Last Updated 10th September 2025. Petrol stations can be dangerous places, with cars moving around constantly as well as pedestrians, as they go to the counter to pay for their fuel. It is no wonder therefore, that people are injured in these busy places. This guide about petrol station accident claims will hopefully prove useful to you.
Slips on petrol forecourts can cause a variety of injuries, but you may be able to claim for compensation if the accident you’ve been involved in is not your fault.
If you’d like to enquire about making a claim, get in touch. Our free helpline is open 24 hours a day to ensure you get the advice you need.
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- Calling 0800 073 8804
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Causes Of Fall Injuries In A Petrol Station Forecourt
Slip, trip or fall accidents may happen for a variety of reasons at a petrol forecourt. If you were injured whilst going to get petrol, a claim could be made. However, in order to make a valid claim, your fall injury must have been caused due to the negligence of the petrol station’s occupiers or owners.
Under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, property owners or occupiers have a duty of care to ensure their premises are safe to use for lawful visitors. If this duty is breached and you are injured as a result, you may be eligible to claim.
This section looks at how negligence may cause a fall injury in a petrol forecourt. When you visit a petrol station, there may be some risks, including:
- If employees at the petrol station fail to clean any spillages on the forecourt, you might slip or fall.
- The occupiers might be made aware of a pothole but fail to deal with it in a timely manner, allowing for you to trip and sustain an ankle injury.
Our advisors are available 24/7 to check your eligibility. After a free consultation, you could be connected to our expert solicitors.
What Evidence Can Be Used To Support My Petrol Station Accident Claim?
Understandably, you may be in pain and discomfort after your accident. However, for your petrol station accident claim to be successful, you must prove that the third party was responsible for your injuries. To do this, you must provide evidence that demonstrates how the third party breached their duty of care, resulting in your injuries.
Some examples of evidence that may support your claim include:
- Photographs of your injuries or the scene of the accident
- CCTV or dashcam footage of your accident
- A copy of the accident report book
- A copy of medical reports that document your injuries and treatment- test and scan results may also suffice as medical evidence
- Police or fire brigade reports if they were called to the scene
- Witness contact details
- Any receipts that can be used as evidence of financial losses you may have incurred as a result of your accident
Obtaining evidence to establish liability is one of the most important stages of the claims process. The more evidence you have, the more likely your claim will succeed. We understand that you may find it difficult to obtain evidence. However, our experienced solicitors may help you gather any important evidence and use it to build your claim.
If you want to know more about how to obtain evidence or claim compensation for an accident at a petrol station, please do not hesitate to contact our friendly advisors and ask them any questions you may have.
How To Begin A Petrol Station Forecourt Slip, Trip Or Fall Claim
In order to make a petrol station compensation claim, all you really need to do is to call us. Our experienced staff are used to dealing with cases just like yours and we will do all that we can to make the process straightforward and as stress free as possible. Initially, we will take you through a free consultation, where we will listen to your account of what has happened, whether it concerns slips on petrol or any other incident, asking questions to get all the facts surrounding the incident. You may also be required to attend a medical appointment locally, where a doctor will assess your injuries and provide a written report of your condition.
Once we have completed this process, we will have much more of an idea of how strong your case is and be able to advise you accordingly. As part of our No Win No Fee service, you will not have to pay a penny of your own money upfront, as we won’t charge you at all unless your case is successful.
Are Petrol Station Accident Claims Subject To A Time Limit?
Petrol station accident claims are subject to a 3-year time limit, as established in the Limitation Act 1980. This limitation period typically runs from the date that the accident happened. With this said, there are a few exceptions to this time limit for claimants who might have circumstances that mean they are unable to claim.
These two exceptions apply to claimants such as those under 18 at the time of the accident; a minor is unable to make a claim on their own behalf. So, for these claimants, their time limit would begin on their 18th birthday and run for 3 years from this date.
Additionally, claimants who lack the mental capacity to make a petrol station injury compensation claim will have their time limit paused. Their time limit will only be reinstated if a full recovery is made; their 3-year time limit would then run from the date of their recovery.
In both of these situations, a litigation friend could be used. This is a trusted adult who can make a claim on behalf of someone else, and our solicitors could help you apply to act in this role for a loved one.
If you’d like to learn more about acting as a litigation friend, or if you have any questions about whether your claim would still fall within the time limits, contact us today. Our advisors can offer you free advice and support throughout your petrol station accident compensation claim.
