If you have suffered an injury after tripping over some cables at work, you might be able to make a personal injury claim. However, you will need to demonstrate that your injuries were the result of your employer breaching the duty of care they owed you.
Tripping Over Cables Claims Guide
Within this guide, we will set out the duty of care your employer owes you, and the criteria that must be met to have a valid claim. Additionally, this guide will discuss the time limit you must adhere to when starting a personal injury claim. Furthermore, we will share some of the benefits of working with a solicitor on a No Win No Fee basis.
If you have been injured in a workplace accident, and are unsure whether you could make a claim, you can contact one of our advisors. They can offer you free advice for your potential claim as well as answer any of the questions you may have.
Contact our advisors by:
- Calling on 0161 696 9685
- Contact us online.
- Talk to one of our advisors using our live chat.
Select A Section
- When Am I Eligible To Claim Compensation For Tripping Over Cables At Work?
- Potential Compensation From Tripping Over Cables At Work
- What Evidence Do I Need To Make A Workplace Accident Claim?
- Is There A Time Limit To Claim For An Accident At Work?
- Trip At Work No Win No Fee Claim
- Learn More About Making An Accident At Work Claim
When Am I Eligible To Claim Compensation For Tripping Over Cables At Work?
To be eligible for compensation after tripping over some cables at work, you will need to prove that your injuries were the result of your employer breaching the duty of care they owed you. Together, this forms the basis of negligence.
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 outlines the duty of care your employer owes you. Per their duty of care, an employer must take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of their employees whilst they are in the workplace and performing work-related duties. This could include carrying out regular risk assessments, and ensuring the work floor is tidy and clear of any hazards.
If your employer fails to adhere to their duty of care, this could result in you being injured in an accident at work. For example, if you tripped over a loose wire due to your employer failing to properly tidy them away or secure them down properly, causing you to suffer an ankle injury, you might be eligible to make a personal injury claim.
If you are unsure whether you could make a personal injury claim, you can contact one of our advisors today.
Potential Compensation From Tripping Over Cables At Work
After a successful personal injury claim, your compensation settlement could include two heads of claim. One of the heads of claim is general damages which compensates you for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries.
Below, we have provided a table using the figures listed in the 16th edition of the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This is a document used by solicitors and other legal professionals to help value claims. This is because the JCG assigns compensation guidelines for various injuries.
Please note that you should only use this table as a guide. Each claim is unique, and the factors affecting your specific claim could affect how much you receive.
Compensation Figures
Injury Notes Compensation Guidelines
Severe Back Injuries (i) Damage to spinal cord and nerve roots resulting in severe pain and disability and other very serious consequences. £91,090 to £160,980
Minor Back Injuries (i) A full recovery from a minor back injury, such as a disc prolapse or strain, takes 2-5 years without needing surgery. £7,890 to £12,510
Severe Knee Injuries (ii) Constant permanent pain and limited knee movement due to a fracture in the leg that has extended into the knee joint. £52,120 to £69,730
Wrist Injuries (a) There is a complete loss of function in the wrist. £47,620 to £59,860
Severe Leg Injuries (iii) Joint or ligament injuries, or serious compound or comminuted fractures that result in instability and will require prolonged treatment. £39,200 to £54,830
Less Severe Arm Injuries Despite suffering with significant disabilities a substantial degree of recovery has taken place or is expected to. £19,200 to £39,170
Moderate Ankle Injuries Injuries such as ligamentous tears, fractures and disabilities such as difficulty walking/standing for long periods. £13,740 to £26,590
Modest Ankle Injuries Sprains, minor or undisplaced fractures, or ligamentous injuries. Whether a complete recovery has been made will affect the amount awarded. Up to £13,740
Moderate Foot Injuries Displaced metatarsal fractures that cause continuing symptoms and will result in a permanent deformity. £13,740 to £24,990
Minor Hand, Finger, and Thumb Injuries Fractures that recover fully within 6 months. Up to £4,750
Special Damages After A Trip At Work
The other head of claim is special damages. This aims to compensate you for the financial losses you have suffered that have been directly caused by your injury. You could claim special damages for:
- Loss of earnings – past, present and future.
- Travel expenses.
- Medical costs.
However, you will need to provide evidence about these losses in order to successfully receive special damages. Evidence could include receipts or payslips.
If you are still unsure whether you could make a claim after tripping over cables at work, you can contact our advisors.
What Evidence Do I Need To Make A Workplace Accident Claim?
To help support your chances of a successful claim, you should try and provide as much evidence as possible. Providing sufficient evidence could help prove liability and illustrate the physical and/or psychological injury you have suffered.
Examples of the evidence you could collect to help support your claim could include:
- CCTV footage of the accident.
- A completed report in the accident book if your workplace has one onsite.
- A copy of your medical records stating the injury you suffered.
- Photographs of any visible injuries.
- The contact details of any eyewitnesses.
Contact our advisors to discuss your potential personal injury claim today. Additionally, they could connect you with one of the solicitors from our panel, who could help you with gathering evidence for your claim.
Is There A Time Limit To Claim For An Accident At Work?
Generally, you will have three years to start your personal injury claim from the date you suffered your injury. This time limit is set out in the Limitation Act 1980.
However, there are certain circumstances where there are exceptions to this time limit. This includes:
- Claimants who lack the mental capacity to claim for themselves. In this instance, the time limit is suspended. However, if the person were to regain this capacity, they will have 3 years from this date to start their claim.
- Claimants under the age of 18. Minors will have 3 years from their 18th birthday to start their claim. Prior to this date, the time limit is suspended.
In both scenarios, a litigation friend appointed by the court could make a claim on behalf of the claimant while the time limit is suspended.
Contact our advisors today to see whether you could make a claim after tripping over some cables at work.
Trip At Work No Win No Fee Claim
One of our friendly advisors could inform you whether you could make a personal injury claim if you have been injured due to tripping over cables at work. If they believe you may have a valid claim, they could connect you with one of the solicitors from our panel. Additionally, one of the solicitors from our panel may offer to work with you under the terms of a Conditional Fee Agreement, which is a type of No Win No Fee agreement.
When claiming with a solicitor under this arrangement, there will be no upfront fees to pay to your solicitor for their service. You will also not be charged any ongoing fees for your solicitor’s services.
Furthermore, you will usually not have to pay your solicitor for their services if the claim fails. Alternatively, you will pay your solicitor a success fee if your claim is successful. Your solicitor will take this success fee from your compensation. The percentage they can take as the success fee is legally capped.
If you have any further questions about making a personal injury claim, you can contact one of our advisors today. Our friendly team is available 24/7 and can offer you free advice for your potential claim
Contact our advisors by:
- Calling on 0161 696 9685
- Contact us online.
- Talk to one of our advisors using our live chat.
Learn More About Making An Accident At Work Claim
Additional guides about personal injury claims:
- Do you need a solicitor for a personal injury claim?
- Top tips on how to claim for slips and trips at work.
- Can I claim for an office workplace accident?
Further resources:
- GOV.UK – Request CCTV footage of yourself.
- NHS – How to get your medical records.
- HSE – Managing risks and risk assessment at work.
Contact our advisors today to see whether you could make a personal injury claim for tripping over cables at work.