By Marlon Fawkes. Last Updated 10th March 2023. In this guide, we explain how to claim compensation for injuries caused by a slip, trip or fall on ice or snow if it was caused by another party’s negligence. If you slipped on ice at work, want to make a public liability claim against a local authority for a slip on ice, or you wish to make slipped on ice claims on behalf of an injured party, this guide could assist. We frequently receive questions such as “I slipped on ice and fell on my back on a public pavement, can I claim against the council”. This guide covers the situations in which you may have grounds to claim compensation for someone slipping on ice.
Wintery weather conditions in the UK can be dangerous. When snow and ice form, there is a severe risk of slips, trips and falls. Business owners / local authorities are expected to take reasonable steps with regard to avoiding slips, trips and falls on ice, including using a risk assessment for snow and ice. If you have been injured when you slipped and fell on ice, and it was not your fault, you may be entitled to compensation for a slip and trip.
This is something we can help you to secure with the help of No Win No Fee personal injury solicitors. Read on to discover more about making a claim for slipping on ice. You can also call us on 0800 073 8801 if you have any questions.
Select a section
- Where do slip and fall on ice injuries commonly happen?
- Slip and Trip Claims – How To Start Your Claim After A Fall On Ice
- Making A Claim For Slipping On Ice Against My Employer
- Can I Claim Compensation For Slipping On Ice In A Public Place?
- Slips, trips, and falls on ice and snow in shopping areas
- Eligibility to make a personal injury claim
- The most common slip and fall on ice injuries
- What can I include in my slip or fall on ice claim?
- Slip, Trip, or Fall On Ice and Snow Compensation Calculator
- No Win No Fee compensation for a slip trip or fall on snow or ice
- Talk to us today About compensation for a slip trip or fall on snow and ice
- Useful links Relating To compensation for a slip trip or fall on snow and ice
Where do slip and fall on ice injuries commonly happen?
There are many different places whereby such an injury can happen that could lead to short term or long term injuries. This includes the likes of:
compensation for a slip trip or fall on snow and ice
- A train or bus station
- A retail park
- In a shopping centre
- At your place of work
- In a public car park
- On a commercial or retail car park
- In a supermarket car park
- At a private property
- Within school grounds
- Within hospital grounds
- While walking on a public path
Where the accident has happened is important because it will determine whom you are making a claim against. If you are unsure regarding who is in control of the area where you slipped, don’t worry. We can help you to determine this. Just give us a call.
Slip & Trip Claims – How To Start Your Claim After A Fall On Ice
You may be eligible to make a claim for compensation if you can demonstrate that:
- You were in an environment where you were owed a duty of care
- A breach of this duty occurred
- You suffered an injury because of this breach
A duty of care means a responsibility that a party has towards the safety and well-being of others. Your employer owes a duty of care to you. A duty of care also applies to those managing public areas, both indoor like restaurants and bars and outdoor spaces, such as parks and roads. If you were injured in a fall on ice because of a breach of duty of care, then you could be entitled to claim compensation.
There are various actions you can take to help you start a claim. You could:
- Collect evidence of the cause of your injury (this could be in form of pictures you took, CCTV footage, or the contact details of witnesses)
- Collect and retain evidence of how your injury has affected you (this can be in terms of the pain it has caused you, or how it has financially affected you)
- Reach out to a legal professional to receive guidance on the actions you should take.
Our advisers can provide you with more guidance on slip and trip claims and how to establish that you are eligible to make a claim.
How Long Do I Have To Claim If I Was Injured After I Slipped On Ice?
If you have slipped on ice at work or in a public place, you typically have up to three years from the date that the accident occurred to start a claim.
This limitation period is set out in the Limitation Act 1980. However, there can be exceptions to this in some cases.
For example, if someone under the age of 18 is injured after they slipped on ice due to negligence, the time limit is suspended until they turn 18 and can make a claim on their own behalf. However, during this suspended period, a litigation friend could potentially claim for them.
Similarly, the time period is frozen for adults with limited mental capacity, and a litigation friend can claim on their behalf at any point until, or if, they recover.
However, after you have slipped on the ice, we would advise getting in contact with our team as soon as possible. Our advisors are able to offer you a free no obligation consultation.
Additionally, our advisors can explain what steps you might consider taking after you have slipped on ice, or who could be liable for a slip and fall on ice and work. If our advisors think you could be eligible to claim, you may also be connected to our specialist solicitors to help you claim personal injury compensation.
