How Much Compensation for a Fall UK

How Much Compensation for a Fall UK

Accidents resulting in falls can lead to significant physical, emotional, and financial consequences for the individuals involved. Whilst most of these occurrences are accidents, there are those that are caused by negligence from another party.

In the UK, compensation for falls is governed by a set of legal principles designed to ensure that individuals who have suffered injury or harm due to the negligence of others receive fair and just compensation.

If you have sustained an injury due to a fall as a result of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to make a slip and fall claim. Beacon Law has a team of experienced personal injury solicitors who can assist you in making your injury claim for compensation and help you if you have been left wondering ‘how much compensation for a fall UK’.

Common accidents that lead to fall injury claims

Fall injury claims can arise from a variety of accidents across different settings and circumstances. Some common accidents that lead to fall injury claims include:

1. Slips, Trips, and Falls: These are among the most common causes of fall-related injuries. They can occur in public places, workplaces, and private properties due to wet or uneven surfaces, loose floor coverings, inadequate lighting, or obstacles obstructing walkways.
2. Workplace Accidents: Many fall injury claims originate from accidents that occur in the workplace. These may involve falls from heights, such as falls from ladders, scaffolding, or elevated platforms, often in industries like construction, manufacturing, or maintenance work. These accidents can occur if an employer breaches their duty of care.
3. Accidents on Public Property: Falls can occur on public property such as pavements, parks, and recreational areas due to poorly maintained pavements, potholes, or inadequate signage warning of hazards.
4. Falls Due to Defective Equipment or Products: Falls can result from defects in equipment, machinery, or products, leading to liability claims against manufacturers, suppliers, or distributors.
5. Falls in Public Transportation: Passengers may suffer falls while boarding or disembarking buses, trains, or other forms of public transportation due to slippery platforms, uneven surfaces, or overcrowding.
6. Sporting and Recreational Accidents: Falls can occur during sports activities or leisure events due to inadequate safety measures, poor supervision, or defective equipment.

These are just a few examples of the diverse range of accidents that can result in fall-related injuries and subsequent compensation claims in the UK. Each case is unique, and the circumstances surrounding the accident will determine the legal basis and potential liability for compensation.

What should I do following a fall?

If you’ve been injured, it is crucial to seek medical attention promptly. Even if your injury seems minor at first, it is essential to document it properly. Your medical records will serve as important evidence for your claim.

Keep detailed records of the accident, including photographs of the scene, your injuries, and any relevant documents such as accident reports or medical records. This documentation will support your claim and provide evidence of the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Consider seeking advice from legal experts specialising in fall related accidents and personal injury claims. They can provide valuable guidance on your rights and options for seeking compensation.

How to make a slip, trip and fall claim

Making a claim for slips, trips, and falls compensation can seem overwhelming, especially if you are unfamiliar with the processes involved. To start your claim, reach out to Beacon Law using the provided contact information or fill out the form for a call back from a solicitor. They will guide you through the claiming process and answer any questions you may have.

Then, on matters where we can act on your behalf, we will contact the defendant. Our communication to the defendant will consist of a notification of the claim and a request for their stance on liability alongside any evidence we may have at the time.

Whilst we await the defendant’s response, we will collect more evidence. Further to the information which you have already provided us, we can note more details regarding the claim and begin to build a case. At this point, we can contact witnesses for statements to support your claim.

Once the defendant responds, we will assess their position on liability. In ideal situations, a defendant will accept our position on liability and propose a settlement. From this point, we can negotiate a settlement figure.

Sometimes, the defendant will deny liability, and we will be required to continue communications. If it gets to a time when we believe that the case is not proceeding efficiently as a result of the defendant’s offers or behaviour, we can issue the claim.

This means that we will start working towards a hearing in court. However, a hearing is not guaranteed, and it is likely that the claim could settle before we reach the hearing itself. In some circumstances, the case may proceed to a court hearing.

If our clients have any questions regarding the legal process, we are always more than happy to provide them with any further information which they may require.

For more details on the claims process for a claim, please see our page on this specifically.

How much compensation for a fall UK

The compensation you could claim for your fall injury will vary depending on a number of factors, including the pain and suffering caused by the accident. We will base the valuation of your general damages based on the average payout for a slip and fall in the UK, as well as guidelines set out by the Judicial College.

You will also be able to make a claim for special damages, which include additional financial losses sustained as a result of your injuries. These can include:

• Loss of earnings if you required time off due to the accident or if you have been required to change or leave your employment as a result.
• Travel costs – for travel to and from medical appointments.
• Parking costs at medical appointments.
• Care and Assistance compensation for any paid or additional unpaid care required as a result of the accident; this can include care provided by a family member.
• Medical treatment costs.
• Costs of making any required adjustments to your home as the result of your injuries.

You should ensure that you keep all receipts and invoices for your additional losses, as these will be required to prove your losses.

No Win, No Fee claims

At Beacon Law, we offer our services on a no-win, no fee basis. A No Win, No Fee agreement, also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), is a type of funding that ensures that you will not be required to pay anything if your claim is unsuccessful. In some cases, interim payments can be obtained during the case to assist with legal fees.

If your claim is successful, we will deduct a percentage of your compensation to cover our fee, and a small amount will also be deducted to cover the cost of an After the Event Insurance Policy. To find out more about our fees, have a look at the funding section on our website.

Time limits for slips, trips, and falls claims

Before starting your claim, it is important to note that there are strict time limits on personal injury claims. From the date of the accident that caused the injuries, the injured party will have 3 years in which to commence proceedings for claiming compensation for slips, trips and falls.

It must be noted, however, that there are some exceptions to this rule:

For example, if the claimant was under the age of 18 at the time of the incident, they have until their 21^st birthday to make their compensation claim. In the meantime, provided that the claimant is still under the age of 18, a litigation friend such as a parent, guardian, or close family member could claim compensation on their behalf.

Another exception to the 3 year time limit occurs when the claimant who has suffered an injury does not have the mental capacity to begin their compensation claim. In this case, a close family member or friend can claim on their behalf.

Why choose Beacon Law?

Beacon Law are a law firm of specialist personal injury solicitors. We have helped many of our clients obtain the compensation they deserve for their injuries sustained as a result of negligence.

We have years of experience in assisting those who have experienced all types of injuries. We deal with personal injury claims on a daily basis and have vast experience in injury-related cases. If you are wondering how to claim for a fall, get in touch today.

You can request an initial consultation by completing the online help form, and an experienced solicitor will contact you to discuss your case. Alternatively, you can call us on 0330 1332 857, and we will be happy to assist you with your query.

Beacon Law are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. To find out about our no win, no fee funding options, have a look at the funding section on our website.