By Danielle Jordan. Last Updated 18th March 2025. In this guide, we discuss claiming compensation for a slip, trip or fall. One of the most common types of accidents that we successfully make a compensation claim for on behalf of our clients is what is termed a “slip trip” accident. The name is pretty self-explanatory; a slip trip accident occurs when the person claiming compensation has suffered an injury by slipping or tripping whilst at work or due to some form of obstacle in a public place.
This kind of accident can have very grave health side effects, including serious long-term chronic back injury, sometimes manifesting far into the future after the initial accident took place. Therefore, if you are involved in a slip trip accident, no matter how trivial you think it was, you really should consider making a compensation claim. If you do not, and it turns out the accident results in health problems further down the line, it will be much harder to press a compensation claim at a late stage.
Contact Our Team
Our advisors can answer questions on slip, trip and fall claims. We can also potentially provide support with our No Win No Fee solicitors if we determine you have a strong case. You can contact us about how much compensation for a fall, slip, or trip you may be entitled to through the following methods:
- Call us on 0800 073 8804
- Use our online contact form
- Message us on our 24/7 live chat service
Select a Section
- How Much Compensation For A Slip Or Trip Fall Could I Claim?
- Can I Claim Compensation For A Slip Or Trip?
- How Could A Slip, Trip, Or Fall Occur?
- Common Injuries From Slips, Trips And Falls
- What Evidence Can Help In Slip And Fall Claims?
- Could A No Win No Fee Solicitor Help Me Claim Compensation For A Slip or Trip?
How Much Compensation For A Slip Or Trip Fall Could I Claim?
Compensation for a slip or trip claim can be awarded under two heads of loss following the success of your claim:
- General damages: for physical and psychological harm.
- Special damages: for resulting financial losses.
Calculating a possible trip and fall compensation figure is one of the many tasks our expert solicitors could assist you with. Those given this task can refer to your provided medical evidence, in conjunction with the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG).
The JCG publishes guideline compensation brackets for a broad range of different injuries. We have provided some relevant brackets here:
Potential Compensation Figures
Please note that the first bullet point was not taken from the JCG. These slip and trip compensation amounts are intended as guidance only.
- Multiple very serious injuries alongside substantial special damages could receive compensation of up to £500,000 or above.
- Severe knee injuries where there has been a significant disruption to the joint, requiring lengthy treatment could receive an award of between £85,100 and £117,410.
- A severe leg injury where multiple fractures take years to heal and permanently impede mobility can be valued from £66,920 to £109,290.
- Severe foot injuries, such as the fracture of both heels or a severe injury to a single foot that is a substantial restriction on mobility could receive compensation from £51,220 to £85,460.
- A wrist injury that results in a complete loss of wrist function could receive compensation valued between £58,710 to £73,050.
- Severe neck injuries, including severe soft tissue damage, fractures or dislocation that give rise to chronic conditions, could be valued from £55,500 to £68,330.
- A less severe elbow injury that impairs function but does not require major surgery could be valued from £19,100 to £39,070.
- Serious shoulder injuries where the lower brachial plexus has been damaged can be valued between £15,580 to £23,430.
Could I Claim For Special Damages?
As part of your trip or fall compensation, you could receive special damages. This head of loss aims to reimburse you for the costs incurred from your injuries.
Furthermore, special damages can be awarded for future losses, not just immediate costs. It is for these reasons that special damages payments are often considerably higher than those awarded for the injuries themselves.
Examples include:
- Loss of earnings.
- Travel costs.
- Medical expenses.
- Home modifications.
Make sure you retain copies of your payslips as well as other documents such as travel tickets, your prescription letters and any invoices for home installations as proof of these losses.
For a more personalised idea of what your potential trip and fall claim could be worth, get in touch with our advisors today using the contact information provided below.
Can I Claim Compensation For A Slip Or Trip?
There are a few different situations where you could suffer an injury in a tripping accident. These include:
- An accident at work: Your employer has a legal obligation to ensure that they’ve taken all reasonable and practicable steps to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees while they are working. This is their duty of care as set by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA). It is considered both reasonable and practicable for your employer to maintain good housekeeping, including keeping walkways free of clutter and ensuring staircases are suitable for use. Should they fail to uphold this duty, you could slip or trip and suffer an injury such as a broken ankle.
- While in a public place: If you go to a public place, the organisation or individual in control of that space (the occupier) must ensure that you are reasonably safe while using that premises for the permitted purposes. This is the duty of care that is owed to you while in a public place. This duty of care is set by the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. If there is a breach of this duty, you could become injured in a trip or fall accident. For example, if you trip and fall over a broken clothes rail in a department store, you may be able to make a claim.
When Could I Claim?
In order to make a personal injury claim for slip, trip or fall compensation, you must satisfy the eligibility criteria. This means that you must be able to prove that:
- You were owed a duty of care.
- There was a breach of this duty.
- As a result of this breach, you suffered an injury.
If you have any questions about slip and fall compensation amounts, such as ‘Do I meet the eligibility criteria to make a personal injury claim?’, please get in touch with a team member.
Are There Time Limits That Apply To Slip And Fall Claims?