Making A Claim For Slipping On Ice Against My Employer
While they cannot stop the snow from falling or ice from developing, they can take steps to make sure this does not result in a workplace accident. If they have failed to do this, they are deemed responsible for your accident. You do not need to worry that you may lose your job if you make a claim. A lot of people fear this, but employers have insurance in place to cover such incidents and you would only have grounds for unfair dismissal if they did take any drastic action. Call us for more information on health and safety for snow at work and how your employer could be liable to pay compensation for a slip trip accident.
Can I Claim Compensation For Slipping On Ice In A Public Place?
Slips and falls that happen in public places don’t always lead to public liability claims. However, if the person responsible for the public place has breached the duty of care they owe you under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, and this caused you to suffer injury because of a slip on ice, you might be eligible to claim.
If the person in control of a public space is aware of the risk of someone slipping on ice and injuring themselves, they should take reasonable steps to reduce this risk. They could do so by gritting an area or providing alternative pathways for people to use. Should they fail to take reasonable care to ensure the premises are safe to use and someone is injured slipping on ice as a result, they could be held liable.
Slips, trips, and falls on ice and snow in shopping areas
If you have slipped in a retail space, whether this is in the car park or another area, you will be able to launch a claim. The person in charge of the business here will be responsible for this space, and they need to make sure that all shoppers are safe while attending their premises. If they haven’t done this, you will have the basis for a claim.
Eligibility to make a personal injury claim
Establishing who is to blame for the accident you were involved in is the most important factor when determining whether you are legible for compensation or not. If you are to blame for the fall because you were careless, you will not have the basis for a claim. However, if the road or area was not maintained properly, you will have grounds for a claim. You basically need to show that someone else caused your suffering.
Could I claim for slipping on ice if I was partially to blame?
If you believe you were partly responsible but not fully responsible, you may still be able to make a claim. Nevertheless, the compensation you receive will be significantly lower to reflect the fact that you were involved. In addition to this, the accident must have happened within the past three years, and you must have seen a medical professional for your injuries too.
The most common slip and fall on ice injuries
There are numerous different types of injuries that can happen due to a slip, trip or fall on the ice. Some of the most common injuries are as follows:
- Concussion
- Head injuries
- Elbow fracture or dislocation
- Hip pain and fractures
- Ankle sprains or strains
- Wrist sprains
- Shoulder injury
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
Whether or not your injury is listed above, you can claim so long as the accident was not your fault.
What can I include in my slip or fall on ice claim?
It is important to recognise that the compensation for a slip trip or fall on snow and ice you receive will be broken up into general damages and special damages. What are these? General damages refer to the amount of money you will be awarded to indemnify you due to the suffering and pain you have been through. This not only includes the physical pain, but also any physiological suffering you have experienced too. A medical record that has been put together by your doctor will help towards determining the payout you will be awarded.
Slip, Trip, or Fall On Ice and Snow Compensation Calculator
We often get phone calls regarding slip and fall on ice settlement amounts, which we are only too happy to assist with. Regarding this matter, it is vital to know that all cases are handled on an individual basis. This is because slip and fall on ice injuries differ dramatically. Plus, there are other circumstances involved, including the physiological impact and any time spent off work. As such, giving an accurate compensation figure is never possible. What we can do, though, is enlighten you to the typical payout amounts for some of the most common injuries that are suffered when someone has fallen, tripped or slipped on an icy pavement.
Compensation Table
| The type of injury sustained due to a slip trip or fall on snow and ice | Extra information about the injury | Typical payout amount |
|---|---|---|
| Leg injury | Less serious leg injuries. Less debilitating leg injuries, for example, a simple fracture with a quick recovery in a few months. | £17,960 to £27,760 |
| Leg injury | Severe leg injuries. This award is for those that just fall short of amputation. | £96,250 to £135,920 |
| Wrist fracture | uncomplicated types of colles' fractures. | In the region of £7,430 |
| Clavicle fracture | How permanent the injury is and any symptoms will be considered when determining the award. | £5,150 to £12,240 |
| Moderate neck injuries | Moderate (iii). The impact the injury is having on your life, as well as any pain medication that is needed, are taken into account. | £7,890 to £13,740 |
| Moderate neck injuries | Moderate (ii). This includes injuries that have been made worse due to the fall, as well as dislocations and fractures. | £13,740 to £24,990 |
| Severe neck injuries | This could be anything from a severe fracture or soft tissue injury to spastic quadriparesis or incomplete paraplegia. | This could be anything from £45,470 - £148,330 |
| Injuries and fractures to the rib | Although there is severe disability and pain, a full recovery should be made within a matter of weeks. | Up to £3,950 |
| Injuries to the pelvis and hips | Moderate (i) where there isn't permanent disability and risks for the future aren't great | £26,590 to £39,170 |
| Elbow injuries | (A) Severely disabling | £39,170 to £54,830 |
If you are worried because you cannot find your slip and fall ice injuries in the table above, don’t be. The table merely contains a handful of examples. You can claim for any type of injury you have sustained. For more information about the payout you could get, just give our team a call.
