Slips and Trips

You've probably seen the trip and slip adverts on the TV and focused more on the bad acting than on the actual message being conveyed! So, we are here to clear things up for you without the distracting yelps and the Die Hard-esque action sequences.

Ok, first things first; if you have had an accident, what happens now?

A. If you are an employee

Depending on the severity of your accident or the amount of time you have had to have off work, your employer may need to report the details to the HSE or the Local Authority.

B. If you are a member of the public injured in someone else's premises

Depending on the severity of the accident, the person responsible for the premises, or the person ultimately responsible for the activity which caused you to fall, may need to report the incident to the HSE or the Local Authority.

We'd like to also start by saying that it is very likely that you will be entitled to compensation if you have been injured as a result of a slippery surface or faulty floor surface. Slips, trips and falls are the most common of workplace hazards and HSE figures show that these kind of accidents are the most common cause of major workplace injury in Britain, costing us an estimated £800 million each year.

Therefore, it is important to know about the different steps that you are required to take ensure that you are fully compensated for your loss. You need to make sure that your claim will be as strong as possible and here's how we suggest you do so:

1. After you trip, slip or fall it is important that you contact somebody nearby or even an ambulance if the injuries are severe.
2. Take note of exactly where the accident happened and if you can, take photos of the area and record witness names and contact details where possible
3. Seek appropriate medical treatment.
4. Notify the person responsible for your safety in that particular area as soon as possible e.g. your employer if you are at work or the council if you slip on a pavement/ road.
5. Ensure that you register your injuries in your employer's accident report log as soon as possible. If your injury is more serious; report it to the authorities.
6. Ask compensationclaims.co.uk any question you like about your compensation situation and get it answered for free with no obligation (optional!).

Trying to remember exactly what happened on the day of your accident can be like watching an episode of the generation game - things go by so quickly and sometimes you remember them and sometimes, you don't.

However, it is important to be aware that, if you record the details of your accident and try to be as accurate as possible - your case will be much stronger and more likely to succeed.

So, during your recovery period you should also try and record symptoms which affect you physically or psychologically and keep any receipts detailing any expenditure towards treating your injuries.

If you would like more advice from a professional claims expert before you make your first move then you have come to the right place. Our panel of compensation claims experts can give you the guidance you need and they will not charge you a penny for their advice.

All you have to do is type your question into the question box on our home page and they will reply to you within 15 minutes with an answer. There is no obligation whatsoever to use the claims expert who responds to you; you can simply take their advice and run away with it - but for goodness sake watch out for wet floors, loose pavement slabs and trailing cables!

If you have had a slip or trip, why not ask a claims question.