Slip, Trip or Fall
What If I Slip On Icy Pavement?
A slip, trip or fall can be a serious matter. Landing heavily on a hard surface can lead to long term health repercussions at worst, and even a 'lighter' fall may cause damage or bruising which calls for time spent off work and a subsequent loss of earnings.
In recent years the idea of claiming personal injury compensation following a fall has fallen slightly into disrepute, with the idea growing up that such claims are inherently frivolous, often bordering on the fraudulent. Any responsible no win no fee personal injuries lawyer will immediately be able to tell, however, if you have a genuine case for claiming compensation. If you're out and about walking in a public place, for example, and the fall you suffer is caused by the poor and unsafe condition of the surface underfoot then somebody is to blame.
In most cases it will be a council or local authority that has a duty to maintain public pavements and highways in such a state that they can be safely negotiated without fear of injury. In the case of badly maintained pavements you must be able to prove that the paving stone in question is jutting out over a certain height and that the authorities in question have had sufficient notice and time to repair it.
The same is true of an icy pavement. In spells of cold weather, local authorities have a duty to maintain public walkways in such a manner as to keep them safe to use. If you slip, fall and injure yourself on a patch of ice which should have been made safe, then you have every right to document the circumstances, with pictures if possible, and get in touch with us on 0800 567 7119, and we'll tell you simply and honestly whether you have the makings of a slip or trip claim.