Slip and Fall Injury at Work: Can I Make a Claim?

Slips, trips and falls are very common workplace accidents, but they are also very preventable if the correct measures are put in place. 

Your employer has a duty of care to ensure that your workplace is as safe as possible. Your employer is under an obligation to provide a safe place of work under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The Workplace (Health, Safety, and Welfare) Regulations (1992) and The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 impose a duty on your employer to ensure that the work environment is always clean and maintained to a high safety standard

In order to ensure that your workplace is as safe as possible, your employer is responsible for:

• performing risk assessments for possible hazards
• cleaning up spillages
• making sure spillages are clearly signposted
• maintaining a tidy workplace
• advising on or providing appropriate footwear

Sometimes, accidents at work happen; wet floors, loose electrical cables and even poor lighting can all cause you to trip fall at work and seriously injure yourself. Some common injuries sustained from slipping or falling at work include soft tissue damage, broken bones and head injuries. 

If you suffered an injury at work because your employer failed to adhere to the correct health and safety measures, then you may be able to make a claim for compensation. 

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Injuries at Work

Slipping and tripping accidents are some of the most common causes of injuries in the workplace that lead to accident at work claims. A lot of the time, slip and fall accidents could have been avoided if the correct safety measures were put in place. Slip and fall accidents are most commonly caused by: 

• spillages and wet floors with poor signage
• torn carpets
• uneven surfaces
• poor lighting
• loose cables or wires/cables and wires not stored away properly
• messy workplaces – items left beside desks
• not wearing the correct footwear/ not being provided with appropriate footwear

Slip and Fall Injury at Work: What should I do if I Sustain an Injury at Work?

There are a number of important steps that you must follow when you make a claim against your employer. If you have injured yourself in a slip and fall accident at work, we recommend you to do the following:

• Report your accident to a manager or supervisor as soon as possible.
• Make sure your accident is accurately recorded in your work’s accident book. Your employer is legally required to keep a log of all accidents in the workplace. If your workplace doesn’t have an accident book, send an email to your manager, as this will also serve as a written accident report. 
• If possible, take photographs and/or prepare a sketch of the accident area, including any equipment that was involved.
• Obtain contact details of any witnesses of your accident so that a witness statement can be requested if needed. 
• Try to find out and obtain information about any similar accidents or complaints that may be relevant to your case.
• Seek medical attention from your GP or at a hospital as soon as possible so that you can get appropriate treatment for your injuries. 
• Take photographs of your injuries as evidence.
• Keep a record of any additional expenses incurred by you as a result of the accident.
• Always seek legal advice on making an accident at work claim before agreeing on anything (such as a settlement or compensation) with your employer or their representative regarding the accident.
• Contact Beacon Law if you would like to find out more about making a claim for an accident at work on a no-win, no-fee basis.

How Can I Make a Claim for a Slip and Fall Injury at Work?

If you have sustained a slip and fall injury at work, you should contact a law firm, such as Beacon Law. Beacon Law have a team of specialist work accident solicitors, who are highly experienced in dealing with these types of claims.  

You should be aware that there is a strict time limit of 3 years from the date of the accident for making a personal injury claim. This can be extended in special circumstances; however, we would advise that you start your work accident claim as early as possible to avoid your claim becoming statute-barred.  

The process for making a claim against your employer will involve:

• A telephone call with an experienced Personal Injury Solicitor: You will be required to provide your solicitor with your employer’s details, the circumstances of the accident, the time and date of the accident, the nature of your injuries, details about how the accident was reported and recorded, and contact details of any witnesses. 
• Paperwork: When you have provided your agreement to proceed with the claim on a no-win, no-fee basis, your solicitor will provide you with some paperwork to fill in regarding your claim.
• Claim initiation: As soon as you have provided your signed paperwork, your solicitor will contact your employer to advise them of your claim.

Will I be Dismissed if I Make a Claim Against my Employer?

It is natural to be worried about the negative consequences of making a claim against your employer. You may be worried about being treated badly by your boss or even being dismissed if you make a claim against your employer.  

We can assure you that your employer is not permitted to terminate your employment or to treat you in a negative way just because you make a claim against them.  

Your employer should have appropriate Employers Liability insurance in place to cover them in the event that any of their employees become injured due to their negligence or a breach of statutory duty. Therefore, the costs of the claim against your employer will be covered by your employer’s insurance company, not by your employer directly.

How Can Beacon Law Help?

Beacon Law is a Manchester-based law firm that specialises in personal injury claims. Our team of highly experienced personal injury solicitors and legal professionals have processed large numbers of successful claims, including numerous accident at work claims. 

Beacon Law can assist you in making a compensation claim for your slip and fall injury at work on a no-win, no-fee basis, which means that you won’t have to pay any of our fees if your case is unsuccessful. We are experts in no win, no fee claims, and we are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

If you have suffered a slip and fall injury because your employer failed to adhere to the correct health and safety measures, then contact Beacon Law today by calling 0330 1332 857 or complete the contact form at the top of the page to request a call back. We will put you in touch with an experienced personal injury solicitor. Our team of accident at work solicitors will be more than happy to guide you through the process of making your accident at work claim.

If you decide to make a claim with Beacon Law, our highly professional personal injury solicitors and accident at work solicitors will work hard to ensure that you receive appropriate treatment and the highest level of compensation for your slip and fall injury.