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Slip, Trip & Fall Solicitors

That Fall Wasn’t Bad Luck. Someone Was Legally Responsible.
Now They Pay.

Most people assume a slip or trip was their own fault. It usually wasn’t. If a property owner, business, council, or employer failed to keep premises safe, you’re owed compensation. Free case review. No Win, No Fee.

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Had a Slip, Trip or Fall?
A solicitor will respond within 2 hours, Mon–Fri.

By submitting you agree to be contacted about your claim. Strict confidentiality maintained. Harris & Co. Solicitors is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

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Cases Handled
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Slip, Trip & Fall Claims

When does a fall
become a claim?

Anyone who controls a premises — a shop, restaurant, workplace, car park, hospital, or public pavement — has a legal duty to keep it reasonably safe for visitors. When they fail, and you are injured as a result, you have a right to claim compensation.

Slip, trip and fall claims are among the most common personal injury cases in the UK, yet many people never claim because they assume it was their own fault. In most cases it was not. A wet floor without a warning sign, a raised paving slab, a poorly lit stairwell, trailing cables in a shop aisle — these are failures of the occupier, not the visitor.

At Harris & Co. Solicitors we pursue slip, trip and fall claims against businesses, councils, landlords, employers, and any party who had a duty to maintain safe premises and failed to do so.

Photograph everything

Take photographs of the hazard that caused your fall immediately — before it is cleaned up, repaired, or removed. Photograph the exact location, the condition of the surface, any lack of warning signs, and your injuries. CCTV is often overwritten within 30 days. Early evidence wins cases.

The premises were unsafe. Wet floors, uneven surfaces, poor lighting, obstructions, defective stairs, ice and snow — any condition that made the premises unreasonably dangerous.
The occupier knew or should have known. If the hazard existed long enough that a reasonable inspection system would have found it, the occupier is liable — even if no one specifically reported it.
No adequate warning was given. If the hazard could not be immediately removed, the occupier was required to warn visitors clearly — with signage, barriers, or verbal warning. Failure to warn is a breach of duty.
You were injured as a result. Fractures, soft tissue injuries, head injuries, back injuries, sprains, cuts — any injury caused by the fall, however minor it may initially appear.
Wet & Slippery Floors
Spillages in supermarket aisles, freshly mopped floors without warning signs, leaking roofs, and rainwater on entrance floors. The most common cause of slip injury claims in the UK.
Uneven Surfaces & Potholes
Raised paving slabs, cracked footpaths, potholes, uneven kerbs, and broken tarmac. Claims against councils under the Highways Act 1980 for failure to inspect and repair.
Poor Lighting
Dimly lit stairwells, unlit car parks, broken exterior lighting, and poorly illuminated corridors. When hazards cannot be seen, the occupier is liable for failing to provide adequate lighting.
Trailing Cables & Obstructions
Extension leads across walkways, stock left in shop aisles, delivery boxes blocking corridors, and unsecured mats or rugs. Trip hazards that should never have been present in a public area.
Ice, Snow & Weather Hazards
Untreated car parks, ungritted entrance paths, and icy steps outside commercial premises. Occupiers must take reasonable steps to manage winter conditions on their property.
Defective Flooring & Stairs
Loose tiles, worn carpet, broken handrails, missing stair nosings, and damaged steps. Common in older commercial buildings, rented properties, and public buildings with poor maintenance records.
Compensation

Everything your
claim can recover.

Slip, trip and fall compensation covers two elements — general damages for the pain and suffering caused by your injury, and special damages for every financial loss you have suffered as a result. Even injuries that seem minor at first can lead to significant claims when lost earnings and ongoing treatment are included.

