By Danielle Graves. Last Updated 22nd May 2023. If you’ve slipped on a wet floor, either at work, in a shop or supermarket, you may have suffered an injury. If you fell through no fault of your own, you could be entitled to compensation.
Nobody should have to endure the pain and disruption an injury can cause. It’s fair to seek compensation for what you’ve endured, and that’s where we can help.
Our personal injury solicitors are specialists in slip and fall claims and they can help you too.
You can speak with us now by calling 0333 000 0729 or chat with us via our live chat box.
If you’d like to learn more about making a personal injury claim or about your legal rights if you’ve slipped on a wet floor, keep scrolling.
Learn about your rights if you slipped on a wet floor
Jump To A Section:
- The Criteria To Claim Compensation If You’ve Slipped On A Wet Floor
- Causes Of Wet Floor Accidents
- What To Do If You’ve Slipped On A Wet Floor At Work
- Your Legal Rights If You’ve Slipped On A Wet Floor In A Shop Or Supermarket
- Where Else Could I Slip On A Wet Floor?
- Injuries Which Could Be Caused By A Slip On A Wet Floor
- Compensation Payouts In Slip And Fall Claims
- What Else Can Personal Injury Compensation Include?
- What Is A No Win No Fee Agreement And Can I Claim This Way?
- Make A Claim
- Learn More About Slip And Fall Claims
The Criteria To Claim Compensation If You’ve Slipped On A Wet Floor
If you suffered injuries when you slipped on a wet floor, you may wonder whether you could be owed compensation. In order to have a valid personal injury claim, you must be able to prove that you were owed a duty of care, and when this duty was breached, you suffered injuries. A breach of duty of care that leads to injury is known as negligence.
You are owed a duty of care while you are at work and in public places:
- In the workplace, this is set by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA). It states that per their duty of care, your employer must take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure your safety whilst you are in the workplace and performing work-related duties.
- In public places, this is set by the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. It states that those in control of a public space (an occupier), must take all the necessary steps to ensure your reasonable safety whilst you are using that space for its intended purposes. This is their duty of care, and it applies to supermarkets.
If you slipped on a wet floor in a shop and would like to find out if you are eligible to claim, please contact our advisors using the details at the top of the page.
What Is The Personal Injury Claim Time Limit?
If you are eligible to make a claim, you must start the process within the personal injury claim time limit. The Limitation Act 1980 sets this as typically three years from the date of the accident that caused your injuries.
However, there are certain exceptions to the three-year limitation period. These include:
- Those under the age of 18. For these injured parties, the time limit is paused until their 18th birthday. Before this date, a court-appointed litigation friend could claim on their behalf. However, once they turn 18, they will have three years to start a claim if one has not already been made for them.
- Those who lack the mental capacity to make a claim for themself. For these injured parties, the time limit is suspended indefinitely. During this time, a litigation friend could act on their behalf. Should they regain this capacity and a claim was not made for them, they will have three years from the date of recovery to make one.
Our advisors can help you start your claim if you slipped on a wet floor at work. Get in touch using the details at the top of the page.
Causes Of Wet Floor Accidents
Many hazards could have caused you to slip on a wet floor and injure yourself. Some examples could include:
- Water spilt on the floor of an airport bathroom could cause you to slip.
- You might slip on oil that has leaked from a car engine on a petrol station forecourt.
- A cup of coffee spilt on the floor of a café could result in you slipping over.
Each of these is an example of the types of slip hazards that could be the responsibility of a third party and potentially a valid cause to claim.
Health and Safety England also outlines the top causes of slips causing injury, which include:
- Obstructed walkways
- Uneven surfaces
- Poor housekeeping
- Issues with design and maintenance
What To Do If You’ve Slipped On A Wet Floor At Work
If you have slipped on a wet floor at work and can prove that your employer was responsible for the accident, you could be able to make a slip on wet floor claim.
This is because your employer has a legal obligation to provide you with a safe and healthy place to work. This obligation is enforced by requiring the employer to comply with all health and safety regulations laid down by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) that pertain to the type of business. When an employer fails in their compliance and this results in harm to an employee, they could be liable.
Your Legal Rights If You’ve Slipped On A Wet Floor In A Shop Or Supermarket
Whether you slipped on a wet floor in a shop, slipped on a wet floor in a restaurant, or any other business premises such as a supermarket, you could be able to make a slip on wet floor claim for your suffering.
In the same way that it was explained why your employer could be liable for such accidents, every publicly accessible business premises must comply with all health and safety regulations applicable to the business. Furthermore, the business must have a valid public liability insurance policy in place. If a member of the public is injured in an accident for which the operator of the premises was to blame, they could be able to claim against this insurance policy.
Where Else Could I Slip On A Wet Floor?
These kinds of accidents can be caused by myriad hazards and can take place almost anywhere at all. For example:
- At an airport, railway station or bus station.
- At a hotel, guesthouse or resort.
- At a hospital or your GP’s surgery.
- As a lifeguard working at a public swimming pool.
If the victim can prove the premises’ operator was to blame for their accident, they could be able to claim slipped on wet floor compensation for the harm they suffered.
Injuries Which Could Be Caused By A Slip On A Wet Floor
Even though these are often simple accidents, this does not mean that when slipping on a wet floor an injury can’t be serious. For some people, especially the elderly, a slip, trip or fall accident can cause catastrophic injuries, such as a fractured pelvis or hip.
