How Many People Suffer Slips and Falls at Work?
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), slips, trips, and falls are the most common cause of major injuries in British workplaces. Statistics consistently show that slips, trips or falls account for 30% of all non-fatal injuries reported by employers.
Common Workplace Falls Include:
Hazards, such as a slip and fall on ice at work in untreated car parks or loading bays.
Tripping over loose flooring, torn carpets, or uneven surfaces.
Objects left in walkways or liquid spills that have not been managed.
Workplace Accidents:
I Fell at Work: What Are My Rights?
Your primary right is to work in an environment where risks are managed and reduced as far as is reasonably practicable. Under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, you have the right to:
A Safe Working Environment: This includes floor surfaces that are well-maintained and free from obstructions.
Medical Support and Reporting: You have the right to seek medical attention and have the incident recorded accurately in the company accident book without fear of reprisal.
Legal Redress: You have the legal right to seek fair compensation if the incident was caused by a breach of health and safety duties.
Protection from Discrimination: It is illegal for an employer to dismiss you or treat you differently simply because you are exploring a fall at work claim.
Understanding the Slip at Work Claims Process
If you are involved in an incident, taking specific steps can help ensure the facts are recorded accurately. We recommend carrying out the following steps:
Prioritise Your Health
Seek medical attention immediately. This ensures you receive the necessary care and creates a contemporaneous medical record that is vital for any slip at work compensation assessment.
Formally Report the Incident
Ensure the incident is logged in the company accident book. Check that the entry accurately describes the cause of the fall and the conditions at the time. You are entitled to a copy of this record for your own files.
Identify Witnesses
If any colleagues or visitors saw you fall, ask for their names and contact details. Their independent accounts can be essential if the circumstances of the slips and trips at work are later disputed.
Capture Photographic Proof
Take clear photographs of the hazard (such as the lack of gritting on ice or a hidden spill) and the wider area. Visual evidence strongly supports a fall at work claim.
Keep a Paper Trail
Retain receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses, such as prescriptions, travel to medical appointments, or private physiotherapy costs related to the incident.
Consult a Specialist
Speak with a slip and fall at work lawyer as soon as possible. In England and Wales, most claims must be initiated within three years of the accident, and early legal advice ensures that vital evidence, such as CCTV footage, is not lost.
Navigating Liability and Settlements
The goal of slips and trips at work claims is to return the injured party to the financial position they would have been in had the accident not occurred. This includes covering lost wages, medical expenses, and rehabilitation costs through a fall at work compensation settlement.
Understanding Contributory Negligence
During a claim, a primary consideration is often contributory negligence in workplace falls. This legal concept examines whether the injured party’s own actions contributed to the incident. As each case is unique, our role is to ensure a fair assessment of the facts so that any settlements accurately reflect the responsibilities of all parties involved.
Discuss Your Case with Our Team
We provide expert legal guidance for those seeking slip and fall at work settlements. We handle our cases on a No Win, No Fee basis, meaning you can pursue justice without financial risk. Our role is to help you determine if the circumstances of your accident meet the criteria for a successful slip at work claim.
Request a call back today to discuss your case with our specialist team.
How We Can Help
Our committed team of specialists will guide you through every step of the process providing you with honest advice and realistic outcomes to expect on your case. Our team are experts in personal injury and we have been helping people for 30 years. We have a proven track record in obtaining excellent results for our clients.
We also understand the mental, financial and physical difficulty you may be suffering with and will do our utmost to support you throughout the case.
