Making a claim

Your local council is responsible for keeping pavements, steps and walkways safe. Meanwhile, businesses such as shops, supermarkets and restaurants must take reasonable steps to prevent slips and trips by cleaning up spillages as quickly as possible; always signposting wet floors and keeping aisles or walkways clear.

A claim can be made against an organisation or individual, if they allow visitors or the general public onto their property when it is unsafe. Most property owners will have insurance cover to meet your claim.

If you have a trip, slip or fall whilst at work, or in the course of your employment, please see our separate accidents at work section.

What do I need to do next?

It’s important to obtain and keep as much evidence of the accident as possible, such as doctor’s notes and details of the place where it happened.

In relation to Highway Claims, where possible you should;

• take pictures of any potholes, cracked paving slabs, uneven pavements/paving stones
• Try to measure the size of any potholes, the height of any cracked or uneven pavements/paving stones;
• Obtain details of people such as neighbours who may help to support your evidence of any defects, particularly the length of time potholes etc have been there.
• Ensure you keep any correspondence between you and the council if you report the defect. If you ring them to make the complaint, ensure that you obtain the name of the person you spoke to.
• Make a note of if and when any repairs are made to the defect (if local to you).

In relation to supermarket slip/trip claim you should;

• take pictures of any spillages in shops, supermarkets or restaurants and any warning signs;
• take photographs of anything that is blocking the walkway or aisletake photographs of the shoes you were wearing (you would be surprised how often this argument is raised by an opponent!).
• ensure that you report your accident to a member of staff and that an accident book entry is completed.
• Ask for a copy of the entry. If a first aider does not attend you after the accident or if no accident book is completed, ensure that you report it to someone and get their name.
• Try to make a note of their appearance or description for use later if necessary.