You may wonder, “Can I claim if I fell down stairs in public?”. In this article, we will have a look at answering your questions related to public liability claims.
This article starts with an explanation of the personal injury claims eligibility criteria that must be satisfied. Additionally, we look at a few examples of what could happen if an occupier fails to keep staircases they are responsible for safe for use.
You may also have questions about how settlements are awarded in successful personal injury claims. We look at how compensation is awarded by providing information on what you could claim for.
If you meet the eligibility requirements to make a personal injury claim, you may wish to instruct a solicitor to work on your case. A solicitor can help with your case by:
- Presenting your public liability accident claim in full and within time limits.
- Ensuring your case is correctly valued.
- Sending important documents on your behalf.
This article concludes with a look at how a personal injury solicitor could support your case on a No Win No Fee basis.
If you would like to discuss the personal injury claims process or find out if you have a valid case, get in touch with a member of our advisory team.
To discuss slip, trip and fall claims:
- Request a call back by filling in our claim online form.
- Call 020 8050 2736
- Ask in our live chat.
Select A Section
- Can I Claim If I Fell Down Stairs In Public?
- How Can Falling Down Stairs Be Caused By Negligence?
- What To Do If You Fall Down The Stairs And Want To Make A Claim
- How Much Compensation For A Fall Down Stairs?
- Can I Use A No Win No Fee Solicitor If I Fell Down The Stairs In Public?
- Learn More About Can I Claim If I Fell Down Stairs In Public
Can I Claim If I Fell Down Stairs In Public?
When you are in a public space, you should expect to be reasonably safe while using the premises for its intended purpose. This is set out as the duty of care that the occupier of a public place, or the individual or organisation in control of that space, owes to members of the public in the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957.
However, in order to have good grounds to claim compensation for the injuries you suffered when falling down the stairs, you must be able to prove that the accident happened because the occupier failed to uphold the duty of care that they owed you. Additionally, you must file your case within the personal injury claims time limit of three years from the date of the accident that caused your injuries. There are some exceptions to this limitation period, such as for those under the age of 18 at the time they fell down the stairs.
To further discuss time limits, exceptions and the eligibility criteria, please speak to one of our team members. An advisor can help you get started with a claim today.
How Can Falling Down Stairs Be Caused By Negligence?
Accidents in a public place can occur in various ways. Here are a few examples of how occupier negligence can affect staircases:
- Faulty or damaged bannisters. If these are broken and you lose your footing, you would have nothing to grab onto to steady yourself, which could result in a neck injury if you fall. These should be reported and repairs carried out in a timely manner.
- Loose or torn carpeting. You could trip over loose or poorly fitted carpets and tiles or other trip hazards, which could result in a very severe injury, such as a brain injury and broken bones if you fell down the stairs.
- Inadequate lighting. Staircases should be sufficiently lit. If this can’t be accomplished with overhead lighting, the occupier may have lights or emergency lighting on the stairs themselves to prevent accidents.
- Broken or missing steps. You can fall down the stairs if you fail to notice a broken or missing step. As with damaged bannisters, broken steps should be reported and the staircase taken out of use, or the public warned of the hazard and repaired within a timely manner.
- Wet steps. If the stairs are wet, the occupier should ensure that warning signs are in place to prevent injuries from falls.
If you would like to discuss the incident that resulted in falling down the stairs and find out if you have a valid claim for a personal injury, please speak to an advisor. If you have good grounds for a compensation claim, they could connect you with one of the personal injury solicitors from our panel.
What To Do If You Fall Down The Stairs And Want To Claim
If you would like to make a personal injury claim because you slipped and fell down the stairs, you will need to gather sufficient evidence that proves liability for the injuries you suffered.
Here are a few examples of evidence you could submit to support a public accident claim:
- Footage of the accident. If you can acquire any videos of the accident, such as by requesting CCTV footage of yourself, you can use this to support your case.
- Photographs. You could take pictures of the faulty stairs or handrails or other items from the accident scene. Alternatively, you may have images from the immediate aftermath of the accident. Additionally, if you sustained visible injuries, you could also take photos of these.
- A copy of your health records. Your medical records could help illustrate the nature of the injuries you suffered when you fell down the stairs.
- Witness contact details. If you gather contact information from anyone who saw the accident, witness statements could be collected later in the legal process.
Our advisors can give you free advice about what evidence could support slips, trips and falls claims. Get in touch using the details at the top of the page.
How Much Compensation For A Fall Down Stairs?
