By Stephen Hudson. Last Updated 10th October 2024. In this guide, we cover what to do if you wish to claim compensation after tripping on pavement slabs. Pavement accidents are more common than you might think. In fact, they are a big part of our business as accident compensation claims specialists. So, if you have tripped on uneven pavement and wish to claim for your injuries, then this article should help you.
Many people who have injured themselves tripping on pavement or the public highway think of it merely as an accident – an unfortunate incident with nobody to blame. However, that is not always the case. And in those scenarios, you may have a viable claim for pavement accident compensation.
In many circumstances, a person, or more usually a public body such as a local government, council or local authority, may be responsible. However, on privately owned land, such as in a supermarket car park, a firm or company will often be the responsible party.
If you’ve decided to claim accident compensation, it may be beneficial to use legal assistance to make your claims process smoother. You can reach us in any of these ways:
- Call us on 0800 073 8804
- Fill out our online contact form, and we’ll reach out to you
- Chat with us using the live message feature on our website.
Watch Our Video Explainer
If you’d like to learn more about claiming compensation for a pavement accident, why not watch our quick explainer video that offers all of the key information:
Select a Section:
- Am I Eligible To Claim After Tripping On The Pavement?
- How Much Pavement Accident Compensation Could I Receive?
- How Long Do I Have To Claim For Pavement Accident Compensation?
- What Are The Causes Of Pavement Accidents?
- No Win No Fee Pavement Tripping Accident Compensation Claims
Am I Eligible To Claim After Tripping On The Pavement?
Under the Occupiers Liability Act 1957, the party in control of a public place has a legal duty of care to take steps to ensure the reasonable safety of all visitors to the area. With regard to pavements, this means conducting repairs in a timely manner and ensuring appropriate warnings are in place both leading up to and during those works.
If you tripped and fell on an uneven pavement, you could be eligible to make a public liability claim if you can demonstrate the following:
- You were owed a duty of care by the party in control of a public place.
- There was a failure to uphold this duty.
- This failure resulted in an accident in which you were injured.
To learn more about seeking pavement accident compensation or for a free assessment of your eligibility to begin a claim, call our advisors today. Our dedicated team are available 24/7 via any of the contact details provided above.
How Much Pavement Accident Compensation Could I Receive?
Compensation for pavement accident claims can include general and special damages. General damages are provided to cover for the pain and suffering caused by the injuries you’re claiming for.
Payouts for general damages vary on a case-by-case basis. To offer insight into how much compensation for tripping on a pavement may be provided, you can view the compensation payouts featured in the table below. These figures have been taken from the 17th edition of Judicial College guidelines (JCG), updated in 2024. This is a document many legal professionals will use when valuing general damages as it provides guideline compensation brackets for various injuries.
The table should be used as a guide only. The top entry does not also appear within the JCG.
| Injury | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries Plus Special Damages | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Brain damage - Very Severe | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Brain damage - Moderate (i) | £52,550 to £267,340 |
| Back Injury - Severe (i) | £111,150 to £196,450 |
| Back Injury - Moderate (i) | £33,880 to £47,320 |
| Foot Injury - Very Severe | £102,470 to £133,810 |
| Knee injuries Severe (ii) | £63,610 to £85,100 |
| Ankle injuries - Very Severe | £61,090 to £85,070 |
| Leg injuries - Severe (iii) Serious | £47,840 to £66,920 |
| Wrist Injury - Significant permanent disability | £29,900 to £47,810 |
Those eligible to claim general damages after tripping on a pavement could potentially also claim special damages in addition. Special damages can cover the financial losses or expenses that are directly related to your injuries. For example, if your injuries have forced you to take unpaid time off work, then you may be able to claim the loss of earnings as special damages.
Other losses you may be able to claim for include:
- Travel expenses.
- Medical costs.
- Care expenses.
Providing a copy of your bank statements or any relevant invoices could help support your claim for special damages.
How Long Do I Have To Claim For Pavement Accident Compensation?
You may be wondering ‘what is the time limit for pavement accident claims?’. Personal injury claims must be started within the relevant time limit. According to the Limitation Act 1980, you generally have three years to start your claim. This can begin on the date of your injuries, but there are some exceptions.
For example, the time limit is frozen for those under the age of 18. While the time limit is frozen, a litigation friend can be appointed to start the claim on the child’s behalf. Otherwise, the time limit reinstates on their 18th birthday and runs until they turn 21.
Similarly, the time limit is indefinitely suspended for those who lack the mental capacity to make a claim for themselves. At any time while the time limit is suspended, an appointed litigation friend can start the claim on their behalf. If they recover the capacity to claim, then the time limit reinstates on the date of their recovery.
To find out if you could be within the time limit to make a trip on pavement claim, contact our team.
What Are The Causes Of Pavement Accidents?
You might be eligible to claim compensation if you suffered an injury when you tripped and fell on an uneven pavement. However, as we have already mentioned, you will need to demonstrate that you suffered your injuries as a result of a breach of someone else’s duty of care.
Here are a few examples of injuries that could result in pavement accident claims:
- An ankle injury from tripping over an uneven pavement.
- Tree roots could raise the pavement, which can cause you to trip and fall, resulting in a knee injury.
- There could be loose or rocking paving slabs. These could cause you to lose your balance and result in a head injury.
- Missing manhole covers could cause a fall leading to a broken bone.
- Overflowing bins could result in a slip on litter, causing a broken wrist.
If you would like to know how much compensation for tripping on pavement you could claim, speak with an advisor from our team.
No Win No Fee Pavement Tripping Accident Compensation Claims
If you tripped and fell on an uneven pavement and were injured as a result, one of our solicitors may be able to help you make a personal injury claim. Working with a solicitor can make the claims process seem less daunting, as they can help you gather evidence, offer more information on valuing compensation, and explain legal jargon.
An additional benefit is that our solicitors work on a No Win No Fee basis. This means that they work under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), under which your solicitor will start working on your claim without asking for a fee. Similarly, they won’t charge for their continued work, and you will not pay a fee if your claim fails.
If your pavement trip claim succeeds, then you will pay a success fee. The success fee is taken directly from your compensation as a percentage amount. However, this percentage is limited by a legal cap, which helps to make sure that you keep the larger share of compensation.
Our advisors are here to help. When you get in touch, a member of our team can evaluate your claim for free. During this evaluation, they can assess the validity of your claim, answer any questions you may have, and potentially put you in touch with a solicitor.
To get started, contact our team by:
- Calling us on 0800 073 8804
- Contacting us online
- Using the live chat feature
Thank you for reading our guide to claiming pavement accident compensation for tripping on pavement.
