Slips, trips and falls are the single largest category of public liability claims in the UK. The HSE reports slips, trips and falls as the most common cause of workplace injuries and a substantial share of customer / visitor injuries in shops, restaurants, pubs, gyms and public buildings. If you slipped on a wet floor that wasn't signed, tripped over a trailing cable in an office, fell down a badly-lit stair, or caught your foot on a damaged pavement, you may have a claim against whoever was responsible for that space.
Slips, trips and falls are the single largest category of public liability claims in the UK. The HSE reports slips, trips and falls as the most common cause of workplace injuries and a substantial share of customer / visitor injuries in shops, restaurants, pubs, gyms and public buildings. If you slipped on a wet floor that wasn't signed, tripped over a trailing cable in an office, fell down a badly-lit stair, or caught your foot on a damaged pavement, you may have a claim against whoever was responsible for that space.
This page explains how UK slips, trips and falls claims work: the Occupiers' Liability Act 1957 framework that governs them, the 'system test' that decides most cases, the scenarios we see most often across different venues, and how much compensation you could receive. Every case is handled on a no win, no fee basis.
The legal framework - Occupiers' Liability Act 1957
Under section 2 of the Occupiers' Liability Act 1957, the occupier of premises (the person or business in control of the space) owes visitors a 'common duty of care' to take such care as in all the circumstances of the case is reasonable to see that the visitor is reasonably safe in using the premises for the purposes for which they are invited to be there.
That duty applies to:
- Shops and supermarkets.
Additional or overlapping frameworks apply to specific contexts:
- Workplace slips - Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, HSE guidance HSG155.
The system test - most slip claims turn on this
A common misconception is that any slip or fall in a public place automatically means a claim. It doesn't. A business fulfils its duty under OLA 1957 by having an adequate cleaning and inspection system - and the claim only succeeds where that system was either inadequate or not followed on the day.
The key legal concept is Ward v Tesco Stores Ltd [1976] 1 WLR 810. In that case the Court of Appeal held that where a customer slips on a supermarket spillage, the burden is on the supermarket to show it had a reasonable cleaning system in place and that system was actually followed.
In practice, your claim usually succeeds where:
- The defect / hazard had been there long enough that reasonable inspection would have caught it.
Common slips, trips and falls scenarios
Wet floor without warning signs
The classic supermarket / restaurant scenario. A cleaning system that identifies spills and warning-sign-then-cleans them is adequate; one that doesn't is not. See supermarket accident claims.
Trailing cables or obstacles in walkways
Offices, gyms, exhibition halls, retail displays. Breach of the occupier's duty to keep walking routes clear.
Damaged flooring or carpets
Torn, lifted or loose carpet; cracked or broken tiles; damaged vinyl.
Unmarked step or level changes
Single steps in shop entrances; ramps not highlighted; mezzanine transitions.
Inadequate lighting
Dim corridors, unlit stairs, car parks with broken lighting.
Missing or broken handrails
Stairs without handrails, or with broken / loose handrails.
Outdoor hazards on business premises
Wet leaves in car parks; ice and snow not gritted; rainwater pooling because of inadequate drainage.
Pavement trips
Against the local highway authority under the Highways Act 1980 s.41, subject to the s.58 statutory defence. See pavement accident claims.
Stairs accidents in public places
Excessively worn steps, inadequate nosings, inconsistent riser heights, missing handrails, poor lighting.
Supermarket trolley / store fixtures
Trolley-related falls; falling stock; display stands tipping; broken shopping baskets.
Workplace slips - a separate framework
If you slipped at work rather than as a customer or visitor, your claim runs under a slightly different framework - the employer's duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. See work accident claims.
Evidence - what matters and how to preserve it
Slip and trip claims are evidence-driven. Key evidence:
- Photographs of the hazard taken immediately.
What to do after a slip, trip or fall
- Get medical attention. A&E or GP promptly.
How much compensation could you receive?
Slip and trip claims are valued on the standard personal injury framework - general damages under the JCG 17th edition, plus special damages for financial losses. Representative JCG ranges for common slip injuries:
- Minor ankle injury (full recovery within a year): ~£2,690 - £14,020
Plus special damages. Straightforward minor slip claims typically settle in the £1,500-£5,000 range. Moderate injuries: £5,000-£20,000. Serious injuries: £20,000-£100,000+. See how much compensation.
How is it funded? No win, no fee
Every slip / trip / fall claim we handle runs on a Conditional Fee Agreement. See no win no fee explained.
Was it partly my fault? Contributory negligence in slip claims
Defendants frequently argue the claimant should have seen the hazard. Courts are generally resistant to this - 'failing to look down at every step' isn't contributory negligence in a shop where customers reasonably expect safe walking surfaces. But specific factual circumstances can give rise to reductions:
- Running in an inappropriate space.
Typical reductions where contributory negligence is found: 10-50%. See split liability.
Time limits for slip claims
Three years from the accident or date of knowledge. For children, three years from their 18th birthday. See time limits.
The slip / trip / fall claim process
- Free eligibility call.
Typical timescale: 6-12 months for straightforward moderate claims with admitted liability.