General Damages
Compensation for the injury itself
  • Pain and suffering caused by the injury
  • Loss of amenity — impact on daily life and activities
  • Fractures, sprains, and soft tissue damage
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Psychological impact — anxiety, fear of falling, loss of confidence
  • Long-term or permanent disability
Special Damages
All financial losses — past and future
  • Lost earnings — time off work during recovery
  • Future loss of earnings if unable to return to same role
  • Medical treatment, surgery, and rehabilitation
  • Physiotherapy and specialist appointments
  • Travel expenses to hospitals and clinics
  • Care and assistance — professional and family-provided
  • Prescription and medical equipment costs
  • Home adaptations if injuries are severe
Occupier’s Liability

Who is legally
responsible?

Under the Occupiers’ Liability Acts 1957 and 1984, anyone who controls premises owes a duty of care to all lawful visitors — and in some cases, even to trespassers. This duty extends to shops, supermarkets, restaurants, offices, car parks, hospitals, council buildings, pavements, and private properties.

The responsible party depends on who had control over the area where you fell. It may be the business occupier, the property owner, the landlord, the local council, a managing agent, or a cleaning contractor. We identify the correct defendant and pursue your claim against their insurer.

Reasonable inspection systems
Occupiers must have a system of regular checks to identify and address hazards. If they cannot evidence a reasonable inspection regime, they are liable.
Prompt hazard removal or warning
Spillages must be cleaned immediately. If removal isn’t possible, clear warning signs and barriers must be in place. No sign means liability.
Proper maintenance of premises
Flooring, stairs, handrails, lighting, and outdoor surfaces must be maintained to a safe standard. Deferred maintenance is not a defence.
Who can you claim against?
The responsible party depends on where your accident happened:
  • Supermarkets, shops & retail stores — the business occupier
  • Restaurants, pubs & cafés — the premises operator
  • Public pavements, roads & footpaths — the local council (Highways Act 1980)
  • Workplaces — your employer (Health and Safety at Work Act 1974)
  • Car parks — the car park operator or landowner
  • Shopping centres & malls — the managing company
  • Hospitals & public buildings — the NHS Trust or public body
  • Rented properties — the landlord (communal areas and structural maintenance)
  • Private homes — the homeowner (in certain circumstances)
Start Your Free Assessment

No Win, No Fee. No upfront costs. A solicitor will respond within 2 hours.

Call Free: 0161 537 3777 Request Callback
Our Approach

How we handle your
slip, trip & fall claim.

We move fast on slip, trip and fall claims because critical evidence disappears quickly. CCTV is overwritten, floors are cleaned, surfaces are repaired. Our priority is to lock down the evidence that proves the premises were unsafe before it’s gone.

Step 01
Free Case Assessment
A solicitor will review your accident, assess the occupier’s breach of duty, and advise on the strength of your claim and likely compensation — all free and no obligation. We’ll tell you immediately if you have a case.
Step 02
Preserve the Evidence
We write to the defendant immediately to preserve CCTV footage, accident reports, cleaning logs, and inspection records. We also obtain witness statements and instruct an independent medical examination to document your injuries.
Step 03
Build Your Claim
With evidence secured, we calculate the full value of your claim — injury, lost earnings, medical costs, care needs, and future losses. We present a fully evidenced claim to the defendant’s insurer and negotiate for maximum settlement.
Step 04
Settlement or Court
Most slip, trip and fall claims settle through negotiation without going to court. If the insurer refuses a fair offer, we issue court proceedings without hesitation. You pay nothing unless we win.
No Win No Fee

Zero financial risk.
The occupier’s insurer pays.

We handle all slip, trip and fall claims on a strict No Win, No Fee basis. You pay nothing upfront and nothing if your claim is unsuccessful. The defendant’s insurer pays your compensation — not the individual or business directly.

After the Event (ATE) insurance covers all disbursements — including medical reports, expert evidence, and court fees — in the event your claim is unsuccessful.