If you make a successful claim for the injuries suffered falling down the stairs, your compensation could consist of two parts. These are general and special damages.
To compensate for your physical pain and suffering, plus any injuries to your mental health that occurred as a result of the slip, trip and fall accident, you will be awarded general damages (should your claim prove successful). When valuing this part of claims for falls down stairs, those responsible for doing so may refer to the guideline compensation amounts provided by the Judicial College (JCG).
In our table below, we look at a few figures. These figures are from the 16th edition of the JCG, except for the top row. This row is provided to illustrate how you could be compensated for multiple injuries and related costs. As all public accident claims are different, the table is only for illustrative purposes.
| Injury | Severity | Notes | Guideline Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| More than one very serious injury and special damages | Very Severe | Settlements could include compensation for multiple very severe injuries and related expenses, such as wheelchair purchase and lost wages. | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Brain Injury | Very Severe | Full time nursing care is required due to severe cognitive and physical disabilities caused by brain damage. | £282,010 to £403,990 |
| Back Injuries | Severe (i) | These cases cause severe pain and disability along with a combination of symptoms including impairments to sexual function as well as the bladder and bowel plus incomplete paralysis. | £91,090 to £160,980 |
| Neck Injuries | Severe (i) | The claimant will suffer permananet spastic quadriparesis or incomplete paralegia. | In the region of £148,330 |
| Arm Injuries | Severe | These cases are so serious that the injured party is little better off than if their arm had been amputated. | £96,160 to £130,930 |
| Severe Leg Injuries | Most Serious | This bracket includes fractures that have not united and extensive degloving. | £54,830 to £87,890 |
| Injuries to the Hips and Pelvis | Severe (iii) | This bracket includes many hip injuries and may involve a replacement or likelihood of needing one. | £39,170 to £52,500 |
| Ankle Injuries | Severe | The claimant will require extensive treatment and will suffer a significant residual disability. | £31,310 to £50,060 |
| Wrist | Significant | Although some useful movement remains, the claimant suffers with a significant permanent disability. | £24,500 to £39,170 |
| Skeletal Injuries | Multiple Fractures | The claimant has some permanent facial deformity because of multiple facial fractures. | £14,900 to £23,950 |
Financial Losses After Falling Down Stairs
You could also be reimbursed for any financial losses caused by your injuries under special damages. In incidents involving falls down stairs, special damages might include:
- Out-of-pocket medical expenses, such as prescription costs or medical treatment.
- Compensation for money spent on mobility aids, including wheelchair purchase or rentals.
- Home help, which could include nursing, a cleaner or help with childcare.
- Travel expenses, such as compensation for money spent travelling to medical appointments.
- Reimbursement of your lost wages for time spent off work recovering.
To recover special damages, you will need to submit proof as part of the personal injury claims process. This could be receipts, invoices and wage slips.
If you would like to discuss, “Can I claim if I fell down stairs in public?” please get in touch with a member of our advisory team. Additionally, an advisor can value your claim for free.
Can I Use A No Win No Fee Solicitor If I Fell Down The Stairs In Public?
If you are eligible to seek compensation for your fall from a height injury, you may wish to have legal representation during the process. A public liability solicitor from our panel could help with your claim and provide you initially with free legal advice. Generally, the solicitors from our panel use a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) to provide their services. This is a type of No Win No Fee agreement.
When you instruct a No Win No Fee solicitor to work on your compensation claim, you won’t be asked for payment upfront for their services. There also won’t be any ongoing fees. Furthermore, your No Win No Fee solicitor will not charge for their work on your case if your claim fails.
However, if your claim for a fall down the stairs is successful, your solicitor will take a success fee from your compensation. This amount is a percentage that is limited by a legal cap.
Please get in touch with an advisor if you have any further questions relating to claiming for a public liability accident. If you meet the eligibility requirements, you could be connected to one of the personal injury solicitors from our panel.
To get in touch:
- Call 020 8050 2736
- Request a call back using our claim online form.
- Use our live chat.
Learn More About Can I Claim If I Fell Down Stairs In Public
Here are a few more public liability claim articles:
- Information about a cinema accident compensation claim.
- Guidance on how to claim against the council for a public liability accident.
- Steps you could follow after a pavement accident and information about claiming compensation.
A few external websites that might be useful:
- Guidance on what to do if you suffer a fall from the NHS.
- Details about statutory sick pay (SSP) from the government.
- Information about preventing accidents from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).
If you would like to find out, “Can I claim if I fell down stairs in public?” get in touch for a free no obligation consultation.