How To Claim Compensation For Slipping On Ice Or Snow

In this guide, we explain how to claim compensation for injuries caused by a slip, trip or fall on ice or snow if it was caused by another party’s negligence. If you slipped on ice at work, want to make a public liability claim against a local authority for a slip on ice

Where do slip and fall on ice injuries commonly happen?

There are many different places whereby such an injury can happen that could lead to short term or long term injuries. This includes the likes of:

compensation for a slip trip or fall on snow and ice

A train or bus station
A retail park
In a shopping centre
At your place of work
In a public car park
On a commercial or retail car park
In a supermarket car park
At a private property
Within school grounds
Within hospital grounds
While walking on a public path

Where the accident has happened is important because it will determine whom you are making a claim against. If you are unsure regarding who is in control of the area where you slipped, don’t worry. We can help you to determine this. Just give us a call.

Slip & Trip Claims – How To Start Your Claim After A Fall On Ice

You may be eligible to make a claim for compensation if you can demonstrate that:

You were in an environment where you were owed a duty of care
A breach of this duty occurred
You suffered an injury because of this breach

A duty of care means a responsibility that a party has towards the safety and well-being of others. Your employer owes a duty of care to you. A duty of care also applies to those managing public areas, both indoor like restaurants and bars and outdoor spaces, such as parks and roads. If you were injured in a fall on ice because of a breach of duty of care, then you could be entitled to claim compensation.

There are various actions you can take to help you start a claim. You could:

Collect evidence of the cause of your injury (this could be in form of pictures you took, CCTV footage, or the contact details of witnesses)
Collect and retain evidence of how your injury has affected you (this can be in terms of the pain it has caused you, or how it has financially affected you)
Reach out to a legal professional to receive guidance on the actions you should take.

Our advisers can provide you with more guidance on slip and trip claims and how to establish that you are eligible to make a claim.

How Long Do I Have To Claim If I Was Injured After I Slipped On Ice?

If you have slipped on ice at work or in a public place, you typically have up to three years from the date that the accident occurred to start a claim.

This limitation period is set out in the Limitation Act 1980. However, there can be exceptions to this in some cases.

For example, if someone under the age of 18 is injured after they slipped on ice due to negligence, the time limit is suspended until they turn 18 and can make a claim on their own behalf. However, during this suspended period, a litigation friend could potentially claim for them.

Similarly, the time period is frozen for adults with limited mental capacity, and a litigation friend can claim on their behalf at any point until, or if, they recover.

However, after you have slipped on the ice, we would advise getting in contact with our team as soon as possible. Our advisors are able to offer you a free no obligation consultation.

Additionally, our advisors can explain what steps you might consider taking after you have slipped on ice, or who could be liable for a slip and fall on ice and work. If our advisors think you could be eligible to claim, you may also be connected to our specialist solicitors to help you claim personal injury compensation.

Making A Claim For Slipping On Ice Against My Employer

While they cannot stop the snow from falling or ice from developing, they can take steps to make sure this does not result in a workplace accident. If they have failed to do this, they are deemed responsible for your accident. You do not need to worry that you may lose your job if you make a claim.

A lot of people fear this, but employers have insurance in place to cover such incidents and you would only have grounds for unfair dismissal if they did take any drastic action. Call us for more information on health and safety for snow at work and how your employer could be liable to pay compensation for a slip trip accident.

Can I Claim Compensation For Slipping On Ice In A Public Place?

Slips and falls that happen in public places don’t always lead to public liability claims. However, if the person responsible for the public place has breached the duty of care they owe you under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, and this caused you to suffer injury because of a slip on ice, you might be eligible to claim.

If the person in control of a public space is aware of the risk of someone slipping on ice and injuring themselves, they should take reasonable steps to reduce this risk. They could do so by gritting an area or providing alternative pathways for people to use. Should they fail to take reasonable care to ensure the premises are safe to use and someone is injured slipping on ice as a result, they could be held liable.

Slips, trips, and falls on ice and snow in shopping areas

If you have slipped in a retail space, whether this is in the car park or another area, you will be able to launch a claim. The person in charge of the business here will be responsible for this space, and they need to make sure that all shoppers are safe while attending their premises. If they haven’t done this, you will have the basis for a claim.