Nothing to pay upfront
No retainer, no hourly billing, no disbursements to fund. We bear all the financial risk.
Nothing to pay if you lose
ATE insurance covers all disbursements. You will not receive a bill from us if your claim is unsuccessful.
Success fee typically from 25%
If we win, our success fee is deducted from your compensation. Agreed upfront in your CFA and regulated by the SRA.
  • Upfront cost to you£0.00
  • Cost if claim unsuccessful£0.00
  • Agreement typeConditional Fee Agreement (CFA)
  • Disbursement coverAfter the Event (ATE) Insurance
  • Success feeTypically from 25% (SRA regulated)
  • Regulated bySolicitors Regulation Authority
Had a fall? Get free advice now.
Free advice, no obligation, no financial risk. A solicitor will respond within 2 hours.
Call 0161 537 3777
Compensation Guide

What could your
claim be worth?

Slip, trip and fall compensation is calculated in two parts. General damages cover the pain, suffering, and loss of amenity caused by the injury — those are the figures shown below. Special damages cover the financial consequences: lost earnings, medical costs, travel expenses, and care needs. Your total compensation is often significantly higher than the general damages figure alone.

Figures shown are for general damages only. They are drawn from the Judicial College Guidelines and represent typical award brackets — not guaranteed outcomes. Your total compensation will also include special damages. Only a solicitor can provide a reliable estimate after reviewing your circumstances.

