I Slipped At Work & Hurt My Back Can I Claim Compensation?

While you are at work, your employer must take reasonable steps to try and keep you as safe as possible. If they fail to do so, you may be entitled to claim compensation if you’re injured in an accident. One of the common questions we’re asked is, “I slipped and fell at work and hurt my back – can I claim compensation?”. The simple answer is yes, you could be compensated if the accident was caused by your employer’s negligence. In this guide, we’ll look at what that means, explain how to begin a claim and show you how much compensation you could be awarded.

Our team can help you understand your options by offering a no-obligation review of your claim. They’ll explain what steps you could take next and provide free legal advice too. If you decide to proceed with your claim and one of our solicitors is happy to represent you, you’ll benefit from their No Win No Fee service. That means you don’t need to pay them upfront and you won’t have to pay for their work if you are not compensated.

If you’ve slipped at work and hurt your back and would like to start a claim, please call our team on 0800 6524 881 today. Alternatively, please read the rest of this guide if you’d like to know more.

Am I Eligible To Claim Compensation For A Hurt Back Caused By A Slip At Work?

Legislation including the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 means that your employer has a duty of care to try and protect your welfare while you’re at work. You could be compensated for a workplace back injury if:

• Your employer (the defendant) breached their duty of care because they were negligent; and
• As a result, an accident occurred; and
• You slipped at work and hurt your back because of it.

As we progress, we’ll explain what types of negligence often lead to slips and falls causing back injuries at work. We’ll also show you what evidence you could provide to try and improve your chances of winning your claim. Our solicitors don’t want to waste your time or their own so they will only accept claims where there is a realistic chance of success.

Types Of Claims Involving Back Injuries Caused By Slipping At Work

Based on the criteria set out above, you could potentially claim compensation for any type of back injury sustained at work. Some of the most common back injuries caused by slipping that our personal injury solicitors could help with include:

How severely you hurt your back at work will have a large bearing on how much compensation you’ll receive if your claim is successful. Therefore, you’ll need an independent medical assessment as part of your claim. Your solicitor will usually arrange this locally with a medical expert who’ll examine you and discuss how your back injury has affected you. Once they’ve finished, a report will be filed with your solicitor and your employer to set out your prognosis.

How Much Compensation For A Hurt Back Could I Claim?

Within this guide, we can’t say exactly how much compensation for slipping at work and hurting your back you might receive. However, if your claim is successful, you could be compensated for:

• The pain and suffering caused by your back injury.
• Loss of amenity – the effect your injury has on your hobbies, family life and social activities.
• Any mental harm caused by depression, anxiety or similar conditions.
• Loss of earnings.
• Travel expenses.
• Care costs where somebody else needed to support you with your daily activities.
• Making changes at home or to your vehicle to help you cope with any ongoing disability.
• Future loss of earnings if your earning capacity will be adversely affected by your injuries for the long term.

As you can see, there is plenty to think about before you file a slipped at work and hurt my back claim. If you work with one of our solicitors, they’ll use their skills and knowledge to try and secure the full amount of compensation possible for your suffering.

Slipped At Work & Hurt My Back Compensation Calculator

If you decide to claim with one of our solicitors, they’ll be able to estimate a compensation figure once all of your evidence has been considered. For now, though, you can use our compensation calculator to look at some potential compensation amounts for a range of workplace back injuries:

Please bear in mind that these figures are guideline amounts only. Your settlement could be higher or lower than those listed here.

Examples Of Slips At Work You Could Claim Compensation For

Let’s now take a look at how you could slip and injure your back at work. Some examples of when you could be compensated for any injuries include:

• If you slip on oil caused by a piece of machinery that was known to be leaking but not fixed.
• Where you slipped and fell at work and hurt your back on a wet or polished floor that had been recently cleaned but not been cordoned off with warning signs.
• If you work in a slippery environment but your employer failed to provide anti-slip footwear.
• Where you work in a wet environment but handrails were not installed to prevent you from slipping and hurting your back.
• If slipped and hurt your back at work on debris because of a lack of hygiene standards.
• Where you slipped whilst working because of inadequate lighting.

Even if your accident is not described above, we could still help you to claim. The easiest way to find out if you could be compensated is to call our team and explain what happened. They’ll review your case with you and let you know your options for free.

Evidence To Support A Slipped At Work & Hurt My Back Claim

If you are unfortunate enough to slip and injure your back while working, several steps could help if you decide to claim compensation. While they might seem a little time-consuming, many of the following actions could provide evidence to support your claim:

1. Report your accident. Employers must keep a record of any accidents on their premises. You are entitled to a copy of the accident report and it could be used to prove where and when you slipped at work and hurt your back.
2. Seek medical treatment. If your back injury is left untreated, things could get worse over time. A trip to your GP or a hospital should mean your condition will be diagnosed and treated properly. Your medical records could be obtained by your solicitor to help confirm the extent of your back injury.
3. Take photographs. If you can do so, take photographs of the accident scene. These could make it easier to demonstrate how your accident occurred.
4. Obtain CCTV footage. Similarly, if your accident was recorded by a security camera, ask for a copy of the relevant footage.
5. Ask witnesses for their details. If anybody else saw you hurt your back at work, ask them for their contact details. Your solicitor may ask them to provide a statement if your employer denies liability for the accident or your injuries.

To have a solicitor look over what evidence you already have then please contact us for a free review of your case. Seeking legal representation could improve your chances of being compensated. We’ll review your claim for free and could connect you with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors.

Time Limits For Claiming Compensation Against Your Employer

Legally, all personal injury claims have a 3-year time limit in the UK. This will begin from:

• The date of the accident in which slipped and injured your back at work; or
• Your date of knowledge i.e. when a doctor diagnoses your back injury. This is more likely to be relevant for Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) claims.

In our opinion, it is much better to begin your claim early rather than leave it until the last minute. This is because:

• It will be easier to secure supporting evidence.
• Your solicitor will have plenty of time to arrange for medical reports.
• You could receive private medical treatment before your claim is settled if your employer agrees to pay for it.

The time it will take to settle your claim can vary. Where liability is accepted early for a relatively minor injury, you could be compensated in less than 6-months. However, if your injuries are more complex or your employer doesn’t accept liability for the accident, the claims process could take more than a year.

Starting A Slipped At Work & Hurt My Back Claim

We hope that we have explained that you could claim compensation if you slipped at work and hurt your back because your employer was negligent. If you are ready to take action, please call our team on 0800 6524 881 today.

If your claim is suitable, it will be passed to one of our personal injury solicitors. If they agree to represent you, they’ll do so on a No Win No Fee basis.

Please get in touch via live chat or by calling if you have any additional questions about claiming compensation after slipping and hurting your back at work.