any questions you might have. We’ll provide advice about your chances of claiming and you could be referred to one of our personal injury solicitors. If they believe your claim is strong enough, they’ll offer to represent you on a No Win No Fee basis.

Please call 0800 6524 881 if you’d like to discuss your case or read on to first find out more about claiming compensation for a fall on a wet floor with no sign.

Can I Sue For An Injury Due To No Wet Floor Signs?

In general terms, you may be eligible to sue for an injury due to no wet floor signs where:

• The defendant owed you a legal duty of care; and
• The defendant breached their duty of care by failing to take reasonable steps to adequately warn you about a wet floor; and
• The absence of wet floor signs directly caused or significantly contributed to the accident and your resulting injuries.

Are Wet Floor Signs Required By Law?

In most public places, the operator will owe a duty of care towards visitors, customers and guests because of the Occupiers Liability Act 1984. The same is true while you’re at work because of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

In relation to wet floors, this means that operators should:

• Put wet floor warning signs out when cleaning floors.
• Clear up any spillages swiftly and use warning signs to warn others.
• Put warning signs out if heavy footfall leads to excessive rainwater at the entrance of a building.
• Fix any leaks swiftly and use warning signs until the work has been completed.
• Carry out regular risk assessments to try and identify any potential dangers.

Importantly, it is unlikely that a single wet floor warning sign will be sufficient. In most cases, signs should be visible from any point where somebody could potentially step onto the wet floor.

Common Injuries From Slipping On Wet Floor

Many different injuries sustained after slipping on a wet floor could lead to a compensation claim if there were insufficient warning signs used to prevent the accident. Some of the most common injuries include:

• Sprains, strains and tears. Twisting or turning while slipping can lead to sprained ankles, torn ligaments or strained muscles.
• Fractures. Falling on a hard surface can result in fractured bones, especially in the wrists, ankles, hips, or arms.
• Back injuries. Landing on the back or spine can cause sprains, strains, or even herniated discs.
• Head injuries. A slip and fall due to no wet floor signs can result in head injuries ranging from minor cuts and bruises to severe concussions or traumatic brain injuries.
• Dislocations. Sudden impact or twisting motions during a fall can cause joint dislocations, such as dislocated shoulder or elbow dislocations.
• Soft tissue injuries. Soft tissue damage to muscles, tendons, and ligaments can happen due to the sudden movement and impact of a slip and fall because no wet floor sign was present.
• Spinal cord injuries. In severe cases, wet floor slips and falls may result in spinal cord damage, potentially leading to paralysis or long-term disability.
• Cuts and bruises. Abrasions, lacerations, and bruises can happen when the body makes contact with objects or surfaces during the fall.

Even if we’ve not described your injury here, if you believe your accident would’ve been avoided had wet floor warning signs been used, give us a call and we’ll explain your options.

Can I Sue If No Wet Floor Warning Signs Were Used At Work?

As your employer owes you a duty of care to prevent slips, trips and falls in the workplace, if you slip on a spillage, leak or recently cleaned wet floor at work because no warning signs were in place, you could be eligible to claim compensation against your employer’s liability insurance policy.

Importantly, you cannot be sacked, disciplined or picked on for making your claim so you shouldn’t feel under any pressure to proceed. If the claim is taken on by one of our solicitors, they will deal with your employer’s insurer on your behalf so you shouldn’t be asked any awkward questions at work.

Other Types Of No Wet Floor Sign Injury Claims

As described above, operators of most public places will have a duty of care to warn you about a wet floor. Therefore, if wet floor signs were not used and you were injured from a slip and fall, a personal injury solicitor could help with:

• School accident claims (for teachers, staff or pupils).
• Leisure centre claims.
• Hotel accident claims.
• Supermarket accident claims.

Wherever you’ve been injured, please feel free to call to see if we could help you to start the claims process.

How Much Can I Sue For No Wet Floor Sign?

There isn’t a set amount of compensation you could sue for no wet floor signs as each claim is unique. However, you can use this compensation calculator to get an idea about what your injuries may be worth:

As alluded to, we can’t say exactly how much your claim might be worth until your case has been thoroughly assessed. This will usually include an independent medical assessment where a specialist will determine your prognosis by examining your injuries and talking with you about how you’ve suffered. Once your solicitor has this report, they’ll be able to offer a more realistic compensation estimate.

In addition to claiming for any physical or psychological injuries you’ve sustained, you could also be entitled to compensation to cover:

• Reduced income or long-term losses for permanent injuries.
• Medical costs such as prescription fees and physiotherapy.
• The cost of a carer if somebody else needed to look after you.
• Travel expenses.
• Personal property replacement costs.
• Loss of amenity if your injuries meant that you couldn’t enjoy your normal activities.
• Mobility aids and modifications to your accommodation to help you deal with any ongoing disability.

If you’d like to discuss how much you could potentially sue for no wet floor signs being used, please call our team today on 0800 6524 881.

Evidence To Support A Personal Injury Claim

As you can imagine, if you don’t have any evidence to prove you were injured directly due to no wet floor signs or other warnings being used, a personal injury claim can easily become a ‘your word against theirs’ scenario. If that’s the case, you can expect the defendant’s insurer to turn down your claim and refuse to pay compensation. However, if you take the steps listed below after your accident, you could find that you’ve got enough evidence to prove that no wet floor signs caused your slip and fall and how you’ve been affected by your injuries.

• Take photographs. Getting your phone out after your accident and taking pictures of the wet floor and surrounding area can really improve your chances of being compensated. Try to capture the fact that the floor is wet and that there were no wet floor signs.
• Secure CCTV footage. If the area where you slipped was covered by a security camera, you’ve got a legal right to request a copy of the footage. Remember, though, that data won’t usually be stored for longer than a month.
• Speak to witnesses. Ask anybody else who saw you slip and fall due to no wet floor warning signs to provide their contact details. You don’t need to ask for a written statement but your solicitor might contact them for one at a later date.
• Get treatment. You should visit your GP, a minor injuries unit or a hospital to have any injuries properly diagnosed and treated. This would also mean medical records are available to help prove your injuries.
• Report the accident. After slipping on wet floor with no sign in a public place or at work, report your accident as soon as possible. You can ask for a copy of the accident report form that will help to prove no wet floor danger signs were used.

When you call, let us know about any evidence you have already and your solicitor will help to collect any further information if your case proceeds.

No Wet Floor Sign Injury Claims Time Limits

If you make a personal injury claim outside of the permitted time limits, it can become statute-barred and mean you won’t be compensated. It’s therefore a good idea to start your claim within the 3-year limitation period for slip, trip and fall claims. Usually, the time limit will start from the date you injured yourself.

If a child has been injured due to no wet floor signs being used at school (for example), the time limit for claiming doesn’t start until they are 18 years old. Before then, you can claim on their behalf at any point.

Personal injury claims are usually easier if started early because the evidence needed to support the claim should be fairly easy to secure. If you’d like to check how long you’ve got left to start a claim, please call us today.

Starting The No Wet Floor Sign Injury Claims Process

If you’ve sustained a personal injury because there were no wet floor warning signs, call us on 0800 6524 881 to see if you could be compensated. There’s no obligation for you to make a claim but it’s worth calling for a free consultation and legal advice about your options.

If your advisor suggests that your claim is strong enough, you’ll be connected with a personal injury solicitor from our team. If they agree to proceed, you’ll benefit from a No Win No Fee agreement meaning there are no legal fees whatsoever unless you’re compensated.

If you have any other questions about whether you can sue for no wet floor sign being used, please call today.