By Stephen Hudson. Last Updated 29th November 2024. If you were injured in a slip and fall accident because no wet floor signs were displayed, you might wonder if you can claim compensation. This guide will discuss the criteria that need to be met as well as the steps involved in making a personal injury claim for an accident in a public place.
It will also examine examples of slips and falls caused by a lack of wet floor signs and the injuries that could be sustained as a result. We will also discuss the evidence you can gather to prove that your injuries were caused by a breach of duty.
The party in control of a public space owes members of the public a duty of care. Similarly, employers owe employees a duty of care to keep them safe in the workplace. This can involve ensuring spills are cleaned up and wet floor signs are placed within a reasonable time frame.
For the purpose of this guide, we will focus on the legislation that outlines the duty of care for those in control of a public space as well as the responsibilities they have as part of their duty.
Additionally, this guide will give examples of potential compensation settlements for slip and fall accidents.
Finally, we will discuss the benefits of working with one of our slip, trip and fall solicitors on a No Win No Fee basis and the services they could offer.
Our team of expert advisors are available 24/7 to give you free legal advice and help you with your claim. To get in touch with them, you can:
- Call on 0800 073 8804
- Use our live chat box at the bottom of the page
- Fill out our ‘claim online’ form
Select A Section
- Can I Claim For A Slip And Fall If No Wet Floor Signs Were Displayed?
- Examples Of Slips And Falls Caused By A Lack Of Wet Floor Signs
- How Long Do I Have To Claim If I Was Injured Because No Wet Floor Signs Were Displayed?
- Proving A Slip And Fall Claim
- Compensation Settlements For Slips And Falls On Wet Floors
- Make A Claim For A Slip And Fall On A No Win No Fee Basis
- Learn More About Claiming Compensation If No Wet Floor Signs Were Displayed
Can I Claim For A Slip And Fall If No Wet Floor Signs Were Displayed?
Were you injured after slipping on a wet floor with no sign clearly displayed? You might be able to claim compensation as a result.
First, it is worth being aware of the legal duty of care you are owed when you’re in a public place.
Any person or organisation that runs a public space must follow The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. This legislation states that occupiers of a space must do everything in their power to ensure the reasonable safety of visitors.
No wet floor signs being present is a possible cause of public accidents that could lead to a visitor suffering harm. It could happen because the right steps were not taken to clear or signpost a wet floor.
There are many steps that could be taken to ensure reasonable safety, such as undertaking risk assessments and stacking shelves carefully to prevent any items falling from height.
You have a valid compensation claim if you can prove negligence, which means:
- The operator owed you a duty of care.
- They, or their employees, did not uphold that duty. For example, no wet floor signs were displayed when staff were made aware of a hazardous surface.
- Because of this breach, there was an accident where you suffered harm.
Meeting all of those conditions could mean that you could claim with an expert solicitor’s help. Simply call the number at the top of the screen or click on the live chat button at the bottom to talk to an advisor about your potential personal injury case.
Examples Of Slips And Falls Caused By A Lack Of Wet Floor Signs
Below, we have provided examples of accidents and subsequent injuries that could occur if no wet floor signs are displayed.
- A slip and fall accident in a bar could occur if a drink was spilled on the floor and it wasn’t cleaned up or signposted. As a result, a customer may sustain a shoulder injury and arm injury.
- There is a spill in a supermarket aisle which several members of staff are aware of, but it isn’t cleaned up or marked with a wet floor sign. As a result, a customer sustains a broken wrist and hip injury.
To find out more about what can cause slip and fall accidents, contact one of our expert advisors today for free legal advice.
How Long Do I Have To Claim If I Was Injured Because No Wet Floor Signs Were Displayed?
Under the Limitation Act 1980, there is a three-year time limit to claim for injuries caused by slipping on a wet floor with no sign nearby. This usually starts from the date of the incident that injured you. However, the time limit can work differently under some circumstances.
The time limit will be frozen indefinitely if the injured party lacks the mental capacity to start a claim on their own. A litigation friend could start a claim on the injured party’s behalf while the time limit is frozen. If the injured party later regains their mental capacity and a claim hasn’t been made by a litigation friend, then the three-year time limit will start for the injured party from the day of recovery.
