This guide aims to answer your questions regarding slip and fall accidents and public liability claims, such as “How long do you have to report a slip and fall?” and “Am I eligible to claim compensation for an accident in a public place?”.
Slip and fall accidents can occur in any public space for a variety of reasons. Within this guide, we will discuss when you could be eligible to make a personal injury claim. Additionally, we will cover the types of evidence that could be used to support a public liability claim. Furthermore, we will also look at how personal injury compensation is valued and explore some of the benefits of making a claim with one of the No Win Win Fee solicitors on our panel.
You can also contact our team of advisors after finishing this guide to discuss your case with them and receive free advice. Speak with them today by:
- Calling 0161 696 9685.
- Contact us online.
- Using our live chat box.
Advice On How Long Do You Have To Report A Slip And Fall
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- How Long Do You Have To Report A Slip And Fall Accident In A Public Place?
- When Are You Able To Claim For An Accident In A Public Place?
- Slip And Fall Compensation Calculator – How Much Could You Receive?
- Evidence That Could Help During Slip And Fall Claims
- Make A Slip And Fall Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis
- Learn More About How Long You Have To Report A Slip And Fall Accident
How Long Do You Have To Report A Slip And Fall Accident In A Public Place?
If you have been injured while out in public, you may be wondering, ‘How long do you have to report a slip and fall accident that occurred in a public place in order to make a claim?’.
Generally, there is no set time limit to when a slip and fall accident must be reported to the appropriate occupier of a public space in order to make a claim. However, if you do intend to go on to make a personal injury claim after a public place accident, reporting it as soon as possible could provide important evidence. Having it logged in an accident book and requesting CCTV of the incident may be vital to a claim’s success.
An occupier is a party that is in control of a public space, such as a council or local authority or supermarket owner. Reporting your public space accident as soon as possible can alert the occupier of potential risks and hazards. This can allow them to signpost and fix the hazard within a timely manner, thereby minimising the risk of another injury occurring.
If you have been injured in a public place, you may be eligible to make a public liability claim, regardless of whether you have reported the accident or not.
To learn the eligibility criteria that you must meet to have a valid case, you can continue reading our guide. Additionally, you can contact our advisors today to ask any questions you may have and receive free advice.
When Are You Able To Claim For An Accident In A Public Place?
When you are using a public space, you are owed a duty of care by the occupier of that space. Under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, they must ensure the public’s reasonable safety when they are using that space for its intended purposes by taking any necessary steps and measures. For example, this could include performing regular risk assessments to identify any hazards.
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident in a public place due to the occupier’s actions or omissions, you may be able to make a public liability claim. However, you will need to meet the necessary eligibility criteria. This is:
- The occupier in question owed you a duty of care.
- That duty of care was breached because of the occupier’s actions or lack of.
- As a result of this breach, you were injured.
To see whether you may be eligible to make a personal injury claim following an accident in a public place, you can contact our advisory team.
How Could A Slip And Fall Accident Happen?
There are various ways that you could be involved in a slip-and-fall accident in a public place. However, to have an eligible personal injury claim, the accident and your subsequent injuries must have been caused by an occupier breaching their duty of care.
Some examples of how you could be involved in a public place slip, trip and fall accident include:
- Slipping and falling whilst walking downstairs in a shopping centre due to a faulty railing.
- Slipping on a spillage in a supermarket as no wet floor signs are present.
- Tripping and falling on a damaged pavement that has not been repaired.
These are only a few examples of how a slip, trip or fall accident could occur in a public place. To discuss the grounds of your slip and fall accident claim, get in touch with our advisors.
Slip And Fall Compensation Calculator – How Much Could You Receive?
The compensation you could receive following a successful personal injury claim for a slip and fall will depend on the various factors of your claim. For example, the type of injury you suffered, its initial severity and your expected recovery rate could all affect the amount you receive.
However, if you make a successful claim, you will receive general damages as part of your settlement. General damages is the head of claim that addresses your mental and physical injuries, as well as the suffering and pain they have caused you.
Below is an injuries table with possible related injuries for a slip and fall accident and their guideline compensation brackets found in the 16th edition of Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The JCG is a document legal professionals can reference to help them evaluate your general damages sum.
