In this guide, we’ll provide you with some facts about slip, trip and fall injuries. This article will look at slip, trip and fall accidents at work, possible consequences and how you can get free legal advice. 

Slip, trip or fall accidents are among the most common types of accidents. They can occur in various places and be caused by a number of different factors.

If someone else has breached their duty of care towards you, leading to a slip trip or fall accident that has caused you injury, you could be able to claim compensation. This guide will go into more detail about what duty of care means and in what circumstances it may apply. 

For free legal advice or more information, get in touch with us today using our website. Otherwise, read on for more information about slip and fall injuries. 

5 Things You Need To Know About Slip, Trip And Fall Injuries

1. Slips, Trips And Falls Are The Most Common Workplace Accident
2. A Third Of All Slips, Trips And Falls At Work Lead To Serious Injuries
3. Even Simple Slips, Trips And Falls Can Cause Fatalities
4. Slips, Trips And Falls Are The Most Avoidable Accidents
5. Slips, Trips And Falls Can Happen Anywhere
6. Get Free Legal Advice If You’ve Been Injured After A Slip, Trip Or Fall

Slips, Trips And Falls Are The Most Common Workplace Accident

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s regulator for health and safety at work, and they collect statistics on accidents in the workplace. According to their statistics, slips, trips or falls on the same level are the most common causes of non-fatal injuries at work, making up 29% of these accidents. 

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers have a duty of care to all employees. This means they must take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure their safety while in the workplace. You could claim compensation from your employer if this duty of care has been breached, leading to injury. 

Slip, trip and fall injuries at work can be caused in a variety of ways. One common cause could be poor housekeeping. For example, if a heavy toolbox was left in an often-used walkway, it could cause someone to trip over it. This might lead to that person suffering a broken hand or wrist as they attempt to break their fall. 

Another cause could be contamination. For example, if someone spills oil on the floor whilst working in a garage and does not clean it up in a reasonable amount of time, you could then slip on that spillage. This could cause injuries like soft tissue injuries, contusions and, in serious cases, broken bones. 

A Third Of All Slips, Trips And Falls At Work Lead To Serious Injuries

The HSE states that slips and trips cause over a third of all major injuries at work, and they are the most common cause overall of injury at work overall. They can also sometimes lead to other types of accidents, such as falls from height or injuries involving moving machinery. 

Taking a fall on the same level at work could cause all manner of serious injuries. You could suffer from a sprain or strain, bruising or broken or cracked teeth if your mouth hits the ground as you fall. Falling from a height could cause anything from breaks and fractures to potential brain damage. In some cases, these kinds of accidents can even be fatal.  

Some of these injuries can be life-changing, whereas others you will usually be able to recover from. Even if your slip, trip and fall injuries aren’t permanent, you may be able to claim if they have impacted your quality of life as you recover.

Even Simple Slips, Trips And Falls Can Cause Fatalities

You may assume that fatal accidents are usually ones involving moving machinery, workplace vehicles or dangerous substances, but this isn’t the case. Slips, trips and falls can also lead to fatal injuries, even when they’re relatively simple. 

The HSE outlines a case study from July 2021, in which a roofer and a scaffolder were sentenced after a construction worker fell to his death. In the case study, the workers fell 6 metres through a gap that a scaffold gate should have covered.

Neither the scaffolder nor the man who approved it on-site were found to have the appropriate health and safety training. An HSE inspector commented that the incident was ‘totally avoidable’ with inexpensive preventative measures.

Another HSE case study comes from February 2021, in which a roofer died after falling 6 metres when an asbestos roof gave way beneath him. The HSE conducted an investigation and discovered that nobody had fitted the safety nets. This constituted a breach of duty of care. 

Slip, trip and fall injuries should always be taken seriously. There is always the possibility that even if the injuries seem minor at first, they could lead to something more serious. 

Slips, Trips And Falls Are The Most Avoidable Accidents

Slips, trips and fall injuries can often be avoided if the right steps are taken to ensure the environment is safe. The HSE has created the hazard spotting checklist for the workplace, which employers can use to assess and prevent any slip and trip hazards. 

According to the HSE, walkways, housekeeping, design, and maintenance should all be kept to a reasonable standard to prevent accidents leading to slip, trip and fall injuries. If you’re an employer, you could ask:

• Walkways – Are they suitable? Are they in the right place?  
• Housekeeping – Are there obstructions? Is it clean? Are there enough bins etc.?
• Design and Maintenance – Is the floor suitable and fitted correctly? Are walkways wide enough? Are stairs suitable? Is the lighting adequate?

This list is not exhaustive, and the things you’re expected to do to ensure safety might vary depending on the kind of workplace. There are many other factors you may need to consider when making the workplace safe. 

Slips, Trips And Falls Can Happen Anywhere

Slip, trip and fall injuries can occur anywhere. As we’ve already mentioned, they are frequent in the workplace. But they could also happen in public places or on private property. 

Those in control of public spaces (known as “occupiers”) have a duty of care towards members of the public who use the space for the intended purpose. This is outlined in the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957.

For example, suppose you visited your local gym, and there was a leak from the ceiling, which formed a puddle on the floor. You slip and fall on this puddle and injure yourself. In this case, you could claim against the occupier because they breached their duty of care towards you. 

Alternatively, you could be in a shop where the wrong cleaning solution was used to clean the floor. This could make it very slippery, causing you to slip and fracture your coccyx. In this case, you may be able to make a claim for compensation.

Get Free Legal Advice If You’ve Been Injured After A Slip, Trip Or Fall

If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by negligence,  you could make a valid claim for your slip trip and fall injuries. Our team of advisors can offer free legal advice and may even connect you with a solicitor from our panel. 

If a solicitor takes on your claim, they could offer you a No Win No Fee agreement. This means that you will not be required to pay your solicitor any upfront or ongoing solicitor fees. You also won’t be asked to pay them anything if your claim is unsuccessful. 

However, if the claim does succeed, your solicitor will deduct a success fee from your compensation amount. This fee will be discussed beforehand with your solicitor. It is also legally capped, meaning you will always get the majority of the compensation you’re awarded. 

Why not check out more of our guides?

• 5 Things You Need To Know About Workplace Accidents
• 5 Things You Need To Know About Pedestrian Compensation Claims
• 5 Things You Need To Know About Loss Of Earnings Compensation
• 5 Things You Need To Know About Data Breach Claims
• The Top 10 Personal Injury Firms In The UK

Get in touch with us via our website today for more information on how we could help you claim for slip, trip and fall injuries caused by negligence.