If you have ever fallen over, you’ll know that embarrassment is often the overwhelming feeling, at first. After a trip or slip in a public place - such as a busy supermarket, shopping centre or street – we will tend to pick ourselves up quickly and make as fast an exit as possible, even if we are hobbling on our way. An accident of this type may be a pure accident – no one’s fault but your own – such as a trip while you are walking and updating your Facebook status at the same time. Even a momentary distraction can be enough to cause a fall. On the other hand, if your fall is due to someone else’s negligence (such as the occupier of land or a local authority), you may be able to make a claim for compensation for personal injury. This article considers slip / trip accidents and why the location matters when applying the law to the circumstances and deciding whether any personal injury claim is likely to succeed. Common accident claim locations For there to be the Continue Reading
Snow and Ice: Pedestrian Slipping Accidents
We have recently looked at claims for injuries to drivers caused by vehicle slipping accidents in wintry conditions and now it’s time to look at claims by pedestrians in similar circumstances. Slips on premises - reasonable scope for a claim If you slipped on premises where the owner or occupier is responsible for keeping the property free from snow and ice, you may have a claim against them under the Occupiers’ Liability (Scotland) Act 1960. Slips while you are working - reasonable scope for a claim Slips due to snow and ice while at work may be covered by health and safety regulations, though you need to note the uncertainty arising from the changes brought about by the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013. There may be reasonable prospects of a successful claim even if the accident did not occur on property belonging to your employer. Slips in the street - or "public liability" slips - poor chances of success The most common scenario, however, is where you have been out Continue Reading