Please note that the figures featured below are to be used as guidelines only.
Injuries Table
| Injury | Severity | Compensation bracket | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leg | Severe Leg Injuries (b) (ii) | £54,830 to £87,890 | Injuries where multiple fractures have taken years to heal and required extensive treatment. |
| Leg | Less serious (c) (ii) | £9,110 to £14,080 | Simple fracture of a femur with no damage to articular surfaces. |
| Knee | Severe (a) (ii) | £52,120 to £69,730 | Leg fracture extending into the knee joint causing pain which is constant and permanent. |
| Knee | Moderate (b) (i) | £14,840 to £26,190 | Injuries involving dislocation or torn cartilage which results in a mild future disability such as minor instability. |
| Arm | Injuries resulting in permanent and substantial disablement (b) | £39,170 to £59,860 | Serious fractures of one or both forearms where there is significant permanent residual disability. |
| Arm | Simple (d) | £6,610 to £19,200 | Fracture of the forearm. |
| Ankle | Moderate (c) | £13,740 to £26,590 | Fractures or ligamentous tear in the ankle that causes problems with standing or walking for a long time. |
| Ankle | Modest (d) | Up to £13,740 | Injuries may include sprains, ligamentous damage and minor fractures. |
| Foot | Moderate (f) | £13,740 to £24,990 | Displaced metatarsal fractures resulting in permanent deformity. |
| Foot | Modest (g) | Up to £13,740 | Simple metatarsal fractures, ruptured ligaments, puncture wounds. |
Claiming For Special Damages After An Accident In A Public Place
Special damages is the other head of claim you could be awarded for a successful personal injury claim. It compensates you for the finances you have spent due to your injury.
The types of finances you can claim back under special damages include:
- Travel expenses. E.g. taxi fares to GP and hospital appointments.
- Medical costs. E.g. paying for prescriptions.
- Loss of earnings for any time taken off work.
You should retain any evidence of these losses to help support your case. This could include:
- Receipts.
- Payslips.
- Invoices.
To receive a free valuation of your slip and fall claim, you can contact our friendly advisory team.
Evidence That Could Help During Slip And Fall Claims
Evidence can be beneficial to supporting your public liability claim, as it could help prove that an occupier was liable for your injuries and the extent of them.
Types of evidence that could be used to support a slip and fall claim include:
- CCTV footage of the accident.
- Photographs of the hazard and your visible injuries.
- The contact details of potential witnesses so that they may provide a statement at a later date.
- Copies of your medical records or doctor’s notes detailing your injuries.
Contact an advisor from our team today to discuss your potential case and receive free advice.
Make A Slip And Fall Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis
One of the experienced solicitors on our panel may be able to represent your slip and fall claim under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This is a contract that is a type of No Win No Fee agreement.
Under a CFA, you will not have to pay any fees upfront to your solicitor for their work. You also won’t have to pay them for their legal services while your personal injury claim is ongoing or if it fails.
If your solicitor succeeds with your public liability claim, they will be due a success fee. This is a legally limited percentage that is deducted from the compensation awarded to you.
Speak to our team of advisors today to see whether you may have an eligible claim. They could also connect you with a solicitor from our panel if it seems you have a strong case. They could also help answer any persisting questions you may have, such as, ‘How long do you have to report a slip and fall accident that occurred in a public place?’.
To reach our advisors today, you can:
- Call 0161 696 9685
- Contact us online.
- Use our live chat box.
Learn More About How Long You Have To Report A Slip And Fall Accident
If you still require more information regarding slip and fall claims, our other guides might help:
- See the time limit for public liability claims and when you could be eligible to make a claim.
- When you could claim for slip, trip and fall injuries and how much compensation you could be awarded.
- Learn what to do if you slipped on a bottle and were injured and when you could make a personal injury claim.
These pages might also help answer any questions you may have:
- NHS – When to call 999.
- Age UK – How to prevent falls for the elderly.
- The Royal Society For The Prevention Of Accidents – Fall prevention.
We hope this guide answers many of your questions, like “How long do you have to report a slip and fall?”.