Petrol Station Accident At Work Claims
Whether you work behind the counter of a petrol station, or work on the forecourt itself, it is still possible for you to make a petrol station injury compensation claim if you have suffered an injury/injuries as a result of a petrol slips, trips or falls. If someone else has failed in their duty to clear up a petrol spillage, or if your employers have failed to ensure your health and safety are taken care of with proper risk assessments and risk management procedures, then you may wish to pursue a claim for compensation.
If you are worried about whether this would affect your job, it is important that you understand that your employer, by law, cannot discriminate against you or treat you differently because of your claim. In addition, your employer will have insurance in place to cover the costs of any successful claim. We have dealt with thousands of claims against employers and can talk you through the process so that you are comfortable with the course of action you are taking. Don’t forget too, your employer has a legal duty to keep you safe at work, and taking action may mean accidents are reduced, making the workplace a safer place to be for everyone.
How Much Compensation For A Petrol Station Accident Claim?
Compensation in petrol station accident claims can be made up of two heads of loss, which are called general and special damages. General damages compensate for the injuries suffered, whilst special damages are for the financial impact that the injuries have had on you.
Dealing first with general damages, several factors will determine the level of compensation. These can include:
- Severity of injury
- Length of symptoms
- Future prognosis
- The wider impact of the injuries on your life
When determining the likely level of injury compensation, a document called the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) can be relied upon. The JCG gives guideline compensation brackets for a wide range of injuries.
Below is a table of injuries and their JCG bracket. These are not guaranteed figures, as every injury has its own unique characteristics and impact. Please note that the first row has not been taken from the JCG.
| Injury | Severity | Compensation Bracket |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Serious Injuries and Financial Losses | Serious | Up to £1,000,000 + |
| Brain Injury | Very Severe | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Neck | Severe (ii) | £80,240 to £159,770 |
| Moderate (i) | £30,500 to £46,970 | |
| Back | Severe (ii) | £90,510 to £107,910 |
| Moderate (ii) | £15,260 to £33,880 | |
| Elbow | A Severely Disabling Injury | £47,810 to £66,920 |
| Less Severe Injuries | £19,100 to £39,070 | |
| Ankle | Moderate | £16,770 to £32,450 |
| Hand | Fracture of Index Finger | £11,120 to £14,930 |
If your injury has caused you financial losses, these can potentially be added to your claim as special damages. You will need to provide proof in support of these losses, for example, wage slips showing how you were absent from work and lost income.
In addition to past loss of earnings, some other forms of special damages are:
- Future loss of earnings
- Missed bonus payments
- Loss of pension entitlements
- Domestic care and assistance (From friends, family or even paid professionals)
- Travel expenses
- Rehabilitation costs.
This list is not exhaustive, and there are other out of pocket expenses that could be sought as part of a petrol station accident claim. To find out more, call a friendly advisor today.
Make A No Win No Fee Claim After An Accident At A Petrol Station
If you are eligible to seek personal injury compensation, you may wish to do so with legal support. One of our personal injury solicitors could help with your slip, trip and fall claim, or any other type of injury claim caused by a petrol station. Typically, they provide their services under a type of No Win No Fee arrangement called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).
When your solicitor works on your case under a CFA, you typically won’t be expected to meet any upfront or ongoing costs towards their services. However, if the outcome of your claim is positive, your solicitor will subtract a success fee from your award. The amount that can be taken is a legally limited percentage. Should your claim not have a successful outcome, you won’t be expected to pay this fee.
If you would like to talk about injuries you suffered and to find out if you are eligible for compensation, speak to one of the advisors from the Legal Expert team. If it seems like you have a feasible case, you could be connected with one of our solicitors.
To discuss your accident:
- Call 0800 073 8804
- Fill in our ‘claim online’ form for a call back.
- Connect using our live chat.
Helpful Links On Claiming For An Accident At A Petrol Station
Below, you can find some more resources on claiming compensation for a petrol station accident.
- Health & Safety Exectutive – The HSE has put together a guide for petrol station workers and owners in order to help them keep those using their premises safe.
- Guidance from the HSE for petrol station owners – The HSE’s current laws and advice for petrol station operators and owners concerning petrol forecourt safety including changes is found here.
- LegalExpert.co.uk slip, trip, fall claims guide – If you have suffered a slip, trip or fall outside of a petrol station, or would like to know more about slips, trips and falls and what can be claimed for, our guide contains all you need to know.
- LegalExpert.co.uk wet floor slip compensation guide – If a wet floor has caused your slip, and you’d like more in depth information about this type of injury and compensation claim, then read our informative guide.
- Advice on toe amputation claims. Learn about the toe amputation claims process with this helpful guide.
- Learn about making a toilet accident injury claim and get more information on claiming or an injury in a public place.
Thank you for considering our guide about petrol station accident claims.