I Slipped On Ice – What Else Could I Claim For My Injuries?
Someone slipping on ice could suffer more than just physical pain. They could also suffer psychological injury due to the accident. Both the physical and mental injuries caused by such an incident can be compensated for under the general damages head of claim.
However, it could also be possible for claimants to receive special damages in slips on ice claims payouts. They are designed to compensate successful claimants for the out-of-pocket expenses caused by their accident and injuries.
Special damages could include travel expenses, to get to medical appointments or to meet with a lawyer, for example. They could also include medical expenses. If someone was badly injured and needed care at home, such costs could also be included in a claim.
I Slipped On Ice And Fell On My Back – Can I Claim Loss Of Earnings?
Should you have grounds to claim compensation for a slip on the ice, your compensation payout could include loss of earnings. This can be compensated for under special damages. You would need to demonstrate that you were unable to work due to your injuries and lost out on income as a result.
If you’d like to find out more about what damages you could claim, please call our team. We would be happy to help you work out what compensation you could be eligible for.
No win no fee compensation for a slip trip or fall on snow or ice
We are incredibly proud of our 100% No Win, No fee service here at Accident Claims UK. If you have experienced any type of slip and fall on ice at work or in a public place, we can help you to get the compensation we deserve while promising you that you will never be out of pocket through claiming. This is because you are only going to pay legal fees if your case is successful, in which case you will have the compensation available to cover the cost.
With this payment approach, you and your solicitor will agree on a percentage of the compensation that will be given to the solicitor as legal fees if the case is a success.
What happens if I slipped and fell on ice and my case wasn’t successful?
If compensation for a slip trip or fall on snow and ice. is not awarded, you will not have to pay legal fees, and so you are given financial protection with this option, which is not offered when you choose a solicitor that charges on an hourly basis. You also need to consider the knock-on benefits associated with this service. This includes the fact that we will never waste your time and you can have the peace of mind that your case is being prioritised and that your solicitor is doing everything that he or she can to ensure a successful outcome.
Talk to us today about compensation for a slip trip or fall on snow and ice
Hopefully, you now have all of the information you need regarding making a claim for a slip trip or fall on snow and ice. However, if you have any further queries, including queries regarding slipping on ice injuries statistics and slip and fall on ice settlement amounts, you will be pleased to know that we have a legal helpline that is available 24 hours a day, seven days per week. The number you need is 0800 073 8801.
You will speak to a friendly and dedicated member of staff who will happily answer all of your questions. Please note that the legal advice we provide is 100 per cent free of charge at all times and there is no obligation to continue with our service. You can also get in touch with us via other methods. This includes requesting a call back via the box on our homepage, as well as using our live chat feature.
You can also send an email to office@accidentclaims.co.uk and we will aim to get back to you within three hours if you sent the message on a weekday.
Thank you for reading our guide on how to claim compensation for a slip trip or fall on ice.
Useful links Relating to compensation for a slip trip or fall on snow and ice
Accident at Work Claims Find out more
If you have had a slip trip accident at work contact us today for free legal advice.
Council And Local Authority Claims
Find out how to to make a snow or ice slip or fall accident claim against the local council and whether you claim comes under the Highways Act 1980.
An Accident in public place compensation claims – Find out if you are eligible to claim
If you have had a slip trip or fall in a public place contact us today to find out if you can claim compensation.
Slips and trips in adverse weather – HSE
This link takes you to the UK Government Health and Safety Executive website where you will find HSE snow and ice information regarding winter weather and icy conditions. This includes advice regarding gritting, ice, frost, snow, rainwater, wet and decaying leaves, and lighting.
You can use this link to find out which roads your council will grit. Simply enter your postcode and you will see the pavements and roads that councils are supposed to grit when the conditions get snowy or icy. This service is available for England and Wales only.
NHS story on preventing slips in winter
This NHS article not only contains advice on how to do a snow and ice risk assessment and remain safe during the winter months, it also provides details on what you should do if you have suffered a mild or moderate sprain due to falling on the ice.
Learn how to sue a company and get more information through our helpful guide.
We hope reading our guide on claiming compensation for slipping on ice has been helpful. You can speak to our advisors about claiming for injuries after falling on ice using the contact details found within this guide.
