Slip, trip and falling accidents

If you have suffered an injury due to a slip, trip or fall accident due to a defective paving slab, or pot hole in the road or a wet surface in a supermarket or other public place, you may be entitled to claim accident compensation faster without paying a penny.

As personal injury experts, we know how to get you financial support, provide free medical treatment (if required) quickly at no cost to you. We understand the impact that a slip or trip accident injury can have on you physically, mentally and financially.

Winning your slip or trip accident claim

Winning your slip or trip accident claim requires you to show that the Highway Authority responsible for that section of the road where the accident took place, or other public place failed, to take proper steps to ensure your safety. The easiest way to do this is to prove that the Highway Authority or owners of the public place were at fault. You can do this in a number of ways.

Here are 5 common Highway Authority failings:

• Failing to maintain or repair roads. Highway Authorities have a responsibility for the maintenance of their stretch of road. If you can show that the road paving was defective or there was a pot hole in the road, you may be able to prove that the Highway Authority failed to maintain or repair the road. If as a result of the accident you have suffered an injury, you could be entitled to claim compensation.
  
  
• Permitting the road to become dangerous and defective. Highway Authorities are required to have regular road inspections and to repair any cracked or damaged paving identified. However, sometimes they don’t do this, because they may be under staffed. If you can show that the Highway Authority failed to carry out regular inspections, you may be able to prove that they were at fault. If as a result of the accident you have suffered an injury, you could be entitled to claim compensation.
  
  
• Cutting cables in the process of repair work. Highway Authorities are required to light every street accessible to the public at night. If in the course of repair work, they cut a lighting cable and fail to repair it, you may be able to show that they were at fault. If as a result of the accident you have suffered an injury, you could be entitled to claim compensation
  
  
• Failing to safeguard manholes in the process of road repair. Highway authorities must take appropriate steps to ensure that persons using the road are safeguarded from hazards created by exposed manhole covers. If the Highway authority in the course of repair work has kept the road in a dangerous condition, you may be able to show that they were at fault. If as a result you have suffered an injury, you could be entitled to claim compensation.
  
  
• Failing to place a guard or fence or warning signs on or near the location of repair works. The Highway Authority is expected to place a guard or fence or warning sign where they are carrying out repair work. If they failed to give any warning or place a guard around the location of repair works, you may be able to show that they were at fault. If as a result of the accident you have suffered an injury, you could be entitled to claim compensation.

Beware, highway authorities vigorously defend claims against them. If they can show that they have reasonable inspections of their roads, maintenance and repair, then they are more likely to succeed if your slip or trip claim is based on failure to inspect or maintain or repair the road.

Preserving evidence after your slipping and tripping accident

You need evidence to prove your accident claim.

Here are 4 ways of preserving evidence after your slip or trip accident:

1. Immediately take the names of all witnesses and their telephone numbers;
   
   
2. Using your mobile phone, quickly take clear photographs of the defect. It is best if they are taken alongside a ruler so that the height or depth is easily visible. Mark on the photograph your direction of travel and the exact point of the accident;
   
   
3. As soon as possible attend hospital or your GP;
   
   
4. Report the accident to the responsible local authority without delay.

If you have suffered an injury in a slip, trip or fall accident due to a defective paving slab, or pot hole in the road or on the pavement or a wet surface in a super market, you could be entitled to claim accident compensation without paying a penny.