Filter by body part
Part of BodySeverityCompensation RangeTypes of Injuries
HeadMinor£1,880 – £9,260Head injury with recovery within weeks. Higher awards where headaches persist.
HeadModerate£13,430 – £95,310Poor concentration, epilepsy risk, personality changes, depression, intellectual impairment.
HeadSerious£186,890 – £204,500Reduced life expectancy, serious physical symptoms, significant cognitive changes, substantial dependence.
HeadSevere£240,590 – £292,940Minimally conscious state, severe brain damage, vegetative states requiring full-time nursing care.
EyeSevere£56,080 – £194,870Complete blindness in one or both eyes, or severe visual impairment.
FaceMinor£1,460 – £6,340Light or no scarring, no fractures, simple jaw or nose fractures with full recovery.
FaceSerious£15,320 – £22,110More serious fractures including broken jaw or nose, damage or loss of several teeth.
FaceSevere£26,010 – £33,020Severe facial disfigurement, multiple jaw fractures, chronic tooth pain, scarring.
EarMinorUp to £5,080Possible noise-induced hearing loss, slight or occasional tinnitus.
EarModerate£12,700 – £21,550Partial hearing loss or mild to severe tinnitus.
EarSerious£25,350 – £33,020Complete deafness in one ear with additional symptoms.
EarSevere£77,430 – £102,030Complete deafness in both ears.
NeckMinorUp to £5,680Soft tissue injuries with recovery within 3 to 24 months.
NeckModerate£7,410 – £40,600Disc lesions, cervical spondylosis, serious limitation of movement, permanent pain.
NeckSevere£56,100 – £118,330Serious fractures, chronic pain, disc damage, partial paraplegia, significant permanent disability.
BackMinor£2,090 – £9,070Strains, sprains, disc prolapses, soft tissue injuries. Recovery between 3 months and 5 years.
BackModerate£11,730 – £22,140Spinal fusion, compressed or fractured lumbar spine, prolapsed discs.
BackSevere£36,390 – £128,410Damaged spinal cord, partial paralysis, loss of bladder or bowel function.
ShoulderMinorUp to £5,720Soft tissue injury with full recovery between 3 and 24 months.
ShoulderSerious£10,890 – £13,920Fractured humerus, clavicle, or rotator cuff requiring surgery.
ShoulderSevere£16,380 – £34,820Significant disability from severe damage to the neck or brachial plexus.
Pelvis & HipsMinor£3,370 – £9,140Complete recovery after minor soft tissue injuries within 2 years.
Pelvis & HipsModerate£10,750 – £28,420Injuries requiring hip operations or replacement.
Pelvis & HipsSevere£33,430 – £94,940Severe hip or pelvis fractures resulting in significant disability or hip replacement.
ScarringMinor£2,020 – £6,270One noticeable scar or several superficial scars.
ScarringModerateUp to £6,270Partial recovery with symptoms that are not largely debilitating.
ScarringSevere£6,680 – £16,480Several noticeable laceration scars or a single disfiguring scar.
ArmMinor£5,630 – £13,920Fractured forearm.
ArmModerate£16,380 – £28,420Serious arm injury with long-lasting symptoms.
ArmSerious£33,430 – £94,940Serious injury resulting in inability to use the arm. No amputation.
ArmSevere£82,040 – £217,540Amputation of one or both arms.
ElbowModerateUp to £9,140Deep cuts, simple fractures, no permanent damage.
ElbowSerious£13,360 – £23,220Restricted movement but no surgery or disability required.
ElbowSevere£33,430 – £39,760Severe disability or requires surgery.
WristModerateUp to £7,430Uncomplicated Colles fracture or minor fractures with recovery in 1–2 years.
WristSerious£10,750 – £17,770Broken wrist causing some permanent disability.
WristSevere£20,900 – £43,410Significant permanent disability or complete loss of wrist function.
HandMinorUp to £3,440Lacerations, crush injuries, soft tissue injuries with recovery within 6 months.
HandModerate£4,780 – £9,630Penetrating wounds with permanent but non-intrusive symptoms.
HandSevere£24,740 – £146,130Amputation and rejoining of fingers, clawed or impaired hand.
FingerMinorUp to £3,450Fully healed fractured finger within 1 year.
FingerModerate£3,370 – £4,250Near-complete recovery after broken finger.
FingerSevere£10,380 – £26,650Complete amputation of one or more fingers.
ThumbMinorUp to £3,450Short-term severe pain resolved within 3 months.
ThumbModerate£3,370 – £9,140Fractures with recovery within 6 months, nerve or tendon damage.
ThumbSevere£10,750 – £39,760Partial or complete amputation, nerve damage, inability to grip.
LegMinor£7,780 – £10,210Minor injuries with recovery within months. Simple fractures.
LegModerate£15,320 – £39,760Minor fractures with partial recovery, compound fractures, arthritis risk.
LegSevere£46,780 – £204,500Extensive degloving, permanently reduced mobility, or amputation.
KneeMinorUp to £9,970Soft tissue injuries, twisted knee, bruising with discomfort.
KneeModerate£22,340 – £31,510Damaged kneecaps, ligaments, dislocation, torn meniscus.
KneeSevere£44,470 – £69,770Constant pain, severe disability, muscle wastage.
AnkleMinorUp to £9,970Smaller fractures, sprains, injured ligaments. Full recovery within a year.
AnkleModerate£11,730 – £36,300Ligament tears, fractures with smaller disabilities, osteoarthritis risk.
AnkleSevere£42,710 – £50,560Severe injury resulting in deformities, disabilities, or potential amputation.
AchillesMinor£6,200 – £9,140Minor instability from tendon damage.
AchillesModerate£10,750 – £15,270Partially ruptured tendon with disability or permanent scarring.
AchillesSevere£21,320 – £27,860Restricted ankle movement from severed muscle tissue.
FootMinorUp to £9,970Minor fractures, lacerations with complete recovery within 2 years.
FootModerate£11,730 – £50,770Metatarsal fractures with permanent deformity, restricted mobility.
FootSevere£71,640 – £146,130Amputation of one or both feet.
ToeMinorUp to £6,960One or more broken toes with varying recovery.
ToeModerate£8,190 – £9,970Multiple fractures, crush injuries, permanent disability.
ToeSevere£11,730 – £40,660Severe crush injuries, surgical amputation of toes.
Find out what your slip, trip or fall claim is actually worth

The figures above cover general damages alone. Your total compensation includes lost earnings, medical costs, travel, care, and all other financial losses caused by the accident. Contact us for a free, no-obligation assessment.

Call 0161 537 3777
Time Limits

Act now. Evidence
disappears fast.

