Slip, Trip or Fall
Who Is Responsible For My Slip/Trip?
Slips, trips and falls are amongst the most common causes of injuries. Whilst many of us may imagine that it's easy to get up from a trip, dust ourselves down and walk away, there are occasions when a fall followed by a heavy or awkward landing can lead to longer term injury. A sprain, fracture or severe bruising could cause long term discomfort and result in a spell off work, whilst a fall which damages the spine or skull in any way could have serious ongoing repercussions for the health and well being of the victim.
The question of responsibility lies at the heart of pursuing a personal injury claim in the event of a fall. Often, people will fall over in the workplace and this may be caused by environmental factors such as:
- Loose cables.
- Untidy litter and waste products.
- Damaged flooring.
If this is the case, then your employer, through their negligence, is responsible for your slip or trip and therefore you are well within your rights to pursue them for compensation. However, it may be that you've fallen in a public place such as a supermarket, shopping centre, airport etc, or on a badly maintained pavement or road. In any of these cases, if the fall was caused by the negligence of someone else, a freshly mopped floor which doesn't have a 'wet floor' sign on it, for example, or a badly jutting paving stone which catches your foot, then the fault lies with someone else. In cases such as these, make a note of exactly what caused your fall, if possible photograph the circumstances and then get in touch with us on 0800 567 7119. If it wasn't your fault you fell, then we'll help to get you back on your feet again.