This article will explore the process of claiming compensation for tripping over cables at work, including when you might be eligible to seek compensation and steps you can take to build a strong case.
Claiming compensation after tripping over cables at work
If you have been injured due to your employer failing to uphold their duty of care, you may be able to seek compensation. We will explore the responsibilities they have as part of their duty of care in more detail throughout this guide.
Additionally, we will explore the different injuries that could be sustained following a slip, trip or fall at work and the compensation you could receive for the harm you sustained.
Read on to find out more about the steps you can take to make a personal injury claim. Alternatively, you can get in touch with one of our advisers by:
- Calling on 0800 073 8801
- Contacting an adviser via the live chat feature below
- Filling in the online contact form with your query
Select A Section
- What Is A Tripping Over Cables Or Wires Accident?
- How Employers Can Prevent You From Tripping Over Cables And Wires At Work
- Injuries Caused By Tripping Over Cables
- How To Claim For Tripping At Work
- What Could You Claim For After Tripping Over Cables At Work?
- Contact An Accident At Work Claims Solicitor
What Is A Tripping Over Cables Or Wires Accident?
You may be wondering, ‘is tripping over a cable an accident I can claim for?’. If an employer does not uphold the duty of care they owe their employees, there may be more risks present in the workplace. As such, you may injure yourself after tripping over cables. This particular kind of accident could occur in many different ways, including:
- Tripping over a USB cable plugged into someone’s computer
- Falling over the power cable of a machine being moved for maintenance
- Slipping over a pile of electrical wires being sorted for later use
However, in order to seek compensation, you must be able to demonstrate that negligence occurred. Negligence involves:
- Your employer owing you a duty of care at the time and place of the accident
- Your employer breaching the duty of care they owed you
- You sustaining either physical or psychological harm as a result of the breach.
As such, not all workplace accidents will form the basis of a valid claim. For more information, get in touch with our advisers to learn more about the requirements for a personal injury claim and whether you can claim compensation.
What Is The Most Common Cause Of Accidents In The Workplace?
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recorded a total of 51,211 non-fatal injuries to employees during 2020/21. These numbers are collected as per employer reports made under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR).
Additionally, according to HSE, there were:
- 16,698 non-fatal injuries from slips, trips and falls on the same level
- 4,143 non-fatal injuries from falls from height
How Employers Can Prevent You From Tripping Over Cables And Wires At Work
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA) is the central piece of workplace health and safety legislation that sets out an employers duty of care to take reasonable steps to minimise the risk of known hazards causing harm to their employees.
In addition, The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 stipulates that employers must perform regular risk assessments and remove or minimise any the risk of any hazards they become aware of.
Examples of the steps they could take to address any risks might include ensuring:
- Equipment is stored correctly and doesn’t block any pathways
- Any exposed wires are covered up
- Any hazards that can’t be removed are signposted or made visible, such as hazard tape to mark a high step
It is important that everyone in the workplace, including employers and employees, takes slips and trips seriously, as they could lead to injuries varying in severity. We have provided examples of the injuries that could be sustained in the section below.
Injuries Caused By Tripping Over Cables
Any number of injuries could occur after tripping over cables, ranging from strains and sprains to lacerations, concussion, or broken bones. In the other instances, a slip in the work place could lead to falling from a height, in which case the injuries could be more severe, such as damage to the neck or back.
Examples of the injuries that could occur from a slip or trip accident at work include:
- Head injury
- Fractured bone, such as a fractured ankle or wrist
- Ligament damage or a tendon injury
- Sprained foot
The compensation awarded to you will depend on the severity of the injuries you sustain. Additionally, consideration will be given to the ways in which your injuries have affected your life. Call us to find out more about seeking compensation for injuries sustained in the workplace.
How To Claim For Tripping At Work
If you’ve suffered an injury from tripping over cables at work, you can prepare a potential claim by taking the following steps:
- Seek medical care, even if your injuries seem relatively minor as you can use your medical records as evidence to support your claim
- Follow your workplace’s procedures for reporting an injury, such as filling out an incident report for the workplace accident book
- Try to get photos of the place where the accident happened and/or CCTV footage of the accident occurring
- Collect the contact details of any witnesses
- Keep a record of any expenses you accrue due to your injury, such as transport costs
If you’d like any more information about the steps you can take to claim after a trip at work, you can get in touch with our advisers. They can provide answers to any questions you may have about seeking personal injury compensation.