Standard
3 Years from Date of Accident
Slip, trip and fall claims must be issued at court within three years of the date of the accident. Once this deadline passes, your right to claim is permanently barred regardless of how strong your case is.
Critical
CCTV Overwritten Within 30 Days
Most businesses and councils overwrite CCTV footage within 14 to 30 days. If your fall was captured on camera, this evidence is often the single strongest piece of proof — but only if it is preserved before it’s gone. Contact us immediately.
Act Now
Hazards Get Fixed. Evidence Gets Lost.
The surface that caused your fall may be repaired, the spillage cleaned, the warning sign retrospectively placed. Early instruction allows us to photograph the scene, obtain inspection logs, and put the defendant on notice before the evidence changes.
FAQs

Your questions
answered.

Answers to the most common questions about slip, trip and fall claims. For specific advice, call us on 0161 537 3777 — free, confidential, no obligation.

Call for Free Advice
Yes. If you were injured because a property owner, occupier, employer, local authority, or business failed to maintain their premises to a safe standard, you are entitled to claim compensation. Under the Occupiers’ Liability Acts 1957 and 1984, anyone who controls premises has a legal duty to take reasonable care to ensure visitors are safe.
Compensation depends on the nature and severity of your injury and the financial losses you have suffered. A minor soft tissue injury may attract a few thousand pounds, while serious injuries such as hip fractures, spinal injuries, or head injuries can result in compensation well into five or six figures when future losses are included.
Yes. Shops and supermarkets owe a duty of care to all customers. If you slipped on a wet floor, spilled product, or other hazard that the store knew about or should have discovered through reasonable inspection, they are liable. The key question is whether the business had adequate cleaning and inspection procedures in place.
Yes. Local authorities have a statutory duty under the Highways Act 1980 to maintain public pavements and footpaths. If you tripped on a raised paving slab, pothole, or defective surface the council knew about or should have found through regular inspection, they are liable. The council may argue a section 58 defence — but if the defect was reported and not repaired, or inspections were inadequate, this defence fails.
Photographs of the hazard (taken immediately if possible), photographs of your injuries, witness names and contact details, your A&E or GP record, and any accident book entry or incident report. If you fell on a public pavement, note the exact location so council inspection records can be obtained. We guide you through evidence gathering from day one.
Not necessarily. The occupier has a duty to ensure premises are safe — including hazards a reasonable person might not notice. If you were partly at fault, your compensation may be reduced through contributory negligence, but you can still claim. The key question is whether the occupier took reasonable steps to prevent the hazard or warn you.
It depends on where the accident happened. Shops and restaurants: the business occupier. Public pavements: the local council. Workplaces: your employer. Rented properties: the landlord for communal areas. Car parks: the operator. We identify the correct defendant and pursue your claim against their insurer.
Three years from the date of the accident. However, CCTV is typically overwritten within 30 days and the hazard may be repaired quickly. We strongly recommend contacting us as soon as possible so we can preserve the evidence that proves the premises were unsafe.
Yes, in many cases. While occupiers cannot prevent all weather hazards, they must take reasonable steps to manage known risks — including gritting, salting, clearing snow, and warning visitors. Supermarkets, car parks, and commercial premises that fail to manage winter conditions can be held liable.
We’d strongly recommend Harris & Co. Solicitors. Slip, trip and fall claims require solicitors who understand occupiers’ liability, the Highways Act, and the specific evidence needed to prove premises were unsafe. We hold a 5.0 Google rating and operate on a No Win, No Fee basis. Call us on 0161 537 3777 for a free, confidential consultation with no obligation.

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Had a slip, trip or fall?
Get your free case review.

If someone else’s negligence caused your fall, you’re owed compensation. Contact Harris & Co. Solicitors for a free, confidential case review — a solicitor will tell you exactly where you stand.

No Win, No Fee
Free Case Review
SRA Regulated
5.0 Google Rating