A slip, trip and fall claim is a negligence claim brought in the County Court or High Court against a property owner, occupier or employer whose failure to control a known hazard caused a serious injury. Emaari Legal handles the serious end of this category only: fractures, spinal injury, head injury, and psychological injury caused by a fall, not minor bruising or short-lived soft-tissue harm.
What counts as a serious slip, trip or fall claim?
A serious slip, trip or fall claim arises where a fall causes lasting or significant harm, not a bump that resolves in days. Emaari Legal acts where a fall has caused complex or multiple fractures, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain or head injury, chronic pain or CRPS, or a psychiatric injury such as PTSD following a serious accident.
Falls of this kind commonly happen where there is:
- A wet or contaminated floor left unmarked and unattended
- Uneven, damaged or poorly maintained flooring, steps or paving
- Loose cables, trailing wires or obstructed walkways
- Falls from height at work, on a construction site or during manual handling
- Poor lighting that hides a change in floor level
Where the fall happened at work, Emaari’s dedicated accident at work claims service covers the additional duties an employer owes under health and safety law, including matters the Health and Safety Executive may investigate. This page focuses on the general negligence route that applies whether the fall happened at work, on the street, or on someone else’s premises.
What does a slip, trip and fall claim cost?
A slip, trip and fall claim is typically funded on a no win, no fee basis, meaning the claimant is not asked to fund the legal work upfront. Emaari Legal offers a free consultation to assess a potential claim before any funding decision is made, and checks during that assessment whether the claimant already holds before-the-event legal expenses insurance through a motor or home policy, which is one possible route to explore alongside a Conditional Fee Agreement.
Where a claim succeeds under a Conditional Fee Agreement, a success fee may be deducted from damages, capped by law at 25% of the general damages and past financial losses recovered (not future losses). The full funding terms, including any insurance requirement, are explained in plain terms before anything is signed.
How much compensation for a fall injury?
Compensation for a serious fall injury is assessed under two heads of damages: general damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity, valued by reference to the Judicial College Guidelines, and special damages for the financial losses the injury has caused. No fixed figure applies to any type of injury; value depends on the medical evidence, prognosis and the claimant’s individual losses, so cases of this kind vary considerably.
| Head of damage | What it covers |
|---|---|
| General damages | Pain, suffering and loss of amenity, valued against the Judicial College Guidelines and the medical evidence |
| Loss of earnings | Income lost during recovery and any reduced future earning capacity |
| Care and assistance | Costs of care provided by family or professional carers during recovery |
| Rehabilitation | Physiotherapy, psychological support and other treatment aimed at recovery |
| Adaptations and equipment | Home or vehicle adaptations, mobility aids and equipment needed because of the injury |
Medical evidence underpins every head of damage. A claim typically relies on GP and hospital records, an independent medical examination arranged during the claim, and a prognosis setting out expected recovery, all of which feed into how the injury is valued.
Who is liable for a slip, trip or fall?
Liability for a slip, trip or fall rests with whoever controlled the hazard and failed to act on it, most commonly the occupier of the premises or an employer. A claimant must show that the defendant owed a duty of care, breached that duty by failing to identify or remove a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard, and that the breach caused the injury.
Evidence gathered close to the date of the fall carries the most weight: photographs of the hazard, contact details for witnesses, CCTV footage where it exists, and an accident book entry recorded at the time. The claim then usually follows the Civil Procedure Rules’ pre-action protocol for personal injury: a letter of claim is sent to the defendant or their insurer, who has a set period to respond, followed by negotiation and, if a settlement cannot be agreed, the formal step of issuing proceedings in the County Court or, for higher-value or unusually complex injuries, the High Court.
Where a fall results in death, a claim proceeds instead under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 and the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934, and Emaari Legal will send a solicitor to visit the bereaved family at home within 24 hours if required. Where there is no traceable defendant or insurer, for example a criminal assault that caused a fall, a claim may instead be made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, which has its own 2-year time limit.
What is the time limit for a fall injury claim?
The time limit for a serious fall injury claim is generally 3 years from the date of the accident or the date of knowledge of the injury, under the Limitation Act 1980. Section 28 of that Act suspends the running of time for children, whose 3 years start on their 18th birthday, and for claimants who lack mental capacity, for whom time is suspended while the incapacity continues.
Where to go next
Emaari Legal is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and holds the Law Society Personal Injury Accreditation, and acts only for claimants, never for insurers or defendants. If the fall happened at work, the accident at work claims page sets out the employer duties and evidence specific to workplace falls in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much compensation do you get for a trip or fall?
Compensation depends on the severity of the injury, the prognosis and the claimant’s financial losses, valued under the Judicial College Guidelines for pain and suffering plus any special damages such as loss of earnings and care costs; no fixed amount applies across cases.
What can slips, trips and falls include?
Slips, trips and falls include falls on wet or uneven floors, falls from height, falls caused by obstructed walkways or poor lighting, and falls at work, in public places, or on another person’s premises; Emaari Legal acts where the resulting injury is serious, such as a fracture, spinal or head injury.
Slipped and injured, can I claim?
A claim can be considered where a property owner, occupier or employer failed to identify or remove a hazard they knew about or should reasonably have known about, and that failure caused a serious injury; a free consultation can assess whether that test is likely to be met.
What is slip and fall negligence?
Slip and fall negligence is a breach of the duty of care owed by an occupier or employer to keep premises reasonably safe, established by showing the hazard existed, that the defendant knew or should have known about it, and that it caused the fall and injury.
Is there a time limit for a serious fall compensation claim in the UK?
Yes. Under the Limitation Act 1980, the standard time limit is 3 years from the date of the fall or the date of knowledge of the injury, with extensions for children and claimants who lack mental capacity.
Free consultation on your serious-injury claim. Call 0330 441 6754 or request a callback. Get a free consultation on your slip, trip or fall injury claim.
“No win, no fee” means we act under a conditional fee agreement: if your claim does not succeed you do not pay our fees, subject to the agreement’s terms. If your claim succeeds, a success fee is deducted from your compensation, capped by law at 25% of the damages awarded for your pain, suffering and past losses, and you may be liable for certain costs in some circumstances. We explain the full terms, including any insurance you may need, before you sign anything.
About this page. This page provides general information about the law in England and Wales. It is not legal advice and should not be relied on as legal advice; the right course of action always depends on the specific facts of your situation, and the law may have changed since this page was last reviewed. Strict time limits apply to personal injury claims, usually three years from the date of the accident or the date you first knew your injury was linked to it, with important exceptions (for example for children and for people who lack mental capacity). If you think you may have a claim, take advice as early as possible. For advice about your own circumstances, contact Emaari Legal on 0330 441 6754. Emaari Legal Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA number 8007172).