When you’re at work, your employer is legally obliged to keep you as safe as possible. While no workplace will ever be completely free from slips and falls, steps should be taken to reduce as many 
workplace accidents as possible. If your employer fails to do so, and you’re injured as a result, you could seek damages for any injuries.
In this guide to slip at work compensation claims, we’ll look at when you could claim compensation for a slip at work caused by your employer’s negligence, what common scenarios can lead to a claim, and we’ll also explain how much compensation could be paid for some relevant injuries.
We are ready to help if you do decide to take action for a slip and fall at work. If you call our claims advisors to discuss your options, your case will be reviewed for free. Where the grounds for your claim are strong enough, we could refer you to a personal injury solicitor from our team. Any case they agree to work on will be processed on a No Win No Fee basis.
To learn more about slip at work claims, please continue reading the rest of this guide. Alternatively, if you’re looking to begin a claim right away, call us on 0800 6524 881 for a free consultation.
Table of contents
- Am I Eligible To Claim Compensation For A Slip At Work?
- Evidence To Support A Slip At Work Claim
- Slip At Work Claims Examples
- Injuries Resulting From A Slips & Falls At Work
- How Much Compensation For A Slip At Work Could I Claim?
- Time Limits For Claiming Slip At Work Compensation
- Why Use A Personal Injury Solicitor To Make A Slip At Work Compensation Claim?
Am I Eligible To Claim Compensation For A Slip At Work?
One of the key criteria in personal injury claims is proving that a duty of care was owed to you by the defendant. For a slip at work injury, this is quite straightforward. That’s because the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 states that employers must secure:
- the health, safety and welfare of persons at work.
After duty of care has been established, before taking on your claim, your solicitor will check whether:
- Your employer’s negligence ultimately caused an accident to occur; and
- You injured yourself after slipping because of that negligence.
These criteria must be proven by providing evidence to show why you slipped and how serious your injuries were. We’ll therefore review how to do this in the next section.
Evidence To Support A Slip At Work Claim
To help show how your employer was responsible for you slipping at work and your injuries, you could provide evidence such as:
- CCTV footage. Any camera footage can be a good way to confirm that a) you slipped at work and b) the cause. Therefore, request a copy of CCTV footage as soon as possible.
- Medical evidence. As you’ve slipped at work, you should preferably seek professional medical assistance. After treatment at A&E, a GP surgery or a minor injuries unit, you could ask for a copy of your medical records and x-rays to help show the extent of your injuries.
- Photographic evidence. It’s a good idea to take pictures after an accident at work. Wherever possible, this should be done before anything is removed from the accident scene.
- Accident reports. By law, employers must record and report accidents in the workplace. Your copy of the accident report can help to prove when and where you slipped at work.
- Witness details. If any of your work colleagues, clients, or customers saw your accident occur, you should ask for their contact details. If liability for the accident isn’t clear, their statement could help to prove what happened.
- Financial records. If you incur costs because of your injuries, we’d suggest that you retain receipts and invoices as you may be able to add your expenses to your compensation claim.
If you have gathered evidence to support your claim already, please get in touch and let our claims advisors review it with you.
Can I Sue My Employer Without Being Sacked?
It’s important to note that it is illegal to be sacked if you claim compensation for a slip at work (or any other type of accident). So long as your claim is honest, you can’t be fired, demoted, or treated differently.
If you were to be singled out or suffered discrimination at work for taking action, you could be entitled to claim compensation for unfair or constructive dismissal in addition to your accident at work claim.
Slip At Work Claims Examples
To help you understand when you might be able to claim compensation following a slip at work, we’ve provided some examples below:
- If you have not been provided with anti-slip footwear when working in areas with highly polished floors.
- Where you slipped on water at work because of a known leak that has not been fixed.
- If handrails or other safety devices are not installed when working in wet conditions.
- Where you slipped and fell in a restaurant as a staff member due to poor health and safety practices.
Essentially, however you’ve slipped at work, if your employer did something (or failed to do something) that caused the incident, you could be eligible to seek compensation.
Injuries Resulting From A Slips & Falls At Work
The range of injuries that might be sustained after slipping and falling at work can vary widely. While some might heal without treatment within a matter of days, others can be much more serious and sometimes life-changing. Some examples of injuries that could be sustained after slipping at work include:
- Dislocations.
- Ankle and knee strains and sprains.
- Ligament or tendon damage.
- Hip injuries.
- Broken and fractured bones.
- Soft tissue damage.
- Head injuries including concussions or more serious brain damage.
Later on, we’ll look at the amount of compensation that could be claimed for some of these injuries. Don’t worry if your injury isn’t listed above, you could still be entitled to claim. Please call today and we’ll let you know your options after your free claim review.
How Much Compensation For A Slip At Work Could I Claim?
The exact amount of compensation for a slip at work injury you might receive will vary depending on a number of factors including the severity of your injury, medical expenses, and loss of income. The final settlement you could receive will usually be formed of two elements:
- General damages. This part of your claim will focus on the amount of pain, suffering and loss of amenity your injuries have caused. Please refer to this page if you’d like more information on what loss of amenity means.
- Special damages. Here you could ask for any lost earnings, medical costs, travel expenses or care costs caused by your injuries to be paid back.
During many personal injury claims, you’ll have to have a medical assessment. You shouldn’t worry about this too much. An independent medical specialist will meet with you to review your injuries. As well as examining your injuries, they’ll discuss how you’ve been affected and review your medical records.
