Slipped On Ice At Work – No Win No Fee Injury Claims

Have you slipped on ice at work? Were you injured as a result? You could make a personal injury claim for compensation if you have a slip at work due to an icy walkway that should have been made safe. Here at Advice.co.uk, we have created this guide to help you if you’re thinking of making such a claim.

Advice On Claims For Slipping On Ice At Your Workplace

Slipped On Ice At Work

Employers have specific legal responsibilities to make their workplaces safe, including workplace car parks, paved walkways and entranceways. They should attempt to prevent you from suffering a slip at work where possible. If they do not take reasonable steps to protect you from suffering a slip, trip or fall at work and you are injured, you could claim compensation. Claims could relate to slipping on ice within the workplace, or on company premises.

In the sections below, we answer some frequently asked questions about slipping on ice in your workplace. We discuss how to calculate compensation payouts and what damages you could claim for. We also offer insight into what preventative measures your employer could take to avoid this type of accident. We hope you find this guide useful. If you would like free legal advice tailored to your circumstances, why not get in touch? We’d be happy to provide you with a free eligibility check and could also connect you with a solicitor to start your claim. You can reach us on 0161 696 9685.

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A Guide To Claiming If You Slipped On Ice At Work

If you’ve slipped on ice at work, you could suffer a range of injuries. Depending on how you slipped and whether you fell, you could suffer injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to broken bones and concussion. In extreme cases, you could even suffer life-changing injuries. If you suffer an injury at work that your employer could have prevented by taking proper care of your health and safety, you could be eligible to claim compensation. We have designed this guide to help you understand more about making personal injury claims of this type.

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, your employer has a legal obligation to protect you from foreseeable risks at work. This extends to the prevention of slips and falls at work due to icy conditions. There are some situations where your employer will not be able to mitigate the risk of slipping on ice at your workplace. However, if your employer could predict or has knowledge of ice risks, they could have a responsibility to reduce such risks. Failure to do so, if it leads to an accident, could lead to them being held liable for your injuries. This guide provides advice on situations that could lead to a claim and how compensation amounts could be arrived at.

Click Here To Learn More About Accident At Work Claims

Calculating Compensation If You Slipped On Ice At Work

We have not included a personal injury claims calculator on this page. Instead, we have chosen to illustrate how you could be compensated for injuries from having slipped on ice at work in the table below. Every single personal injury claim is different when it comes to the facts and circumstances of the case. These will be assessed to arrive at an appropriate compensation settlement.

The figures used in the table below come from the Judicial College Guidelines. Solicitors could use this publication to hone in on an appropriate value for your injuries. We have included injuries we believe could be sustained if you have slipped on ice at work. If your injury doesn’t appear here, simply call our team for further insight.

InjurySeverity of InjuryJudicial College Guidelines Bracket
Brain damageLess severe£14,380 - £40,410
Brain/head injuryMinor£2,070 to £11,980
Neck injuriesModerate£7,410 - £36,120
Neck injuriesMinorUp to £7,410
Back injuriesSevere£36,390 - £151,070
Back injuriesModerate£11,730 - £36,390
Back injuriesMinorUp to £11,730
Knee injuriesSevere£24,580 - £90,290
Knee injuriesModerateUp to £24,580
Ankle injuriesSevere£29,380 - £46,980
Ankle injuriesModerate£12,900 - £24,950
Wrist injuries (a)Leading to complete function loss£44,690 - £56,180
Wrist injuriesA simple Colles’ fractureAround £6,970
Injuries to hips and pelvisSevere£36,770 - £122,860
Injuries to hips and pelvisModerate£11,820 - £36,770

Further Damages Awarded For Slipping On Ice At Work

There are different damages that could be claimed by those who’ve slipped on ice at work. The two heads of claim are general and special damages.

General Damages

The first type of damages you could claim are general damages. These relate to pain and suffering and any loss of amenity caused by your injuries. You can find examples of general damages in the table in the previous section. General damages compensate you for the non-pecuniary (non-financial) aspects of your suffering.

Special Damages

In addition to general damages, you could also claim special damages. These compensate you for the pecuniary (actual financial) losses. The sections below explain what special damages you could claim for.

Loss Of Income

Loss of income for unpaid time off work necessitated by your injuries is common in personal injury claims. This could include loss of bonuses or overtime. In serious cases, a future loss of earnings award may be given.

