You are entitled to claim compensation for any accident or injury which is caused by negligence on the part of someone else or their property. Slips and trips can happen anywhere, and at any time - in supermarkets, at work, pathways, and restaurants, and there are many personal injury lawyers out there waiting to work with you towards the compensation you deserve.
There are laws in place to protect the public and impose charges/fines on the people responsible for maintain and running public places, to ensure the safety of anyone who uses them. The laws apply to employers as well as privately owned establishments/land, and of course to the local councils who are responsible for maintaining the roads and public pathways/pavement.
Slips, trips and falls are simple accidents which can have long lasting effects, such as time off work and physical impairments. If you slip over a faulty paving slab in a street, you could end up with a broken limb or sever bruising, or even concussion. This could mean up to several weeks off work, and if your company does not offer very much in the way of sick pay, you could find yourself in a worrying financial position. Compensation payouts not only award money for the initial pain and suffering caused by the accident, but they can include damages which can cover for loss of earnings, medical costs/treatment fees and repairs to any clothing/equipment you may have been wearing/using at the time.
If you have suffered a trip, slip or fall then there are a few steps you should take to help with your claim. Where possible, you should photograph the offending area, as this will best highlight the circumstances surrounding your injury. You should make sure you take down the contact details of any witnesses, who either saw your specific accident happen or who have seen the defective area in person. If anyone else has suffered a personal injury from the same source/situation the you should make sure you have their contact details, as they will be able to back up any evidence you provide. Finally you should make sure that you have reported the accident to the relevant personnel, whether at work to your manager or to the council if the injury happened in a public space.
It can be very easy to feel foolish or irresponsible when you have suffered a personal injury, and many incidents go unreported as a result. It is important to be aware that you are perfectly entitled to seek compensation, and in fact encouraged to, if only to highlight the problem to the relevant people to make sure no one else suffers the same fate.
Claiming is a simple process, and with just a small initial amount of effort you can get the ball rolling with your accident claim. Many companies offer a free initial consultation service with a view to embarking on a no win, no fee compensation claim. There really is nothing to lose, and everything to gain. If you are unfortunate enough to have suffered a personal injury due to negligence on the part of a private company, public organization or governing body, you should seek advice from a personal injury specialist who will help you to recover the compensation you deserve.