Following the meeting, which can usually be booked locally, a report outlining your injuries and your prognosis will be sent to your solicitor.
Compensation Amounts For Slip At Work Injuries
As stated earlier, we’ve provided a selection of compensation ranges for several injuries that could be sustained during a slip at work.
| Injury | Severity | Compensation | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ankle Injury | Extremely Severe | £50,060 - £69,700 | The most serious ankle injuries can result in deformity, joint deterioration, and even amputation. |
| Ankle Injury | Moderate to Severe | £13,740 - £50,060 | When evaluating the degree of compensation for ankle injuries in this group, fractures, intensive treatment, and disability are just a few of the elements that will be taken into account. |
| Ankle Injury | Mild | Up to £13,740 | Ankle fractures and sprains are less serious ankle injuries. Amount of recuperation time, discomfort, scars, and other factors would be reviewed. |
| Arm Injury | Severe | £39,170 - £130,930 | For substantial pain and suffering caused by a major limitation and impairment in one or both arms. |
| Arm Injury | Less Severe | £19,200 - £39,170 | The range given is for people who have limited movement and/or impairment in their arms but have made significant progress. Simple forearm fractures should be near the bottom of the bracket. |
| Back Injury | Severe | £38,780 - £160,980 | Serious injury to the upper or lower back, which may result in paralysis or other problems with the lower body's organs. |
| Back Injury | Moderate | £12,510 - £38,780 | This range of compensation amounts could apply to a variety of back injuries, including lumbar vertebrae compression, ligament or soft tissue injury, ongoing pain, and/or discomfort. |
| Back Injury | Mild | Up to £12,510 | Strains and sprains, soft tissue injuries, a slipped disc, and muscle soreness are all examples of less serious back problems. Recovery time and treatment would also be taken into account. |
| Elbow Injury | Less Severe | £15,650 - £32,010 | There is now a restriction of movement in the arm as a result of the elbow injury, but it does not cause substantial handicap and no major surgery is required. |
| Elbow Injury | Mild | Up to £12,590 | A mild to moderate elbow injury that is currently causing pain but will allow full range of motion in the future. |
| Finger Injury | Severe Fractures | Up to - £36,740 | This compensation range is for severe fractures that result in loss or impairment of grip, deformities, partial amputation, or impaired mechanical function. |
| Finger Injury | Broken/Fractured Index Finger | £9,110 - £12,240 | Osteoarthritis is more likely if your grip is compromised and you have pain from heavy use. |
| Finger Injury | Minor | Up to £4,750 | Hairline fractures and slight scars are examples of minor finger injuries. |
| Head Injury | Less Severe | £15,320 - £43,060 | There may still be some difficulties, such as a shortened memory or a relatively small risk of epilepsy, but overall, the patient has made a decent recovery. Any impairment, as well as the severity of the original injury, are taken into account. |
| Head Injury | Mild | £2,210 - £12,770 | Head injuries that haven't resulted in brain damage or only minor brain damage may nonetheless have long-term consequences. |
| Hip/Pelvis Injury | Significant | £26,590 - £39,170 | There has been a significant hip injury, although the accompanying impairment is mild. |
| Hip/Pelvis Injury | Less Significant | £12,590 - £26,590 | Continued symptoms that are regarded to be more serious than minimal following hip surgery or replacement |
| Hip/Pelvis Injury | Moderate | £3,950 - £12,590 | Injuries that resulted in a temporary but non-permanent disability. |
| Hip/Pelvis Injury | Minor | Up to £3,950 | Damage to soft tissues that will recover completely. |
| Wrist Injury | Moderate | Up to £10,350 | Wrist fractures and soft tissue injuries that are fully recovered or expected to be fully recovered but may take more than a year. |
| Wrist Injury | Minor | Up to £7,430 | Minor wrist fractures and uncomplicated Colles' fracture. |
The figures supplied are based on data from the Judicial College. Their guidelines are used by lawyers and insurers when determining compensation settlements.
Time Limits For Claiming Slip At Work Compensation
Any type of personal injury claim for a slip at work will have an associated time limit. For accidents at work in general, you’ll usually have 3-years to take action from the date you were injured, or from the date your injury was diagnosed if it doesn’t present until immediately.
It’s quite important to begin your claim as soon as possible, though. That’s because your solicitor will need time to collect evidence to support your claim. Also, it’ll probably be easier to recall the impact of your injuries the sooner you begin. In some cases, where liability is agreed upon quickly, your solicitor could ask your employer to pay the cost of private medical treatment to help you to recover sooner.
Why Use A Personal Injury Solicitor To Make A Slip At Work Compensation Claim?
Even in cases that appear to be straightforward, you could miss out on compensation if you can’t prove how your slip at work happened. If you can’t prove the facts of the case to your employer’s insurer, they may refuse to pay out or to pay a fair settlement figure.
Our solicitors (in our opinion) could improve your chances of both winning your claim and receiving the right level of compensation substantially. If your case is accepted, your solicitor will manage the whole process for you.
Throughout the slip at work compensation claims process, you’ll be able to ask any questions that arise and you’ll be kept in the loop with regular updates about any progress. Furthermore, any settlement offers that are made will be discussed with you before they’re accepted to review whether they are fair.
Are you ready to claim compensation for a slip at work? If so, why not contact our team on 0800 6524 881 to start the ball rolling? If your case is suitable, we could appoint a No Win No Fee solicitor to it right away.