Medical Expenses

Some injuries might lead you to incur medical expenses. Special damages could be claimed for expenses such as prescription costs, counselling or physiotherapy, for example.

Care Costs

If you slipped on ice at work and sustained serious injuries, you may need care at home. The costs of care could be recovered as special damages.

Travel Expenses

Even travel costs that have arisen because of your injuries could be claimed for. Whether you have incurred costs getting to medical appointments or lawyers’ appointments, these could be classed as special damages.

In order to claim special damages, you would have to provide evidence. Keeping bills, bank statements and receipts is a wise idea. That way, you can provide evidence to your lawyer when they require it.

What Are Slipped On Ice At Work Accidents?

If you have slipped on ice at work, you might be wondering whether it could be your employer’s fault. For example, they might not have gritted the pathways outside your place of work. Or perhaps your slip on ice at work related to an accident indoors. Those working in indoor freezers and other employees working with frozen items may also be at risk from a slip on ice at work.

Can I Sue If I Slip On Ice?

To be eligible to make a claim, you would need to prove:

  • Your employer had a duty of care to prevent you from slipping on ice at work.
  • They failed to take reasonable steps to prevent you from slipping on ice at your workplace.
  • Your employer’s failure to take reasonable steps to prevent a slip on ice at work accident caused your injury.

You would also need to make your claim within the personal injury claims time limit relevant to your case. Usually, this would be 3 years from the date of your slip on ice, but some exceptions could apply. If you’ve suffered a slip and fall on ice at your workplace and you’d like to know whether you could claim, please call us. We could offer free legal advice and could connect you with a lawyer to help you.

Employer Duty Of Care To Prevent A Snow And Ice Accident At Work

Most building owners/operators have a duty of care towards those using their premises. Employers also have legal responsibilities to protect employees from suffering harm at work by reasonably acting to protect them from risks. This means that a risk assessment could be completed if weather conditions are predicted to cause hazards. Laws that put a legal responsibility on organisations to prevent harm to employees and building users include:

For those who are meant to work in icy conditions as part of their job, the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 may apply. It requires, where applicable, an employer to provide PPE. They should supply PPE that is fit for the use it is intended for. Employees should also be trained on how to use it properly.

What Could Employers Do To Prevent Employees Slipping On Ice?

According to the HSE, your employer should:

  • Assess the risk and put systems in place to manage risks.
  • Identify the areas most likely to pose a threat, such as pavements, entrances and car parks, for example.
  • Monitor the temperature.
  • Take action to prevent accidents occurring when there is a forecast for freezing weather.
  • Use grit where appropriate.
  • Consider covering walkways.
  • Divert those on foot to the safest walkways.
  • Put barriers in place to prevent access to badly affected areas.
  • Provide appropriate PPE (if applicable).

If an employer could have foreseen the risks of employees potentially slipping on an icy pavement, and they fail to act, then resulting injuries could see them being held liable for personal injury claims.

Health And Safety Concerns Around Ice, Snow And Frost

There are other concerns from a health and safety perspective when it comes to winter weather. These could include:

Lighting

During the darker months, it is important that employees are able to clearly see pathways so they can use them safely. Employers should take steps to ensure there is sufficient lighting to avoid accidents.

Rainwater

A build-up of rainwater could cause icy patches. Your employer should take preventative action to avoid this happening if they’re reasonably able to foresee it. If they’re warned about rainwater having caused an existing icy patch, they should also act accordingly to prevent accidents.

Frost, Snow And Ice

When the weather forecast predicts frost, snow or ice, an employer should take action to mitigate emerging risks. Actions they could take could include:

  • Gritting
  • Providing safe walkways
  • Putting warning signs on unsafe pathways
  • Directing staff to the safest pathways to take
  • Amending working hours to avoid periods where weather poses risk to the health and safety of staff

What Injuries Could You Get From Slipping On Ice?

Injuries caused to someone who has slipped on ice at work could vary wildly. You could endure:

  • Back pain
  • Ankle pain
  • Knee pain
  • Hip/pelvic pain

You could experience this type of pain even if you have not fallen to the floor. You could easily suffer a strain or sprain without a fall.

What Injuries Could You Get From Falling?

