If you have been injured when you slipped on the stairs at work, you may be wondering whether you could make a personal injury claim. Within this guide, we will explain the eligibility criteria that must be met to be able to make an accident at work claim. We will also provide some examples of how your employer could be liable for an accident on the stairs in the workplace.
Additionally, this guide will share examples of the evidence that could be used to support a personal injury claim. We will also explain the heads of claim that could be awarded following a successful case. Finally, this guide will end by sharing some of the benefits of making a claim with our experienced No Win No Fee solicitors.
You can also contact one of our friendly advisors to discuss your specific case and receive free advice. They can be reached via the following methods 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:
- Call 0800 073 8801.
- Enter your details in our ‘Contact Us‘ form for a callback.
- Use our live chat.
A Guide To Making A Claim If You Slipped On The Stairs At Work
Jump To A Section
- How Do I Claim If I Slipped On Stairs At Work?
- What Could Cause Slips On Stairs At Work?
- What Evidence Can I Use That Shows, My Employer, At Fault For Me Slipping On Stairs At Work
- Examples Of Payouts If You Slipped On Stairs At Work
- Can No Win No Fee Solicitors Help With Workplace Accident Claims?
- Find Out More About Claiming If You Fell Down Stairs
How Do I Claim If I Slipped On Stairs At Work?
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, all employers owe their employees a duty of care to take reasonable steps to prevent injury while at work. Examples of the steps your employer could implement to maintain their duty of care include:
- Performing regular risk assessments and maintenance checks.
- Provide sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) if the need for it has been identified.
- Ensuring all members of staff have received sufficient training to complete their work-related duties.
- Keep spaces clean and clear of debris
- Ensure that the workplace is regularly maintained and any defective items are repaired or replaced.
If you have been involved in a workplace accident, for example, if you slipped on the stairs at work, to be able to make a personal injury claim, you must prove the following:
- A duty of care was owed to you by your employer.
- This duty was breached.
- Due to this breach, you suffered an injury.
Time Limits
Alongside meeting the personal injury claims eligibility criteria, you must start your claim within the time limit, as stated in the Limitation Act 1980. This time limit is set out as 3 years and begins from the date you suffered your injury. However, there are a couple of circumstances where the time limit is suspended.
Contact our advisors to learn about the expectations of the personal injury claims time limit and to see whether you could be eligible to pursue compensation.
What Could Cause Slips On Stairs At Work?
There are various ways that slips, trips and falls could occur in the workplace. However, you must remember in order to have a valid claim, the accident must have happened because your employer breached their duty of care which resulted in an injury. Not all falls down the stairs at work will mean an employee is eligible to seek compensation in a personal injury claim.
Some examples of how you could be involved in an accident on the stairs at work include:
- Defective or loose handrails that your employer was aware of but failed to fix – e.g. you go to reach for the handrail, and it comes off the wall, meaning you lose your balance and footing, causing you to fall and suffer a brain injury.
- Spillages that were not cleaned up or clearly signposted with a wet floor sign can cause you to slip and break your ankle.
- Broken or defective lighting on stairs that your employer has failed to fix could cause you to be unable to see where you are stepping, and you could fall.
These are only a few examples of how an accident could occur on the stairs. Contact our advisors to discuss your workplace accident and see whether you may have a valid personal injury claim if you slipped on the stairs at work.
What Evidence Can I Use That Shows, My Employer, At Fault For Me Slipping On Stairs At Work
Evidence is important for your personal injury claim, as it could help with proving that your employer was liable for your injuries and the extent of them. If you have slipped on the stairs at work, some examples of the evidence you could gather to help support your case include:
- CCTV footage, or any other video footage, of the accident happening.
- Photographs of your injury and any visible hazards that contributed to your accident.
- Accident report logs.
- A diary of your symptoms following the accident.
- Medical evidence of your injuries, such as a copy of your medical records.
- The contact information from any witnesses to the accident.
If you contact our advisors to discuss your case today, they may put you in contact with one of our solicitors. They could then help you through the claiming process and with gathering evidence.
