An accident involving a slip and fall on ice at work can be traumatic, as well as causing serious personal injuries and financial issues as a result. A head injury, broken bones, severe sprains, soft tissue injuries and lacerations are just some of the possible injuries which could be sustained as a result of a fall on ice.

In the UK winter months, severe weather conditions causing snow and ice are fairly common, which means that the risk of slipping during these months particularly high. Generally, in personal injury claims for a slip on ice in a public place, it can be difficult (although still possible in certain circumstances) to establish liability on a defendant, such as a local authority if the accident occurred on a highway; and therefore, these types of claims usually result in an unsuccessful conclusion, but not always. For accidents involving a slip and fall on ice at work, however, it may be easier to reach a successful conclusion on this type of claim.

Can You Claim for a Slip and Fall on Ice at Work?

If you have been injured as a result of an accident involving a slip and fall on ice at work, the good news is that you are likely to be able to make a claim for compensation against your employer. You employer has a duty to ensure your health and safety and reduce the risk of accidents at work. If your employer fails to adhere to their duty of care, they can be held liable of any accidents which occur as a result of their negligence and you are entitled to make a claim against them.

Although you would be unlikely to succeed in making a claim against a supermarket for a slip on ice in their car park, or against a local council for an accident involving ice or snow on the highway, your employer has a higher duty of care placed upon them to prevent these types of accidents from happening and thus, your claim for a slip and fall on ice at work is more likely to be successful. This is due to being able to make a claim for your employer breaching their duty of care in some capacity which has resulted in your accident at work.

Common Types of Slip and Fall on Ice at Work Accidents

Slip and fall at work accidents are common and can be caused by a number of issues, many of which are due to an employers negligence and failures to correctly risk assess, carry out inspections in certain areas, or have certain procedures in place. The most common types of accidents that risk slipping on ice and snow at work include:

• Slips on ice or snow in a car park owned or controlled by the employer
• Slips on ice or snow in an employers work yard
• Slips on ice or snow on paths or entrances to the place of work

Your Employers’ Duties to Mitigate Slip and Fall on Ice at Work Accidents

When it comes to slips and falls on ice at work, employers are under a duty to take certain measures to minimise the risk of an accident as a result of ice or snow. The duties placed on your employer include:

• Carrying out risk assessments for tasks which take place in outside areas during winter months.
• Carrying out regular inspection on outside areas, including work yards, car parks, pats and entrances to buildings during months when snow or ice is likely.
• Putting measures in place to mitigate the risk of potential accidents in areas which could be affected by ice or snow, such as gritting outside areas which are commonly used by employees.

What Should I do Following a Slip on Ice at Work?

As with any accident at work, you should do the following after sustaining an injury at work due to ice:

• Report your accident to your manager or supervisor as soon as possible.
• Make sure that an accurate description of the accident is written in the work accident book or incident report form, including the icy conditions in which you suffered the accident. You may also wish to request a copy of the accident report as evidence.
• If possible, take photographs showing the ice or snow in the accident area.
• Ensure you take the contact details of any witnesses to the accident, if possible.
• Try to find out if there have been any similar accidents or any complaints that may be relevant to your accident.
• Seek medical attention for your injuries from your GP or hospital.
• Keep a record of any expenses incurred as a result.
• Always seek legal advice before agreeing anything with your employer or their representative regarding the accident. 

Can I be Dismissed for Making a Claim Against my Employer?

When people consider making a claim against their employer, they are usually worried that they may be dismissed or treated badly as a result. We can assure you, however, that your employer is not permitted to end your employment, abuse you, or treat you in any negative way, simply because you have made a claim against them. If they did this would be classed as an unfair dismissal in which there are grounds to make a claim against them once more.

Your employer should have appropriate Employers Liability insurance in place which is will cover them in the event any of their employees are injured due to their negligence or a breach of statutory duty. You should therefore be aware that your employer’s insurers will cover any claim, and not your employer’s directly.

How to Make a Claim Against Your Employer for a Slip and Fall on Ice at Work

If you have been injured as a result of a slip or fall on ice, you should contact a law firm, such as Beacon Law, who have specialist solicitors in place to deal with these types of claim. The process for making a claim against your employer will involve:

• A telephone call with an experienced Personal Injury Solicitor: Your Solicitor will need you to provide your employers details, the circumstances, time and date of the accident, the nature of you injuries, and details on whether the accident was reported, or if there were any witnesses present.
• Paperwork: When you have provided your agreement to proceed with the claim on a no win, no fee basis, we will provide you with some paperwork to fill in regarding your claim.
• Claim initiation: As soon as you have provided your signed paperwork, we will contact your employer to advise them of your claim.

How Much Compensation will I receive for an Slip on Ice at Work?

If you have been injured in a slip or fall due to ice at work, and you decide to make a claim, the level of personal injury compensation awarded to you for your injuries will depend on your injuries and the level of pain and suffering you have sustained.

It can be difficult to provide a valuation on a claim without knowing all the details of the injury. As many injuries are complex, especially those which are ongoing, it may be necessary to obtain an independent medical evaluation of your injuries before we can make an estimation on the value of your injuries.

The valuation of your general damages will be based on recent case law, as well as guidelines set out by the Judicial College.

You will also be able to claim compensation for additional losses, such as loss of earnings, travel expenses and medical treatment expenses.

You do not need to worry about the costs of making a claim if you have been injured, as a no win no fee basis claim means you will not pay any fees unless you are successful in your claim.

What are the time limits for making a claim?

Before starting your claim for compensation, 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.

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 21st birthday to make their cycle 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. Rather than being limited to making a claim within 3 years from the date of the incident, the claimant is entitled to begin their compensation claim at any moment in time once they regain the mental capacity to do so.

Why Choose Beacon Law?

Beacon Law are a team of highly experienced Solicitors and legal professionals. We provide a high level of service to all our clients and work hard to ensure you receive the highest level of compensation for your injuries due to a slip and fall on ice at work. We are specialist Personal Injury solicitors with expertise in all types of claims, including, road traffic accidents, slips, trips, falls, and criminal injuries. Beacon Law is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. To find out about our no win, no fee funding, have a look at the funding section on our website.