What Is The Average Compensation For A Fall At Work And When Could I Claim?

By Cat Grayson. Last Updated 3rd October 2025. Falling at work can lead to serious injuries and also affect your ability to earn a livelihood. If this has happened to you due to your employer’s negligent actions, you may be wondering ‘What is the average compensation for a fall at work?’ This is a valid question since your fall at work payout amount must reflect your suffering and the loss of income you’ve suffered. 

What You Need To Know About Fall At Work Claims:

• Can I claim for a fall at work if I was partially at fault?- Yes, you may be able to claim for a fall at work even if you were partially at fault. However, your compensation amount may be reduced according to the concept of contributory negligence.
• Does my employer need to report my fall at work to any other authorities?– Yes, your employer needs to record the details of your fall in the accident book. Additionally, your employer will have to report your injury to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), subject to certain conditions.
• Can I be dismissed for claiming fall injury compensation?– No, you cannot be dismissed for making a fall injury claim since your rights as a worker include the right to claim compensation.
• What kind of injuries are possible due to falling at work?- Some injuries which can occur from a fall at work include brain damage, spinal injuries and broken bones.
• Can I include a loss of income in my fall injury at work claim?– Yes, you may be able to include a loss of income in the past and future under special damages. This head of compensation deals with financial losses resulting from your injuries.

At Advice, our personal injury solicitors have helped various workers gain compensation for the injuries they suffered in a workplace accident that was not their fault. They can help you throughout the entire claims process, so you can focus on recovering.

For more information on how our advisory team can help with your accident at work claim, get in touch now:

• Call on 0161 509 2856.
• Reach out directly on live chat.
• Contact us online.

Browse Our Guide

1. What Is The Average Compensation For A Fall At Work?
2. When Could You Be Owed Fall At Work Compensation?
3. How Could Fall At Work Accidents And Injuries Occur?
4. Evidence To Support Your Claim For Fall At Work Compensation
5. Claiming Fall At Work Compensation With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
6. Additional Resources For Slip Trip And Fall Claims

What Is The Average Compensation For A Fall At Work?

Owing to the fact every compensation claim is assessed individually and can be influenced by many different factors, there is no average compensation for a fall at work settlement amount per se.

There are two heads of claim that fall at work compensation can be awarded under: general and special damages. These compensate for physical and psychological damage and monetary losses, respectively.

Those given the responsibility of determining a possible value for your injuries can refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) alongside your provided medical evidence. The JCG publication contains guideline compensation amounts for various injuries.

Compensation Amounts

We have used the JCG to create our compensation section. We’d like to stress that this information is intended strictly for guidance purposes. The first bullet point is not a JCG figure. 

• Multiple very serious injuries as well as special damages – up to £1,000,000 and above.
• Brain damage – moderate (i) – moderate to severe deficit intellect, sensory impact and personality change – £183,190 to £267,340.
• Neck Injury – Severe (ii) – injuries involving serious fractures or disc damage causing severe disabilities. – £80,240 to £159,770.
• Elbow (a) – Injuries causing severe disablement. – £47,810 to £66,920.
• Other arm injuries – less severe (c) – severe injuries where a substantial degree of recovery has occurred. – £23,430 to £47,810.
• Back Injuries – moderate (ii) – Prolapsed discs requiring laminectomy – £15,260 to £33,880.
• Wrist Injuries – less severe (c) – some permanent disability – £15,370 to £29,900.
• Shoulder Injuries – serious (b) – shoulder dislocation and lower brachial plexus damage. – £15,580 to £23,430.
• Leg Injuries – less serious (ii) – simple femur fractures – £11,120 to £17,180.

What Are Special Damages?

If you are eligible for special damages, this heading will combine with general damages to form your compensation award. Special damages cover the financial losses that you experience as a result of your injuries.

For example, after falling down the stairs at work, your injuries might be so severe that you can’t work anymore. In this case, special damages could help you recover the earnings you have lost or would have lost in the future.

This heading can also help you cover the cost of:

• Counselling, prescriptions, and medical treatments.
• Childcare and help with housekeeping.
• Prosthetics and mobility aids.
• Home adjustments, such as the installation of a stairlift.
• Travel to and from work or medical appointments.

Presenting evidence of these financial losses could help support your claim for special damages. Examples of evidence you could use include payslips, invoices and bank statements.

For more information on fall at work compensation and whether or not you could be eligible to make a claim, contact our team of advisors today.

When Could You Be Owed Fall At Work Compensation?

As per The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers owe their employees a duty of care. They must take reasonable and practicable steps to prevent their employees from becoming injured in the workplace. Examples of some of the steps they need to take include:

• Performing regular risk assessments of the work environment
• Acting on any findings from the risk assessments
• Providing adequate health and safety training

A failure to do so is a breach of their duty of care. If this breach causes you to sustain harm, either physically or psychologically, this is negligence. If you have evidence that negligence has occurred, you could be eligible to begin a personal injury claim to seek fall at work compensation. 

What Is The Time Limit For A Workplace Accident Claim?

Generally, you have 3 years from the date of your accident to begin your personal injury claim as laid out in the Limitation Act 1980. However, there are certain exceptions that can apply to the time limit.

To discuss these exceptions, please get in touch on the number above. An advisor can provide further details on when these could apply. They can also explore whether your claim is eligible.

How Could Fall At Work Accidents And Injuries Occur?

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), slips, trips and falls on the same level accounted for 31% of non-fatal injuries to employees in 2023/24. There are a variety of ways these could occur and several types of injuries that could be sustained as a result. For example:

• You may have tripped over a loose wire that wasn’t covered up in an office. As a result, you experienced a severe head injury and elbow injury.
• You may sustain a leg injury after a fall from a height if equipment, such as a ladder, has not been adequately maintained.
• A wet floor may not have been cleaned up or adequately signposted in a reasonable timeframe causing you to slip and sustain a fractured arm.

Evidence To Support Your Claim For Fall At Work Compensation

It is important to be able to provide evidence to support your claim when seeking fall at work compensation as it can help to prove liability. Examples of the evidence you could gather include:

• CCTV footage of the accident 
• The contact information of any witnesses
• A copy of medical records
• Photographs of your injuries

One of our solicitors could assist you with gathering evidence and building your case. They can also ensure your case is presented in full within the time limit set out. An advisor can provide more information on their services if you call the number above.

Claiming Fall At Work Compensation With A No Win No Fee Solicitor

Our solicitors offer their work under a type of No Win No Fee agreement. Whilst there are different kinds, the type of contract they offer is called a Conditional Fee Agreement. You can typically expect the following terms under this contract:

• You will not have to pay for the work completed on your case by your solicitor if the claim has an unsuccessful outcome.
• You will pay your solicitor a percentage of your compensation if the claim has a successful outcome. This is capped by The Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013.

For more information about how working with a solicitor on this basis could benefit your claim, please get in touch with an advisor. They could connect you with our No Win No Fee solicitors if they find you have valid grounds to seek fall at work compensation. To reach them, you can:

• Call on 0161 509 2856
• Fill out our contact form
• Speak to an advisor via our 24/7 web chat

Additional Resources For Slip Trip And Fall Claims

Take a look at the following external resources:

• Fall Prevention – NHS
• Risk Assessment: Steps Needed To Manage Risk – HSE
• Request CCTV Footage – GOV

Thank you for reading this guide, ‘What is the average compensation for a fall at work?’. If you have any other questions, please get in touch using the contact details provided above.

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