If you have fallen as well as slipping, it could cause you to experience a:

  • Fractured wrist: This could happen when someone puts their hands out to protect themselves. A fracture could range in severity from a simple fracture to a complex spiral fracture, for example.
  • Fractured hip
  • Head injury
  • Back injury
  • Pelvic injury

Whatever the type or severity of your injury, if your employer was to blame, you could claim compensation. Please do not hesitate to call us if you think you might have a valid claim. Our advisors could provide free legal advice to you over the phone.

Slipped On Ice At Work FAQs

How Do You Report An Accident At Work?

You should always report a work injury to your employer, even if it is minor. That way, your employer could record your injury in the accident book. Your employer should report certain injuries to the HSE through RIDDOR, including:

  • Fatal injuries
  • Certain fractures that have been diagnosed by a doctor
  • Amputation of limbs
  • Injuries that lead to reduction or loss of sight
  • Compression/crush injuries to head or torso that cause internal organ damage
  • Serious burns/scalds
  • Scalping that necessitates treatment at a hospital
  • Losses of consciousness (if they have resulted from asphyxia or head injury)
  • Injuries sustained in enclosed spaces (leading to hypothermia or heat-induced conditions, or those that necessitate resuscitation or hospital treatment)

How long do you have to report an accident at work?

You should report an accident as soon as you are able. If there is no accident book at work, you should make a written report to your employer and ask them to confirm they have received the report. If your employer should report your injuries through RIDDOR, they should do so as soon as possible.

What are my rights if I am injured at work?

Certain rights apply if you suffer injuries in the workplace. These include:

  • Your right to seek legal advice from a personal injury solicitor
  • The right to seek compensation from an employer who has failed to protect your health at safety at work, if their failure has caused your injuries
  • Your right not to be treated any differently because of your claim

Can you be fired for a workplace injury?

This is a common question. If you were acting dangerously or recklessly and it led to you suffering an injury at work, then this could give some grounds for disciplinary action. However, if you sustain injuries through no fault of your own, your employer has no grounds to fire you if you choose to make a claim. Legislation protects you from discrimination or dismissal if you make a claim against them.

What Happens If You Fall On Ice While On Your Way To Work But Not At Your Workplace?

If you are travelling to work and slip on an icy pavement somewhere unrelated to your workplace, this would not be an area that they would be responsible for. However, someone else could be held liable, depending on where you were. Our advisors could provide you with free legal advice to see if you could have a claim against another liable party.

No Win No Fee: Slipped On Ice At Work Injury Claims

If you’ve slipped on ice at work and you would like to make a claim, you might be looking for a personal injury solicitor to help you. The good news is that you could make a claim under No Win No Fee terms. This means you would not pay your solicitor until they had secured compensation for you. No Win No Fee claims generally work as follows:

  1. You would receive a No Win No Fee Agreement (Conditional Fee Agreement) from your personal injury solicitor. They would ask you to carefully read the agreement, sign it and send it back. The agreement would reference a success fee that you’d pay your solicitor once they have arranged compensation. The fee represents a small percentage of your compensation, and it is deducted from the final payout to pay your solicitor. It is also legally capped.
  2. When your solicitor receives your signed agreement, they will begin to work on your personal injury claim.
  3. The lawyer would take their success fee from your compensation payout. You would benefit from the balance.

What Happens If No Win No Fee Claims Are Unsuccessful?

If you’re concerned about having to pay your lawyer when your claim fails, then you need not be. If your claim were unsuccessful, you would not have to pay the success fee. If you would like to learn more about No Win No Fee claims, why not read this guide? Alternatively, you could call us for free legal advice and for answers to any questions you might have.

Contact Us

If you’re ready to claim for injuries from slipping on ice in your workplace, we’re ready to help you. We could provide you with free legal advice specific to your accident and your injuries. We could also assess your case to see if you could be eligible to claim for the injuries you sustained when you slipped on ice at work. If we believe you could have a valid claim, we could also connect you with an experienced personal injury lawyer to assist with your claim. To get in touch with our expert team, simply:

Resources

HSE Guidance For Icy Conditions And Winter Weather: Here, you can find guidance from the Health And Safety Executive surrounding workplace safety in icy conditions.

Winter Warnings For Slips And Falls In Winter: This NHS article contains details of how people could avoid slips and falls in winter.

Who Is Responsible For Gritting?: Here, you can find guidance from the Local Government Association regarding gritting responsibilities.

We also have a bunch of dedicated guides on making an accident at work claim, which you can read below:

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