Injured on icy pavements: What to do - Oakwood Solicitors Ltd

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Snow has covered the UK this week, giving picturesque, wintery scenes across the country. However, as pretty as the white stuff is (for the first couple of days) it can be an inconvenience when you need to get out and about to work and on the roads.

In some parts of the UK, the sub-zero temperatures have meant that the fluffy white snow has since turned to dangerous black ice, posing a risk to health if you happen to slip and fall.

Injured on icy pavements

But if you have slipped on the ice in a public place or at work, where somebody else had a duty of care to ensure your safety, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

This is because, by law, local authorities and property owners are required to take reasonable precautions to prevent ice slip accidents. In some cases, slips on the ice can cause severe injuries, broken bones or head injuries and it can be particularly dangerous for elderly or vulnerable people.

When can I claim for slip on ice?

You could be entitled to claim compensation for slipping on ice if your accident occurred because of the negligence of another party and they owed you a legal duty of care.

For example, if the incident occurred at the entrance of a shop where ice has not been cleared or if you have fallen on a pavement and the local authority had not taken steps to ensure the public pathway was as safe as reasonably possible.

However, local councils are not obligated to keep all routes completely clear of ice and snow – this would be unreasonable and impractical. Generally, the busier the street, the greater the responsibility to keep the area safe for road users and pedestrians.

It is reasonable to expect councils to grit the busiest streets in the area, as well as entrances to public buildings such as hospitals, schools, and leisure centres. This means your case is usually stronger if you fall in an area where high pedestrian traffic can be expected.

Similarly, if you fall at the entrance to a supermarket or shop, you may be able to make a claim against the business.

I slipped and fell at work – Can I claim?

If you have slipped or fallen on ice or snow at work, you may be able to make a slip and fall claim against your employer.

Health and safety legislation requires your employer to maintain a safe working environment.

If your employer has failed to take measures to avoid icy flooring on the premises, such as failing to apply grit or salt to the entrance of your workplace, then they have failed in their duty of care. They could be found liable for any injuries sustained by their employees as a result.

While all employers must take additional care during the winter months, some people work in low temperature environments where there is a risk of slipping on ice all year round.

For example, many warehouse and supermarket workers are required to work in cold stores and refrigerated rooms on a regular basis.

While working in such conditions is often unavoidable, employers must make sure that health and safety procedures protect their workers as much as possible. Employees and contractors can claim for any injury suffered as a consequence of insufficient safety measures.

How much compensation could I get?

The amount of damages you are likely to receive depends on a number of things such as the severity of your injury, and the extent to which the organisation responsible failed in their duty of care.

For an estimate of how much compensation you could receive, speak to one of our accident lawyers.

Is there a time limit to claim for falling on ice?

As with most personal injury claims, you have three years to claim for slipping on ice or snow.

How to make a claim for falling on ice or snow

Seek medical attention as soon as possible. Receiving care from a medical professional is essential to your health and will also help to document your injuries and treatment which can later be used as evidence in your claim
Take photographs of where you fell and speak to people in the area to see if anyone else has also fallen
Report the accident to the organisation you believe is responsible – this could be a local authority, a business or your workplace
Speak to our personal injury solicitors who can provide free, no-obligation advice and help you start your claim.

What to do if you’re injured on icy pavements