| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| Occupiers have a duty of care under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 to keep premises reasonably safe. |
| Slip and trip claims can arise in shops, workplaces, pavements, and public buildings. |
| You must show the occupier knew or should have known about the hazard and failed to act. |
| You have three years from the date of the accident to bring a claim. |
| Wolf Law handles slip and trip claims on a no win no fee basis. |
Slipping on a wet floor or tripping over an uneven surface might sound minor, but the injuries can be serious — broken wrists and ankles, head injuries, and back problems are all common consequences. If the accident happened because someone failed to keep a premises reasonably safe, you may have a valid slip and trip claim.
These claims arise in a wide range of settings: supermarkets, shopping centres, workplaces, pavements, car parks, and public buildings. The common thread is that someone — an occupier, a local authority, an employer — had a legal duty to maintain a safe environment and failed to do so.
Who Is Legally Responsible?
The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 places a duty of care on occupiers of premises to take reasonable steps to ensure that visitors are reasonably safe. This covers business owners, local authorities, landlords, and anyone else with control over a premises. If they knew — or ought to have known — about a hazard and failed to address it within a reasonable time, they may be liable for injuries that result.
What you need to prove
A successful slip and trip claim requires you to show three things. First, the occupier owed you a duty of care. Second, they breached that duty by allowing a hazard to exist. Third, that breach caused your injury. The second element is often the most contested — the occupier will argue they had adequate inspection procedures or that the hazard only appeared moments before your accident. Evidence is therefore critical.
Wolf Law’s slip and trip team is experienced in gathering and presenting the evidence needed to counter these defences, including CCTV footage, inspection records, and witness statements.
Gathering Evidence After a Slip or Trip
What you do immediately after the accident can make a significant difference to the strength of your claim. Report the accident to the manager or owner and ask for it to be recorded in the accident book. Request a copy of that record. Photograph the hazard — the wet floor, the raised paving stone, the broken step — before it is remedied. Take the names and contact details of any witnesses.
Seeking medical attention
See a doctor as soon as possible, even if your injuries feel relatively minor at first. Medical records are important evidence in a personal injury claim. They establish the nature and extent of your injuries and create a contemporaneous record that connects the accident to your condition. Delayed medical treatment can complicate the evidential picture and give insurers grounds to dispute the severity of your injuries.
The NHS guidance on falls and injury is a useful reference for understanding when to seek urgent medical attention after a slip or trip. Wolf Law will also advise you on obtaining specialist medical reports to support your claim.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
Compensation in slip and trip claims follows the same two-part structure as other personal injury claims. General damages cover your pain and suffering and loss of amenity. Special damages cover your specific financial losses, including earnings lost while recovering, the cost of medical treatment, physiotherapy, travel to appointments, and any adaptations needed at home.
Claims against local authorities
Trips on uneven pavements or poorly maintained public paths involve claims against local authorities rather than private occupiers. These claims are governed by the Highways Act 1980, which requires local authorities to maintain highways in a reasonable condition. Local authorities have a defence if they can show they had adequate inspection and maintenance systems in place. Overcoming this defence requires detailed investigation, and it is important to instruct a solicitor with experience of public authority claims. Wolf Law can help — visit our accidents and injury page for more information.
Can I claim if I slipped in a supermarket?
Yes, if the supermarket failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the hazard — for example, by not placing warning signs near a wet floor or not cleaning up a spillage within a reasonable time. Supermarkets are required to have regular inspection procedures, and failures to follow these are evidence of negligence.
What if there was a wet floor sign?
A wet floor sign does not automatically absolve the occupier of liability. If the sign was inadequate for the circumstances, if the hazard had been present for an unreasonably long time, or if the sign was placed in a position that did not effectively warn visitors, a claim may still succeed.
How long do I have to make a slip and trip claim?
Three years from the date of your accident. If you suffered a trip on a public pavement, the same three-year period applies from the date of the accident or the date you knew (or ought to have known) that your injury was attributable to the state of the highway.
What if I tripped on someone else’s property?
Occupiers of private property owe visitors a duty of care under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. If you were lawfully on someone’s property and tripped due to a hazard that the occupier knew about or should have addressed, you may have a valid claim.
Does Wolf Law offer no win no fee for slip and trip claims?
Yes. Wolf Law handles qualifying slip and trip claims under conditional fee arrangements (no win no fee), meaning you pay nothing if your claim is unsuccessful. Contact us for a free initial consultation.
This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific advice relating to your circumstances, please contact Wolf Law directly to arrange a consultation with one of our qualified solicitors.