Back Injuries Caused By A Slip On A Wet Floor
A slip can cause a person to twist their back as they try to regain their balance, causing a soft tissue injury such as a sprain or strain. Alternatively, they could land on their coccyx, bruising it or fracturing one of the vertebrae of the back.
Hand, Wrist Or Arm Injuries Caused By A Slip On A Wet Floor
It is a natural response for human beings to try and reach out and break their fall when they slip over. This can cause cuts and grazes to the palms of the hands, a sprained wrist, or even a fractured arm.
Head Injuries Caused By A Slip On A Wet Floor
Although a slip, trip or fall is not likely to result in a catastrophic head injury causing life-threatening brain damage, this could still happen in extreme cases. More normally a head injury caused by slipping over would consist of lacerations, cuts and bruises and possibly a case of concussion.
Compensation Payouts In Slip And Fall Claims
Settlements for successful slip and fall claims may consist of general and special damages.
General damages compensate for the physical pain and mental suffering you experienced due to your injuries. When valuing your personal injury claim, a legal professional may refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to help them. This document provides guideline compensation amounts for various types of injuries.
In our table below, we’ve included some figures from the 16th edition of the JCG. Please only use it as guidance.
| Injury | Notes | Compensation Bracket |
|---|---|---|
| Moderate Brain Damage (iii) | In this bracket, the claimant's concentration and memory have been affected, there is a reduced ability to work and a small epilepsy risk. Any dependence is very limited. | £43,060 to £90,720 |
| Less Severe Brain Damage | In this bracket, the claimant has made a good recovery. However, not all normal functions have been restored. The award is impacted by the extent of the initial injury, continuing disability, personality changes and depression. | £15,320 to £43,060 |
| Severe Back Injuries (ii) | Found in this bracket are injuries with special features such as loss of sensation, impaired mobility and sexual difficulties associated with nerve root damage. | £74,160 to £88,430 |
| Moderate Back Injuries (ii) | The award in this bracket will depend on the severity of the original injury, the pain experienced, treatment required, the impact of the symptoms on daily life and the prognosis. | £12,510 to £27,760 |
| Severe Knee Injuries (ii) | The claimant has suffered a leg fracture that extended into the knee. It causes constant pain, which results in permanent movement and agility limitations. | £52,120 to £69,730 |
| Moderate Knee Injuries (i) | Injuries in this bracket include dislocation, torn cartilage or meniscus causing minor instability, wasting, weakness or other future disability that is mild. The bracket also includes injuries that accelerate a pre-existing condition. | £14,840 to £26,190 |
| Arm Injuries Causing Permanent And Substantial Disablement. | In this bracket are serious fractures that have occurred in one or both forearms. They cause a significant permanent disability. | £39,170 to £59,860 |
| Simple Arm Fractures | In this bracket, the claimant has suffered simple forearm fractures. | £6,610 to £19,200 |
| Wrist Injuries (b) | The injury has caused the claimant significant permanent disability. However, some useful movement remains. | £24,500 to £39,170 |
| Wrist Injuries (d) | In this bracket, the recovery from a fracture or soft tissue injury is largely complete apart from minor symptoms. However, it has taken longer than 12 months. | £6,080 to £10,350 |
To find out whether you could be eligible to make a claim if you were injured when you slipped on a wet floor, contact our advisors today.
What Else Can Personal Injury Compensation Include?
A successful slip on wet floor claim could garner a settlement package consisting of two heads of claim; general damages and special damages.
General damages are awarded to the claimant for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity inflicted by the injury. The amount of compensation they receive will depend on the level of pain they went through, whether they underwent intrusive or traumatic treatment, whether they will suffer an impediment in the long-term. General damages take account of:
- Stress and trauma.
- Loss of quality of life.
- Psychological damage.
- Permanent disability.
- Pain and suffering.
Special damages are paid to the claimant to compensate them for financial and other non-physical losses. To claim for costs incurred successfully, documented evidence in the form of invoices, receipts and bills will need to be submitted as evidence.
- Out of pocket expenses.
- Loss of earning potential.
- Medical costs.
- Lost income.
- Care costs.
If you would like to find out what types of damages you could be able to claim for based on your unique circumstances, please speak to our team today.
What Is A No Win No Fee Agreement And Can I Claim This Way?
A No Win No Fee solicitor can provide you with the legal expertise you need to have your claim processed, whilst minimising the financial risks of making a claim. Your lawyer won’t ask you for any fees upfront or during your claim. If the case is unsuccessful, you will not have to pay any of the fees your solicitor has incurred in pursuing your case.
If the claim is a success, your solicitor might ask for a small success fee to be paid to them, which would form a percentage of the compensation awarded. Don’t worry, as a success fee is legally capped and will be confirmed with you before your slip on wet floor claim begins.
Contact Legal Helpline Today
Have you slipped over at work, out shopping, or somewhere else? Do you think a third party was responsible for your accident? Then please contact our team on 0333 000 0729 today to find out if you could make a slip on wet floor claim.
Learn More About Slip And Fall Claims
These external pages have useful information:
These other guides might also be of use:
- A Guide To Slip, Trip And Fall Claims
- Claiming For A Slip, Trip Or Fall At Work
- Work-Related Back Injury Claims
- For the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about personal injury claims, head here.
- If you’re wondering what to do after you’ve had an accident abroad or on holiday in a shop then this article can help you.
If you need any more help making a claim if you slipped on a wet floor at work, in a shop or supermarket, get in touch.