Examples Of Payouts If You Slipped On Stairs At Work
If you make a successful personal injury claim after being injured when you slipped on the stairs at work, you could be awarded two heads of claim.
The first head, general damages, is awarded in all successful personal injury claims. This compensates you for the physical and psychological suffering. Various factors could affect how much you receive under this head of claim, such as:
- The severity of your injury.
- The treatment you needed.
- How long your recovery period is.
When a legal professional, such as a lawyer, is valuing your claim for general damages, they may use the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) alongside medical evidence to help them. This is because this document provides guideline compensation brackets for a variety of injuries. For the table below we have used some of the compensation guidelines found in the 16th edition of the JCG.
However, you should only refer to this table as a guide.
Compensation Guidelines.
| Injury | Severity | Notes | Compensation Guidelines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brain damage | Very severe | Some ability to follow basic commands, but the person will require full-time nursing care. | £282,010 to £403,990 |
| Brain damage | Moderate (iii) | A small risk of epilepsy with memory and concerntration affected. | £43,060 to £90,720 |
| Back | Severe (iii) | Disc fractures or lesions leading to chronic conditions that remain despite treatment, like impaired sexual function. | £38,780 to £69,730 |
| Back | Moderate (ii) | Disturbed muscles and ligaments that cause backache. Or a soft tissue injury that exacerbates or accelerates a pre-existing condition. | £12,510 to £27,760 |
| Arm | Injuries resulting in permanent and substantial disablement | Serious forearm fractures to one or both arms. | £39,170 to £59,860 |
| Arm | Less severe | Significant disabilities where substantial recovery is expected. | £19,200 to £39,170 |
| Neck | Severe (iii) | Severe soft-tissue damage, fractures or dislocations that leads to permanent chronic conditions. | £45,470 to £55,990 |
| Leg | Severe (iv) Moderate | One leg suffers with a complicated or multiple fractures. | £27,760 to £39,200 |
| Leg | Less serious (ii) | Simple femur fractures that cause no articular damage. | £9,110 to £14,080 |
| Ankle | Moderate | Difficulty walking and standing for a long time, among other issues, due to an fracture. | £13,740 to £26,590 |
Learn More About Special Damages
Special damages is the second head of claim that could be awarded in successful claims. Special damages compensate you for the financial impacts your injuries have caused you, including:
- Your loss of earnings if you needed time off work to recover.
- Travel expenses to and from medical appointments.
- Prescription costs.
However, you will need to present evidence of these financial losses. Keeping any relevant receipts, invoices, and payslips could help with supporting your case.
To receive a free valuation of your workplace injury claim, you can contact our advisory team.
Can No Win No Fee Solicitors Help With Workplace Accident Claims?
If you have slipped on the stairs at work and you have valid grounds to make a personal injury claim, one of our No Win No Fee solicitors could help you. By offering you a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). you will not have to pay them any upfront or ongoing fees for their work. You also do not have to pay for their services if your claim is unsuccessful.
If they succeed with your case, your solicitor will be owed a success fee. The success fee is a percentage of your compensation. There is a legal cap to the maximum percentage a solicitor can take as a success fee. This helps to ensure that you get the majority of the payout.
Speak To A Solicitor
Speak to one of our advisors today to see if you could be eligible to work with one of our solicitors for your personal injury claim if you slipped on the stairs at work. They can be reached by:
- Calling 0800 073 8801.
- Entering your details in our ‘Contact Us‘ form for a callback.
- Using our live chat.
Find Out More About Claiming If You Fell Down Stairs
You have reached the end of our guide. For additional guides regarding accident at work claims, you can check out the following:
- Information on whether you can claim compensation if you fell through a ceiling.
- Look at examples of payouts from falls at work compensation.
- Read more about suing your employer after an accident on the job.
Or, if you are looking for additional resources:
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – Reducing the risk of falls on stairs.
- NHS – When to call 999.
- Gov.UK – Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).
If you have any further questions about making a personal injury claim after you slipped on the stairs at work, you can contact our advisors.