Slips and Trips

Slips and trips are what lawyers refer to as accidents occurring in public places e.g.:

• Tripping on an uneven pavement or road or in another person's premises.
• Slipping on a wet or a dangerous floor in a supermarket, shopping centre, hospital, school or elsewhere.
• Injuries suffered by children in playgrounds and support centres.
• Injuries to cyclists and motorcyclists caused by potholes in roads.

Under the Highways Act 1980 your Local Authority is responsible for maintaining roads and pavements in a reasonable condition. They must also carry out regular inspections. The inspection interval will vary depending upon the location and usage of the road. For example, a road or pavement outside a shopping centre or school would have to be inspected more regularly than a road in the quiet rural location.

Under the Occupiers Liability Act 1957 private landowners have a legal obligation to ensure that their land or property is reasonably safe for visitors to use. What is "reasonable" in a particular case varies and it is important to get expert advice from a specialist personal injury solicitor.

At Howe & Co. we have a great deal of experience in handling claims of this type. We will ensure that you do not pay a penny for the cost of bringing a claim, whether you win or lose. If you have had an accident and want to find out if you have a strong case and claim compensation then please complete our Claim Form or telephone us now on 0800 823958.

Useful points to remember:

• Wherever possible take photographs of whatever it was that caused you to slip or trip.
• Put something of a known size (e.g. a coin or cigarette packet) in one of the photographs since this will help to show the size of the trip.
• Make a measurement of the trip you fell on and make a written note of that.
• Get the names and addresses of any witnesses who saw your accident or just as importantly, who can say how long the defect was present before your accident.
• If you have suffered an injury then see a doctor as soon as possible to get the injury recorded.
• If you suffered cuts or bruising then get a photograph of them.
• Report the defect/accident to the relevant local authority.

If you feel that you may have a claim and want expert legal advice at absolutely no cost to you then contact us now by completing our Claim Form or calling us on 0500 823958.