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It is a sad fact that on too many occasions, when an individual has an accident in a building or office which is open to the public, more often than not the natural reaction is one of uncontrollable panic and embarrassment – it is not enough that you have slipped over on the floor, but when it’s in front of everyone as well! It is important to understand however that it is at this point where you are at your most vulnerable; as such it is not uncommon for people to just want to forget about the situation and move on as quickly as possible.

In light of this, I cannot stress enough that this is the wrong decision to take, if you are ever unfortunate enough to suffer an injury either at work or in a public building as a result of slipping on some poorly maintained surface or flooring which is a direct result of the occupier or employers negligence. You may very well be able to claim for personal injury and your losses which, although may never be able to fully make up for the embarrassment a fall brings, will certainly hope to bring a quiet sense of justice and satisfaction for you.

It is important to realise that establishments such as supermarkets and public houses are all under a legal obligation to ensure for their patrons that their time spent in their establishment is not only a pleasant one, but also one that is safe and without negative consequence. Because of this, it is considered a legal requirement that regular inspections regarding the entirety of the establishment are carried out as and when required, providing assurances that any potential defects or hazards are dealt with as swiftly and efficiently as possible to ensure that visitor accidents are always kept to a minimum; therefore protecting the appropriate occupiers from any legal repercussions.
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Well, I do hope that you have all had a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I can’t believe how quickly it has come and gone; but we all say this every year, and I doubt it will ever get any slower!

Anyway, if there’s one time of the year that we all generally like to go out to our favourite clubs, pubs, and bars, it’s over the festive and New Year season. New Years Eve is a big night for any club – and it tends to be one where people go a little crazy as well. We tend to find that there are a fair few injuries in nightclubs, pubs, and bars over the festive season; so, what can you do about it?

If you have been injured in a nightclub, it’s likely one of the following happened to you:
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Research studies have shown that in the UK alone approximately 1000 deaths occur as a result of falling down a flight of stairs. This is a scary statistic! In light of this it will come as no surprise then that, as an injury on stairs is worryingly easy and common to do, the legal responsibilities are quite rightly significant to ensure that any person or company that is responsible for maintaining a stairway must do so to a high standard to ensure no one is ever hurt through the use of stairs.

It is important to realise that those who fit or manufacture stairways are under a legal obligation to ensure that their stairs are free from any defect or hazard that could cause a person an injury; say, a bump, or a protrusion. As well as preventing defects, they must ensure that each step is of the correct height and width for its intended use. Handrails and appropriate support must be in place for the obvious reasons.

In addition to designers and manufacturers, it is similarly important to understand that employers are under a legal obligation to ensure that the working environment is safe for their employees, keeping accidents on and around a staircase to a minimum at all times.
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Let’s be honest, we’ve all been there – going to sit down at a family event or a public function only to completely miss the target, landing in what can only be described as an embarrassed lump on the floor. However, what is more embarrassing is being the victim in this situation when you were not to blame at all.

It is not uncommon when a situation such as this occurs for people to be too embarrassed to even contemplate what legal action may be open to them in seeking a claim for compensation.

It is therefore our responsibility to advise you of your rights, away from the  hoards of laughter from your supposed loved ones and colleagues at falling to the ground, and advise you in situations where you may have a very good claim for compensation for any injuries you have suffered from.
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As we are all manically dashing around trying to finish off our Christmas shopping, we sometimes can forget about where we are walking – I’m not talking about carelessly bumping into people in a mad rush to get the last item on the shelf; I’m talking about not watching what we are walking on. As winter brings the wet and cold weather, it can cause the floor to become a lot more dangerous than we anticipate, and can sometimes cause some people serious injuries in the event of accidents.

Slipping due to the floor being wet is one of the most common claims for compensation we see here at The Injury Lawyers.

We advise and assist numerous clients and aim to get the maximum compensation that they deserve. After all, slipping due to the negligence of whoever is responsible for the premises you are is not your fault. Failing to maintain the floor to a safe standard is not something you can control, and you should be compensated for any injuries you end up with.
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Every year, as Christmas draws nearer, my inner child is always awakened with the first fall of snow. Let’s be honest; our country has never been renowned for its white Christmases. Having said this, over recent years Mother Nature has attempted to give us some snowy cheer, and whilst we all love a bit of snow, the harsh reality is that claims for personal injury that are caused directly by snow go on the rise.

In a working environment, it is important to realise that employers are under a legal obligation to provide working conditions which are safe and free form reasonable danger for their employees. Keeping this in mind when thinking of snow, ice, and harsh wintry conditions, from a legal perspective, you have to take in to account employees wading through the snow and bringing water in to the workplace from the soles of their footwear.

Now, your employer has the duty of care to ensure that all walkways are safe and free of hazards; something that needs to be reviewed even more closely during harsh weather conditions. They must ensure that all floors are kept suitable to walk on- cornering off any unsuitable areas with warning signs and deterrents, or perhaps ensue to dry and water or moisture from the floor as quickly as possible. In light of this, if you have had an accident at work as a result of poor weather conditions or otherwise, and you believe that your employer failed to provide adequate warning or deterrent to prevent your accident, there is a high possibility that you may be able to claim for compensation.
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At The Injury Lawyers, we frequently speak to people who have been injured whilst out shopping at the supermarket.  Often they want to know if they have a claim, and if we are happy to advise them for free about their chances of winning. 

We advise that any potential claim can be brought about as an Occupier’s Liability claim, which means that if you are a visitor to premises, in this case a supermarket, the supermarket owes you a duty of care to ensure that you are safe whilst in their premises. 

So, if you have an accident at a supermarket and believe it was not your fault, you could bring a claim for compensation against the supermarket for neglecting this duty of care.
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Slipping on a wet floor has been both the butt of slapstick humour as well as a common stereotype for claims for personal injury for countless years. But for those who have ever slipped on a wet floor and hurt themselves, it’s no laughing matter.

Slipping due to a floor being wet, or having some article or debris on the floor causing the surface to become slippery, is one of the most common forms of accidents we advise people about and represent victims for claims for compensation. In reality, you can end up slipping anywhere whilst out and about for a whole host of reasons. You might slip on some spilt food or drink in a supermarket, a wet floor in a shopping mall entrance, or at work after your colleague has mopped up the floor.

But – can you claim for compensation after slipping due to a dangerous or wet floor?
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Shopping has become part of our everyday lifestyle.  Times have changed since the shops specialised in a particular product or item. These days most of our shopping is done at our local supermarket, which is probably at the end of the high street.

All supermarkets employees should be trained to a certain standard to ensure that the shop floors are kept clean and tidy, and the shelves are stocked up regularly with products for us to purchase.  Ultimately it is the responsibility of the employer and the employees to make sure that the premises are safe for customers and staff alike.

Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and accidents occur from time to time when they could not have been prevented.
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Supermarkets have become our corner shop but on a much larger scale. Employees are constantly re-stacking the shelves with goods of all types and re-arranging the displays to tempt us to indulge ourselves.  But as appealing that these goods are to us, they can also be the cause of accidents and nasty injuries.

From time to time bottles and jars will be stacked incorrectly or picked up and replaced in an unsafe position upon the shelf, which leads to breakages and spillages.  When staff are taking out new stock, paper and off cuts of fresh fruit and vegetables may fall to the floor.  This can be a serious safety hazard.

While customers are on the premises of the supermarkets, either inside the building or the car park, it is the responsibility of the supermarket to ensure their safety.
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