If a child has been injured, then the time limit for starting a claim will be put on hold until the day they turn 18. A litigation friend could start a claim on the child’s behalf before their 18th birthday. Otherwise, the injured party will have three years to start their own claim from the date of their 18th birthday.
For more guidance regarding your eligibility to start a personal injury compensation claim, please contact our advisors for free either online or by calling us.
Proving A Slip And Fall Claim
In order to make a personal injury claim for a fall caused by no wet floor signs being displayed, you must prove that it was caused by negligence. Steps you might take towards gathering evidence to support your claim include:
- Requesting CCTV footage of the accident.
- Taking photographs of the accident site and your injury.
- Seeking medical help and requesting copies of any medical records.
- Keeping a diary of any appointments you have attended, as well as your mental and physical state before and after your injury.
- Taking down the contact details of any potential witnesses.
You may also find it beneficial to seek legal representation. Our solicitors can offer several services that could help you through the claims process, including building and presenting your case. Contact one of our expert advisors today for more information.
Compensation Settlements For Slips And Falls On Wet Floors
If your personal injury claim succeeds, there are two heads of claim that could form your settlement; general damages and special damages.
General damages compensate for the mental and physical pain and suffering caused by your injury.
The figures in the table below are taken from the Judicial College Guidelines, a document solicitors can use to value the general damages portion of claims.
Compensation Table
| Injury | Severity | Guideline compensation bracket |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Serious Injuries Plus Special Damages | Serious | Up to £500,000+ |
| Injury Resulting From Brain Damage | Moderately severe (b) | £267,340 to £344,150 |
| Back Injury | Severe (i) | £111,150 to £196,450 |
| Neck Injury | Severe (i) | In the region of £181,020 |
| Ankle Injury | Very Severe | £61,090 to £85,070 |
| Shoulder Injury | Severe | £23,430 to £58,610 |
| Arm Injury | Less Severe (c) | £23,430 to £47,810 |
| Hand Injury | Severe Fractures to Fingers | Up to £44,840 |
| Wrist Injury | Less Severe | £15,370 to £29,900 |
| Elbow Injury | Moderate or Minor | Up to £15,370 |
Please keep in mind, these figures are not guaranteed to be awarded. Also note that the first entry is not based on the Judicial College Guidelines.
What Are Special Damages?
Special damages compensate you for any out-of-pocket payments you have had to make as a result of your injury. This compensation should return you to your financial state before you were injured.
You could claim back the cost of:
- Domestic care
- Travel to and from medical appointments.
- Prescriptions
- Loss of earnings
- Medical bills
You should keep evidence of any costs incurred in the form of receipts, payslips, travel tickets and invoices.
To find out more about the compensation you could receive, contact one of our expert advisors using the contact details above.
Make A Claim For A Slip And Fall On A No Win No Fee Basis
If you were injured because you slipped and fell in an area where no wet floor signs were displayed, you might want to make a claim with the assistance of one of our solicitors.
Our solicitors are able to offer you a kind of No Win No Fee contract called a Conditional Fee Agreement. Under the terms of this agreement:
- You won’t need to pay your solicitor any upfront or ongoing fees for their services.
- You won’t have to pay your solicitor for the work they have done on your case if it is unsuccessful.
If your claim is successful, you will owe your solicitor a small success fee which is deducted from your compensation. This fee is capped by The Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013, so you cannot be overcharged.
Speak to one of our expert advisors about working with a solicitor to help you pursue personal injury compensation. To get in touch with them, you can:
- Call on 0800 073 8804
- Use our live chat box at the bottom of the page
- Fill out our ‘claim online’ form
Learn More About Claiming Compensation If No Wet Floor Signs Were Displayed
Below are some more resources about making a public liability claim.
- How Much Compensation Can I Claim For A Leisure Centre Accident?
- How Much Compensation Can I Claim For A Back Injury?
- Pavement Accident Claims Guide
Additionally, we have provided some more external resources:
- Slips and trips – Health and Safety Executive
- How do I know if I’ve broken a bone?– NHS
- Statutory sick pay – GOV
If you have been injured because there were no wet floor signs displayed and you slipped and fell, please do not hesitate to get in touch with one of our advisors to find out if you can claim.
