Slip, trip, and fall claims

If you suffered an injury in a slip, trip, or fall accident that wasn't your fault, you may be able to claim compensation. Contact us as soon as you can, and we'll let you know whether you could make a claim.

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Author

Angela Dobbs

Partner, Head of Personal Injury

Last Updated

15th July 2026

Can I make a slip, trip, and fall claim?

You can make a slip, trip or fall compensation claim if someone else was responsible for your injury. The types of slip, trip, and fall accidents that often lead to compensation claims include: wet floors; uneven paving; obstructed walkways; poor lighting; potholes; level changes.

To make a successful claim, your solicitor has to prove the other party failed in their duty of care to take all reasonable steps to keep you safe. That’s often the owner or operator of a shop, car park or public building. They also need to show the impact the accident has had on your life.

There are time limits to making claims for a fall, so contact a solicitor as soon as possible, even if you think you were partly responsible for the accident. We’ve successfully handled personal injury cases for clients since 1987, so you can be assured you’re in safe hands.

Examples of a slip, trip, and fall claims

Imagine that you slipped on a spillage in a leisure centre and badly sprained or broke your wrist as you tried to protect yourself from falling. If there was no warning sign, then the leisure centre may be responsible for your injury. If we can demonstrate that the leisure centre failed in their duty of care to take all reasonable steps to assure your safety, this could be a valid claim.

Common slip, trip, and fall claims we support

Expertise you can trust

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APIL Accredited Experts
4000+ client outcomes achieved in the last 12 months

What compensation can help with

Recovering lost income and covering future care

Compensation provides you with a payment to reflect the pain and suffering caused by your slipping accident. Minor injuries like soft tissue injury, bruising and sprains, which you recover from relatively quickly, will settle for lower figures. More serious injuries, such as a fracture which may take longer to recover from and have a larger impact on your life, will see a settlement that reflects that impact.

There is a second payment in a slip and fall settlement: special damages. Special damages cover financial losses you’ve incurred since the accident, like lost earnings, treatment and travel costs, care and adaptations to your home.

A successful slip and trip claim could fund:

Follow-up appointments and treatment for your injury
Psychological support and counselling for the anxiety and distress caused
Loss of earnings if your injury has affected your ability to work
Travel costs related to hospital appointments and treatment
Care and assistance costs if your daily life has been significantly affected
General damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity

Understanding the potential value

We represented a client in their slip and fall claim, securing £6,500 in compensation. The potential value of a slip and fall claim depends entirely on the injury and its lasting effects. In one recent case, our client slipped and fell on the communal stairs in her rental property.

Understanding special and general damages

A settlement is made up of general damages and special damages. General damages address the non-financial impact of your injury, including pain and suffering and the effect on your day-to-day life. Special damages cover the specific financial losses you can evidence, from medical treatment and rehabilitation costs to lost income and travel expenses. Our team will make sure both are carefully calculated and properly reflected in your claim.

Specialist slip, trip, and fall solicitors

Why choose Fletchers for your slip, trip, or fall claims

Over four decades, we’ve represented clients who have been injured in accidents that were not their fault. Their injuries have ranged from minor to serious, complex and life-changing.

Expertise you can rely on

Lexcel accredited by the Law Society
Solicitors accredited by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL)
Ranked by Chambers and the Legal 500
Recognised with national personal injury awards
A trusted partner of the Spinal Injuries Association
We work on a No Win, No Fee claims basis

You’re not alone

We know how much your injuries have impacted you

After a slip or fall in a public place, we understand you may have to take time off work, struggle to get around as easily, and might miss out on the lifestyle you had before. We understand why you might not want to launch a compensation claim right now. You’ve got your recovery to focus on.

It’s worth knowing that many clients who come to us feel like that at the start. But when we’ve secured their compensation, they tell us that that was a key step in getting better.

Not only does it relieve the financial pressure they’ve been put under, but it’s also recognition of their pain and suffering. The money is important, but it’s the justice that matters more.

We handle everything for you so you can concentrate on getting better. We’re there whenever you want us to answer any questions.

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Rehabilitation support

We go beyond legal advice to support you, not just your case, making sure the right care and practical help are in place throughout the compensation claim process.

A message from our Rehabilitation and Wellbeing Team

We work alongside Fletchers Solicitors’ legal experts – listening carefully to your needs, helping you understand what support is available and creating a personalised recovery plan.

Led by rehabilitation manager Julie Chorlton, we bring together expertise across healthcare, therapy and welfare support, and can help arrange access to treatment and financial support. We also work with accredited mental health professionals, giving you and your family access to counselling quickly.

OUR REHABILITATION & WELLBEING TEAM

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FAQs about slips, trips, and fall claims

Can I claim for a slip, trip, and fall?

You can claim compensation for a slip or a trip if the accident was not your fault. Your solicitor will examine what happened, decide who’s to blame, gather evidence to support your case, and then make a claim on your behalf.

What evidence do I need for a slip, trip, or fall claim?

To make a slip or trip claim, your solicitor needs to prove:

A trip or slip caused you an injury in a public space or a business property

The organisation, business, or public body had a legal duty to keep you safe

They failed in their duty by, for example, not fixing a hazard or warning you about it

You’ll also need evidence. It will help your solicitor if you can provide:

The date and location of the accident

Details of who you reported the incident to, and any copy of the report they wrote up, like an accident log

Photographs of the hazard or accident location

Eyewitness names and contact details, if you have them

Receipts, wage slips, or other proof of money you’ve lost or had to pay out

Your solicitor will also gather the following:

Your medical records

The official accident report from the business

CCTV footage from the property, if available

Statements from your eyewitnesses

Reports from medical or safety experts, if they need them to better prove your case

Health and safety records from the business

They build your case on your version of what happened and the evidence they have that backs that up.

How long after a slip, trip and fall can I make a claim?

You have three years to make a slip or trip compensation claim. That’s from the date of the accident or when you realised the injury you suffered came from the accident. Exceptions can apply, so it’s best to get advice from a solicitor as soon as you can.

How long does a slip, trip and fall claim take?

Some slip and trip claims settle within a few months. Settlement can happen sooner when the other side accepts liability and the injury has healed.

More complicated claims can take longer. This may happen if your injuries are more severe or the other side denies liability. Your solicitor may also need more time to gather medical evidence before they can start your claim.

How to start a slip and trip claim?

Start a slip and trip claim by contacting Fletchers. Tell our team about your injury, what led up to your slip or trip, and where it happened.

We work on a “No Win, No Fee” basis, so you don’t pay our legal fees if your claim does not succeed. If your claim succeeds, we’ll explain any fee before you agree to move forward.

Do slip, trip and fall claims go to court?

Most slip and trip claims settle through negotiations with the other side. If your case does have to go to court, your solicitor will manage this part of the process for you.