As per the Limitation Act 1980, you have three years to start your slip and fall claim. However, there are certain exceptions:
- Minors: The time limit will pause until their 18th birthday.
- Reduced Mental Capacity: For individuals having limited mental capacity, the time limit is paused indefinitely. However, if they regain their mental capacity, they’ll have to start their claim within 3 years.
In such situations, a trusted person could claim on behalf of the individual in the capacity of a litigation friend. You can speak to our advisory team for more details on claiming on behalf of somebody else.
How Long Will My Slip And Fall Claim Take?
Alongside questions like “Can I claim compensation for a fall?”, you may still be wondering how long the legal process takes. In short, there is no set timeframe for the claims process, just as there is no average payout for a slip and fall in the UK.
Since every case is unique, how long you wait to receive compensation for a slip or trip claim will be influenced by various factors, such as:
- Extent and Type of Injuries: If you have suffered a severe injury, medical experts may have to wait before they can provide a complete assessment of your condition.
- Complexity: Oftentimes, complex cases will require more proof in order to support the claim. For a solicitor, that can mean having to gather (and assess) additional evidence.
- Difficult Negotiations: Your solicitor will work hard to secure the compensation that you deserve, but the process of reaching an agreement can sometimes be protracted. If an agreement cannot be reached, your claim may need to go to court.
- Refusal to Accept Liability: If a defendant refuses to accept liability, your solicitor must ensure they have sufficient evidence to prove your claim. In turn, that evidence would need to be thoroughly examined to help establish fault.
For more information about eligibility, timeframes, and the slip and fall claim process in general, please connect with one of our advisors for free legal advice.
How Could A Slip, Trip, Or Fall Occur?
A slip, trip, or fall could occur in a variety of different circumstances. We have highlighted a few possible scenarios where slip and trip claims could be made here:
- The local council were informed of a broken paving slab on a pavement they were responsible for but failed to organise a repair in a timely manner. You tripped over the raised slab and suffered a sprained ankle.
- Inadequate lighting in your office stairwell resulted in you falling down the steps, injuring your head and your neck.
- A wet floor in a supermarket was not clearly signposted, nor had staff cleaned up the hazard. You slipped on the water while reaching for a shelf, injuring your arm in the fall.
To find out if you are eligible to claim in your particular circumstances, to ask more about slip and fall compensation amounts, or for further guidance, talk to our advisors today using the contact information provided above.
Common Injuries From Slips, Trips And Falls
There are many types of injuries possible. Here’s a list of the common injuries which may lead you to an eligible compensation for a slip or trip claim:
- Cuts, lacerations and bruises
- Soft tissue injuries
- Head injuries or brain damage
- Psychological injuries
- Knee injuries
- Spinal and back injuries
- Fractures or broken bones
Irrespective of the nature of your injury, you can speak to our advisors for help in determining the eligibility of your claim.
What Evidence Can Help In Slip And Fall Claims?
When making a personal injury claim for a slip, trip or fall accident, you will need to present sufficient evidence that supports your case. This evidence will need to prove how someone else was liable for your injuries due to them breaching their duty of care and also the severity of the injuries you have suffered.
Evidence that could prove useful for slip and fall claims include:
- Copies of your medical records detailing the injuries you have suffered and what treatment you required for them.
- The contact details of anyone that witnessed your accident as the could provide a statement regarding the incident at a later date.
- Video footage of your accident taking place, such as CCTV footage.
- Photographs of the accident scene and the visible injuries you may have suffered.
A personal injury solicitor could help you with gathering this evidence if you decide to work with one.
To see whether you may be able to work with one of our solicitors, or to ask any questions regarding the average payout for a slip and fall in the UK, you can contact our advisors.
Could A No Win No Fee Solicitor Help Me Make A Slip Or Trip Claim?
Now that you’ve learned more about potential slip and fall compensation amounts, you may be ready to start your claim. However, finding the right solicitor for your claim can seem daunting. Our team of solicitors offer their services on a No Win No Fee basis; this means that they can help you claim for a fall through a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).
Under a CFA, you don’t need to pay any fees to your solicitor in order for them to start working on your claim. Likewise, you don’t need to pay any fees for them to continue their work, nor do you pay a fee for their services if your personal injury compensation claim fails.
If it succeeds, then you will pay a success fee to your solicitor. This fee is taken directly from your compensation, though the amount your solicitor can take is limited by law. This legal cap allows you to keep the majority share of what you receive.
Contact Our Team
Our team of advisors are on hand if you’d like to learn more about making a claim for a slip, trip, or fall. They can answer any questions you might have in a free consultation, and may be able to connect you with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors. To get started:
- Call us on 0800 073 8804
- Use the live chat feature
- Contact us online
Thank you for reading our guide on making a compensation for a slip or trip claim. Here are some more guides from our website:
- Our guide on motorcycle accident claims.
- Information on jet ski accident claims.
- Details on chemical burn injury claims.
You can also read these external links for further information:
- Guidance from the NHS on finding your nearest A&E.
- Information from the government on requesting CCTV footage.
- Details from the NHS on first aid.
