Slip Trip Fall Solicitor Dublin

Slip, trip and fall Solicitors – what are slips,trips and falls?

Slip,trip and fall accidents are caused by someone falling, slipping or tripping either on something or over some object.

A slip usually involves the person falling either backwards or to the side as a result of the ground below them becoming slippery. Examples would be slipping on a wet floor in work or slipping on liquids spilt in your local supermarket.

A trip usually involves the person falling forward as a result of falling over an object, tripping on an uneven surface or a ledge/ridge while walking along a path or on a step in a shop.

Slip, trip and fall Solicitors – what type of accidents can I claim for?

1. Tripping on a ridge on an uneven footpath.
2. Tripping on a torn or bulging area of carpet in a Hotel.
3. Tripping on a step in a shop/office which has no trip hazard or warning signs.
4. Slipping on liquids (milk, yogurt, oil) in a supermarket (tescos, supervalu) where there were no wet floor/slip hazard warning signs.
5. Slipping on a wet floor during rainy/wet weather at the entrance/exit of a shop/office where there are no (1) wet floor/slip hazard warning signs and/or (2) proper mats to absorb the rainwater being brought into the shop/office.

Slip, trip and fall Solicitors- What do I do if I slip, trip and fall?

1. Do not say anything to the staff, management or anyone who helps you about who is or isn’t at fault. Liability in these slip, tip and fall cases can be complicated and you should wait until you consult with us (our contact details are here) before accepting any responsibility.
2. If you need an ambulance, then insist on one, but if you don’t need one, make sure you see your GP as soon as possible after the accident. While this will assist with any possible claim you may have, it will also help you on the road to recovery.
3. Get the names of any witnesses, their phone numbers and the name/s of the staff members that assist you. Make a note of them in your phone.
4. Use your phone to take pictures of the scene, if possible, and retain the photos for your consultation with us. Sometimes the site where the accident can be changed or altered very soon after the slip, trip and fall and a photo record is the best evidence. Even if you haven’t taken photos at the time, send someone afterwards to take photos – the sooner the better.
5. Survey the scene to ascertain (1) if there is good lighting and (2) if CCTV cameras could have caught the incident and recorded it. We can bring an application to Court to have sight of the CCTV recordings. If the CCTV images show negligence on the part of the property owner/local authority, then liability will usually be admitted and the case will resolve quickly.
6. Hold onto the clothes that you were wearing during the slip, trip and fall (as well as the shoes you were wearing) as they may need to be examined in the future. You are best advised to bag them and keep them untouched until the case is resolved.

Slip, trip and fall Solicitors – How do I bring a claim for compensation?

All these claims are processed in the same way as all personal injury cases and must proceed initially by way of an application to the Injuries Board. The Injuries Board are a statutory body that was set up in 2004 by the Irish government to assess claims for compensation for anyone who has been in an accident and suffered an injury.

While the Injuries Board state that you do not need a solicitor do bring a claim before them, in complicated cases such as slips, trips and falls, you are only placing yourself at a disadvantage if you proceed without the expertise of our Firm to advise you on (1) who is responsible and (2) how much your claim for compensation is worth.

Slip, trip and fall Solicitors – what do I have to prove to win my claim for compensation?

In order to bring a successful claim for compensation,  you have to prove one of the following potential elements:

That the owner of the premises (or an employee of the owner) caused the spill, caused the worn/torn spot to occour, caused the surface to become slippery or dangerous or caused the item to be on the floor that caused the trip,

That the owner of the premises (or an employee of the owner) must have known of the dangerous surface/dangerous item but did nothing about it.

That the owner of the premises (or an employee of the owner) should have known of the dangerous surface because a “reasonable” person taking care of the property would have discovered and removed or repaired it.

If you can show any of the above (on the balance of probabilities), then you have a good basis of a claim for compensation.

Slip, trip and fall Solicitors – what do I do next?

If you want to discuss your slip, trip and fall claim for compensation, contact O’Kelly Solicitors on 086 7889753 or via email to mark@okellysolicitors.ie. We are here to help and get you the compensation you deserve.