By Jo Anderson. Last Updated 16th November 2023. Have you slipped on the floor due to the negligence of someone in putting a slippery floor sign on a wet floor? In this guide, we explore your legal rights if you’ve slipped on a wet floor and suffered an injury.
We explain the process of making a personal injury claim, potential compensation payouts for slip and fall accidents, and how our No Win No Fee solicitors can help you.
If you’d rather speak with us now, get in touch via our free helpline. We can answer all of your queries, assess your claim for free, and if you’d like to take action, we can help you get started today.
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Select a Section
- Am I Eligible To Make A Slip On Wet Floor Claim?
- I Slipped On A Wet Floor – Do I Need Evidence To Claim?
- I Slipped On A Wet Floor – Claim Time Limits For Your Injuries
- Calculating Compensation For Fall Injuries Caused By Wet Floors
- Slipped On A Wet Floor – Claiming With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
Am I Eligible To Make A Slip On Wet Floor Claim?
When it comes to slip and trip claims for a wet floor slip, you would need to demonstrate that someone’s breach of their duty of care to you caused you to suffer an injury.
There are several examples of how this could happen, such as:
At work – should your employer breach their duty of care towards you under the Health and Safety At Work etc. Act 1974, they could be held liable for injuries you suffer as a result. This could include a wet floor slip if you’ve been injured slipping on a wet floor with no sign. Your employer has a duty of care toward employees to take reasonable steps to protect them from foreseeable harm at work.
In a public place – Slip and trip claims could also be made against negligent parties who have a duty of care to those using their premises. For example, under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, those in control of a public space have a duty of care towards those on their premises, to ensure their reasonable safety. Should a supermarket fail to mop up a spillage, for example, and not signpost that the spillage was there, someone could be injured by a wet floor slip. If this happens, the injured party could be eligible to claim.
These are just a few examples of how such claims could arise. If you believe you could be eligible for compensation for injuries sustained slipping on a wet floor with no sign, please call us. We could assess your case for free.
I Slipped On A Wet Floor – Do I Need Evidence To Claim?
If you have slipped on a wet floor and are eligible to make a personal injury claim, it’s crucial that you provide evidence that negligence occurred. Examples of evidence you could gather to help support your claim include:
- Medical records: This could state the type of injury you suffered, its severity, and the treatment you required.
- Contact details of witnesses: They could provide a statement about the accident at a later date.
- Footage of the accident: For example, CCTV footage may have captured you slipping on a wet floor.
- Take photographic evidence: Photograph any visible injuries as well as the accident scene. For example, if you had a slip or fall and no wet floor sign was in place, a photograph can help prove this.
Contact our advisors today to discuss your claim and receive free advice. If they believe you may have a valid claim, they could connect you with one of our solicitors, who could help you with gathering evidence.
I Slipped On A Wet Floor – Claim Time Limits For Your Injuries
If you slipped and fell down on the floor as a result of another party’s negligent actions, you may be able to make a claim. However, you must ensure that you start your claim within the relevant time limit.
Under the Limitation Act 1980, you will usually have three years to start a claim for your injuries after slipping on a wet floor. This time limit will begin on the date of your accident. However, there are some exceptions to this time limit.
For example, if someone was under the age of eighteen when they slipped on the floor and injured themselves, then the time limit is frozen until their eighteenth birthday. During this time, a court-appointed litigation friend could make a claim on their behalf. Once they turn 18, they will have 3 years to start a claim if one hasn’t already been made.
Similarly, if someone lacks the mental capacity to claim for themselves, the time limit is suspended indefinitely, and a litigation friend could make a claim on their behalf. However, if they were to regain the capacity to make a claim for themself, they will have 3 years to start their claim from this date if one hasn’t already been made.
Keep reading to learn about wet floors signs and the regulations in place. Or, contact our team today to find out if you could be eligible to claim.
Calculating Compensation For Fall Injuries Caused By Wet Floors
If your slip and fall claim succeeds, your payout could include general and special damages.
General damages compensate you for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries.
To get an idea of a level of compensation that could be appropriate, those calculating general damages could look at the Judicial College guidelines (JCG). This publication provides guidance on compensation amounts for various injuries at different levels of severity. We’ve provided some figures from the 2022 edition of the guidelines. The first entry is not representative of the JCG.
