One of the most common types of accidents people have is a slip trip or fall accident. Poor health and safety regulations are the cause of many slips and trip accidents in the working environment. It is as simple as the slip may look. It can cause very serious injuries such as back injuries, paralysis, broken bones and head injuries. These accidents can happen almost anywhere, on uneven pavements, defects in the road, icy pavements and broken steps, wet surfaces, oil or other slippery material on the floor, ice, and snow is another very common cause of slipping. In the working environment, someone may have spilled some liquid and not cleaned it up properly, a simple error like this could end up in someone else slipping and causing serious harm to them.
While the list is almost endless, slips, trips and falls can happen anywhere;
- Accidents in shops – shopkeepers have a legal duty to ensure the safety of their customers whilst they are on their premises, including the car park.
- Accidents at work – your employer has a legal duty to care for your health and safety whilst at work.
- Public and private places which also include homes are the responsibility of the occupier which means they have a duty to ensure that any visitor/s are safe.
- Accidents in other places – that are accessible to the public are also covered by laws to protect people from injury.
- Sports centres also have to ensure that customers are safe and free from any spills and hazardous objects.
- An accident on roads and pavements – your Local Council has a legal duty to maintain the roads and pavements to a reasonable standard.
- Slip trips and falls on uneven roads and pavements. They are usually the responsibility of the Local Council as it is their duty to maintain roads and pavements.
I have slipped, tripped or fallen, what next?
There are a few things you should do at a scene of the accident the moment the accident has occurred. It will help any potential claim you may later make. If you are unable to do so at the time, return as soon as you can or ask a friend if they can do the following;
- Report the incident to a person who is in charge and make sure they write it in their accident book.
- Record the names and contact details of anyone else you know that had previously been, or were subsequently injured by the same defect.
- Record the details of the witnesses who saw the accidents.
- Keep the shoes that you were wearing.
If you have been a victim of such injuries, don’t hesitate to contact us for free legal advice. Our highly experienced no win no fee Solicitors and qualified team will willingly handle your case.