How Much Can I Claim For Slip, Trip And Fall Injuries?9th Jul 2020
More than you would expect. Most people underestimate the severity of injuries that can result from a simple fall. Payouts topping £10,000 are not uncommon.
Our personal injury solicitors regularly see slips, trips and falls involving broken bones. These injury claims start at £5,000 and can rise swiftly depending on:
- how bad your injuries are
- pain, suffering and loss of amenity
- lost earnings and other associated costs.
Even lesser injuries – such as cuts and grazes – can result in damages worth £2,000 or more.
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£15,000 Compensation After Fall At Supermarket
A 71-year-old lady who tripped over a badly placed mat at a Poole supermarket received a £15,000 compensation settlement after Coles Miller took up her case.
The lady broke her left shoulder and suffered a chipped tooth after tripping over bunched-up matting at Tesco in Branksome.
This case shows that elderly people can still successfully claim significant sums in compensation – even though they are retired and therefore unable to claim for loss of earnings.
Supermarkets are a common place for slips, trips and falls. And not just in the car park or entrance porch – spillages in the aisles can often create slippery health and safety hazards.
Will My Claim Succeed? What Are My Chances Of Success?
Most personal injury solicitors will tell you it is easier to sue a private landowner than it is to sue a local authority.
This is because the courts tend to be more sympathetic to councils than to private landowners. The authority – unlike a company – has to look after hundreds of miles of roads and pavements. Judges know that council workmen cannot be everywhere all the time.
But Coles Miller has a very good record of success with injury claims involving public land and highways. Here are two examples:
- A 72-year-old retired secretary broke her left upper arm after tripping over a pothole in a council car park in Broadstone, Poole. The council admitted liability.
- A 43-year-old carer fractured her right upper arm, suffered soft tissue injuries to her left knee and cuts to her face after tripping over a collapsed roadworks sign in Southbourne, Bournemouth. A sandbag used to keep the sign upright failed because the bag split and sand leaked out. Coles Miller took legal action against a contractor who had been carrying out the works for the council. The contractor admitted liability.
Damages are still pending in both those cases because we await medical experts’ reports on the full extent of the victims’ injuries. Reports have been delayed by the Covid-19 lockdown.
But we expect the settlements to be significant in both cases.
How Can I Improve My Chances Of Claiming Successfully?
When you fall over and are badly hurt, your main worry is your injuries and the pain you are suffering. But there are things you can do to help your claim:
- Speak to witnesses – get their details as soon as you can. You may not get the chance later. Often there are kind people who will stop to help you if you have fallen over. They may be able to corroborate your claim.
- Take photos and/or video on your mobile phone. Get plenty of images of the scene and whatever it was that caused your fall.
- Report the accident to the landowner or authorities as soon as possible. They are obliged to log it in their accident book so:
- there is a permanent record of what happened
- the trip hazard can be removed to prevent other people from getting injured.
But take care what you say to them – they will be looking for ways to stop your claim or reduce your damages. Contact Coles Miller’s personal injury solicitors – we can advise you how best to proceed.
Your No Win No Fee Claim
Coles Miller handles all injury accident claims on a No Win No Fee basis – so there is no financial risk to you.
This is called a Conditional Fee Agreement. It protects you from court costs and legal fees in the unlikely event of your claim not succeeding.
Want to know more about the No Win No Fee claims process and how it can help you? Find out more here.
Get Expert Legal Advice
Contact Coles Miller personal injury lawyer Adrian Cormack for more information about claiming compensation for slips, trips and falls.
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This document is not intended to constitute and should not be used as a substitute for legal advice on any specific matter. No liability for the accuracy of the content of this document, or the consequences of relying on it, is assumed by the author. If you seek further information, please contact Managing Partner Neil Andrews at Coles Miller Solicitors LLP.