Injury Additional information Compensation
Multiple Injuries Severe - That cause significant levels of pain and suffering as well as financial costs and losses. Up to £1,000,000+
Back Injuries Severe (i) - The spinal cord and nerve roots have been severely damaged which could result in immense pain and incomplete paralysis. £91,090 to £160,980
Back Injuries Moderate (ii) - Backache caused by the muscles and ligaments in the back being disturbed. Or soft tissue injuries that accelerate a pre-existing condition. £12,510 to £27,760
Knee Injuries Severe (ii) - Constant pain with limited movement due to a leg fracture that has extended into the knee. £52,120 to £69,730
Knee Injuries Moderate (i) - A torn cartilage or meniscus or a dislocation that results in weakness, wasting and minor instability. £14,840 to £26,190
Wrist Injuries A wrist injury that has resulted in a complete loss of function, e.g. an arthrodesis has been performed. (A) £47,620 to £59,860
Wrist Injuries A less severe wrist injury that causes a form of permanent disability, such as persisting pain and stiffness. (C) £12,590 to £24,500
Shoulder Injuries Severe - Often associated with neck injuries and involve damage to the brachial plexus. This will cause serious neck and arm symptoms. (A) £19,200 to £48,030
Shoulder Injuries Serious - The lower part of the brachial plexus has been damaged and the shoulder has been dislocated. (B) £12,770 to £19,200
Ankle Injuries Moderate (c) - The person will struggle to walk on uneven ground, or stand/walk for a long time due to ligamentous tears or fractures. £13,740 to £26,590
However, the figures above are only guidance. Your payout for injuries sustained from slipping on a wet floor would depend on the specific facts and circumstances of your claim.
Special damages compensate you for costs and losses caused by your injuries. These could include but are not limited to:
- Medical expenses for prescription costs, for example,
- Care costs to have someone come into your home to care for you because you could not do so yourself.
- Travel expenses for travel to and from medical appointments, for example.
- Loss of income for any loss of pay you have sustained due to being unable to work because of your injuries.
You must be able to prove that these costs and losses were reasonably incurred due to your injuries, for example, through bank statements, invoices, or bills.
Read on to learn more about claims for wet floor injuries. Or, contact our team of helpful advisors to start your free evaluation and get an estimate of what your claim could be worth.
Slipped On A Wet Floor – Claiming With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
One of our solicitors could help you through the personal injury claims process if you were injured in a slipping accident. Working with a solicitor can be beneficial to your claim, as they can help you gather evidence and they can ensure all areas of your claim are properly evaluated, including special damages.
Our solicitors offer their clients a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This is a type of No Win No Fee arrangement that allows you to access their services without being asked to pay an upfront fee or any ongoing fees for their work. Likewise, if your claim does not succeed and you don’t receive compensation, your solicitor won’t take a fee for their services.
However, if your claim does succeed, then your solicitor will take a success fee. This is deducted from your compensation award as a small percentage. A legislative cap regulates this percentage and ensures that the larger share stays with you.
To find out if a solicitor could help you with your slip and fall claim, contact our team today. Our advisors can offer free advice and guidance and may be able to connect you with one of our expert solicitors.
Begin your free consultation today:
- Call our team on 0800 073 8801
- Use the live chat feature.
- Contact us online.
Helpful Links relating to spillage injury claims
- HSE Guide to cleaning for wet floors – This guide shows you the importance of ensuring floors are kept clean and without slip risks.
- HSE – Wet Floor Stats – This is the HSE’s page on wet floor slip statistics. You may find this useful when looking to claim compensation.
- Pavement Accident Guide – Have you fallen over pavement and been injured? Why not read our guide or contact our team today?
- Workplace accident guide – Been injured at work and it wasn’t your fault? Contact our team today?
- Building Site Guide – If you have been injured at a building site, then please read our guide.
- Fingers Caught In The Door Claims
- NHS Accident At Work Claims
- Fall At Work Compensation Payouts – if you’ve suffered an injury after falling at your workplace, this guide explains your legal rights and how you can claim compensation.
Thank you for reading our spillage injury claims guide. Now you know how much compensation you could get for a slip or trip claim.