What Could You Claim For After Tripping Over Cables At Work?
Accident at work compensation settlements can comprise up to two heads of claim. The first is called general damages, which are always paid out in a successful claim. These are intended to compensate you for the pain and suffering you experience as a result of your injury.
Personal injury lawyers can use the Judicial College Guidelines to help them assess how much the general damages portion of your settlement is worth. These guidelines contain different compensation brackets for different injuries. We’ve included a small sample of these figures in the table below. However, as a number of factors are considered when valuing your claim, you should treat these figures as a guide only.
| Injury Type | Compensation Bracket | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Moderately Severe Brain Injury (b) | £219,070 to £282,010 | Serious disability, either physical or cognitive, with significant dependence upon others. The person may also experience other issues. |
| Moderate Brain Injury (c) (i) | £150,110 to £219,070 | Moderate to severe intellectual deficit, with less dependence upon others than in more severe cases. Other symptoms may be present. |
| Severe Back Injuries (a) (i) | £91,090 to £160,980 | Damage to the spinal cord and the nerve roots which cause a severe disability and pain alongside other issues. |
| Severe Neck Injuries (a) (ii) | £65,740 to £130,930 | Serious fractures or damage to cervical discs leading to considerable disabilities. |
| Severe Knee Injuries (a) (i) | £69,730 to £96,210 | Serious injury involving damage to joint or ligaments causing other problems such as considerable pain and function loss. |
| Other Arm Injuries (b) | £39,170 to £59,860 | Serious fractures affecting one or both forearms and causing a functional or cosmetic disability of a permanent and significant nature. |
| Wrist Injuries (a) | £47,620 to £59,860 | Injuries leading to a total loss of function. |
| Severe Ankle Injuries (b) | £31,310 to £50,060 | Injuries that require pinning, plates, or plaster. There is ongoing ankle instability and severe limited mobility. |
| Severe Shoulder Injuries (a) | £19,200 to £48,030 | A significant disability due to brachial plexus damage alongside a neck injury. |
| Less Severe Injuries to the Elbow (b) | £15,650 to £32,010 | Function is impaired but major surgery isn’t required. There is also no significant disability. |
In addition to general damages, your settlement may also comprise special damages. These intend to compensate you for the financial losses you have suffered as a result of your injury, such as loss of earnings, medical expenses and care costs. However, you must provide evidence of the losses when claiming special damages, such as receipts and payslips.
For more information on the compensation you could receive after tripping over cables at work, get in touch on the number above.
Contact An Accident At Work Claims Solicitor
If you’ve sustained harm after tripping over cables at work due to your employer’s negligence, you may wish to hire a personal injury solicitor to represent your claim. If so, our solicitors offer their services under a type of No Win No Fee Agreement. There are many types including a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).
Under the terms of this agreement, you won’t pay for their services if your claim fails. Generally, you also won’t have to pay anything for their services upfront or during the claims process. You will pay a small success fee from your compensation if your claim is successful. This fee is capped by law.
To learn more about whether or not you’re eligible to claim personal injury compensation, you can get in touch with one of our advisers by:
- Calling on 0800 073 8801
- Contacting an adviser via the live chat feature below
- Filling in the online contact form with your query
Accidents At Work – Further Resources
Below, we have provided some useful external resources regarding accidents at work.
- HSE – Employer Responsibilities – Learn more about the responsibilities your employer has with this helpful HSE guide.
- NHS – First Aid – For information on first aid, see this NHS guide.
- HSE – Reporting Accidents – Learn more about the requirement for employers to report certain accidents and injuries at work with this useful guide from the HSE.
Additionally, here are some more of our helpful guides:
- Back Injury At Work Compensation Claims Guide
- Knee Injury Claims Guide
- How To Make An Accident At Work Claim
- Sprained Ankle Accident Compensation Claims Guide
We hope this guide about tripping over cables at work has been useful. If you need further information, get in touch with us today.
Guide by MF
Edited by MMI