We all slip over now and again, most of the time this is caused from our own incompetence or simply because we are not paying attention. In these situations, all we can do is dust ourselves down and keep on walking.

However, it is not always our fault. Walking along public roads or pathways, it is reasonable to expect a safe surface to walk on, but unfortunately this is not always the case. Local authorities can find it difficult to check and maintain safety on all public roads and pathways, which can sometimes lead to accidents of people tripping on uneven ground, cracks in the roads, potholes and many other dangerous conditions. In situations like this, you may be eligible to claim compensation.

What do I need to make a strong claim?

Evidence, evidence, evidence. Obviously the first thing you should do is seek medical attention, as your health is the most important thing. Once you have done this, it is imperative to collate as much evidence you can as possible.

The three most important items that will strengthen your case are:

  •  Photos of the area in which you fell.
  • Witness statements and their contact details.
  • Report from police / medical staff (either at the scene or from the hospital).

In addition to this, make sure you write a description of what happened as soon as possible, as in these traumatic situations, victims can sometimes suffer memory lapses or remember the specific details in a different way. Whilst these are the most important parts of evidence to obtain, it does not stop there. Collate anything and everything that you think may be useful, then our personal injury lawyers will go through the entire information dig out what is relevant. Among other investigations and searches, we will contact the local authorities to see if there was any CCTV footage of you having the fall, as this will again strengthen your case.

What will slip and fall lawyers do for me in these cases?

As is standard with any personal injury case, to be successful in your claim, you must show that the counterparty was at fault. The local authority has a duty to ensure that all roads and footpaths are "safe"; however, the difficulty comes in proving that the area was unsafe as there is no legal definition of what 'safe' is.

This is where the help of an experienced slip and fall lawyers will help you. Our slip and fall lawyers have dealt with a huge number of these cases, so are better placed that almost anyone to identify what is "safe" when it comes to public roads and pathways.

Boccadutri is an experienced slip and fall  law firm that can determine whether liability may exist in a particular case and help an injured person recover damages for lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. We work on a "no win no fee" basis which means that we only get paid if we are successful in reaching a financial settlement in your favour. We take a percentage of the final compensation amount awarded to you, so we will only be paid at the end of the matter.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.