Can I Claim for Injuries Caused By Tripping Over A Wire At Work?
By Danielle Fletcher. Last Updated 27th January 2023. Welcome to our guide on making a claim for injuries sustained after tripping over a wire at work. Tripping over a wire can cause substantial injuries that may require medical attention. And when your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence, the recovery process can feel frustrating and unfair.
tripped over a wire at work
Employers have a duty of care to safeguard and protect you by preventing hazards as much as reasonably possible. This includes ensuring there are no trip hazards on the floor that could cause injuries. If your employer has neglected their duty of care to you, resulting in injury, then you may be able to make an accident at work claim.
You could receive compensation for the injury itself and the financial impact it has had on you. UK lawyers can help you pursue your personal injury claims, for accidents that have caused injuries in the workplace that could have been prevented.
However, you can’t make a personal injury claim simply from having an accident. You have to be able to prove you’ve suffered injuries due to the accident. This is what the personal injury claim helps compensate you for.
Accidents can happen, but you should feel safe from the risk of avoidable harm in your workplace. If your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence, our team of advisers can help.
Get In Touch With Our Team
If you’ve suffered an injury through tripping over a wire at work or tripping over trailing leads hazards, our friendly team of advisers can help. An adviser would be happy to have a chat with you about your injury and estimate how much compensation you could receive.
Once they’ve learned more about your situation, they can forward you to our expert panel of personal injury solicitors. They’ll be happy to begin the personal injury claims process.
We suggest you contact our team of advisers by:
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- Calling them on 020 3870 4868. An adviser will be available to offer you free legal advice
- Beginning the process of your claim online. One of our advisers will get back to you at your earliest convenience.
- Chatting with an adviser through our live chat pop-up box for an immediate reply.
Services And Information
- Everything You Need To Know About Injuries Caused By Tripping Over A Wire At Work
- What Is A Tripping Over A Wire Accident?
- Common Causes Of Tripping Over Wires And Cables At Work
- What Injuries Could Be Caused By Tripping Over A Wire?
- How To Prevent People Tripping Over A Wire Or Cable
- Calculating Compensation For Tripping Over A Wire
- Claims For Tripping Over A Wire At Work
- How Much Time Do I Have To Claim For Tripping Over A Wire?
- I Suffered An Injury Caused By Tripping Over A Wire, What Should I Do?
- Claiming For Tripping Over A Wire With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
- Other Information
Everything You Need To Know About Injuries Caused By Tripping Over A Wire At Work
This guide will discuss what you need to know about claiming compensation for tripping over a wire at work. Firstly, we will outline statistics about workplace accidents. We’ll look at how a breach of duty could lead to a slip, trip or fall at work.
Next, there will be a section discussing the injuries that could be caused by tripping over a loose wire. Our compensation table will look at how much compensation could be owed to you for different injuries of varying severities.
Additionally, the guide will explore the personal injury claims time limit and how much time you have to pursue your personal injury claim. There will also be an explanation of No Win No Fee agreements and the benefits they can offer when paying the fees of a solicitor. Finally, there will be a FAQ section to answer the commonly asked questions about personal injury claims from tripping over a wire at work.
What Is A Tripping Over A Wire Accident?
Trips and falls are amongst some of the most common causes of workplace accidents. This can be seen in the report workplace injury statistics for 2020/21. These figures relate to reports made to Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR). This is the body to which your employer should report workplace accidents.
As displayed on the graph below, falls on the same level were the most common cause of injuries in the workplace over this period. At 33%, this means that a third of all reported workplace accidents were caused in this way.
However, it’s not stated how many of these injuries were caused by employer negligence, nor how many were caused specifically due to tripping over a wire at work. As a result, we also don’t know how many of these claims led to personal injury claims; successful or otherwise.
Nevertheless, the graph does serve as a good illustration of how common similar injuries occur.
Tripping over a wire at work statistics graph
Common Causes Of Tripping Over Wires And Cables At Work
If you’ve tripped over a wire and injured yourself at work, then this may be the result of your employer’s negligence. Employers have a duty of care to safeguard and protect their employees by minimising hazards as much as reasonably possible.
One cause of slips, trips and falls in the workplace could be tripping hazards on the floor. However, slips, trips and falls can also be caused by things like poor lighting, which might make a wire or cable difficult to see. This could result in an employee falling and being injured.
What are tripping hazards?
A tripping hazard is anything in the workplace that could cause someone to trip and fall. It doesn’t need to have been the cause of an accident to be classed as a trip hazard.
It’s your employer’s responsibility to carry out regular risk assessments to identify trip hazards in the workplace and remove them. If a hazard cannot be removed completely, then it should be reduced. It’s not enough for your employer to carry out these risk assessments; they also need to act on the results.
As well as trailing wires or cables, tripping hazards can include:
- Obstructions in walkways, such as boxes or packaging
- Damaged flooring
- Unsuitable floor surfaces, for example too slippery
- Mud or water brought in from outdoors
No matter what the trip hazard is, it’s your employer’s responsibility to manage the risk to you in the workplace. Failure to do so could mean you’re eligible to make a claim.
What Injuries Could Be Caused By Tripping Over A Wire?
There are many types of injuries that can be sustained from a slip, trip, or fall accident in the workplace. These include:
- Cuts and abrasions: A slip, trip, or fall injury can cause cuts or abrasions if you fall onto something sharp or land hard on the floor. These can be serious, particularly if you lose a lot of blood. They could also require stitches which may leave you with scarring.
- Broken bones: This can range from a minor fracture to a serious break. You may suffer a fracture when falling if your foot or ankle twists sharply underneath you, or if your arms or legs bear the impact of the fall. As many people instinctively put their hands out to lessen the impact, this can cause fractures to the wrist or hand, too.
- Soft tissue injuries: A slip, trip or fall could result in injury to the soft tissue which connects your bones to your muscles. These ligaments and tendons can cause pain and discomfort if damaged. Depending on where the soft tissue injury is, it could also prevent you from being able to walk.
- Spinal cord injuries: These injuries can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Injuries to the spinal cord usually occur when the spinal cord is compressed or severed, which can happen if you trip and land heavily on your back.
Injuries caused by tripping over trailing cables range from minor to severe, with some even being life-threatening. This is why it’s so important for employers to abide by the duty of care outlined in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which we will look at in more detail later on.
How To Prevent People Tripping Over A Wire Or Cable
There are various ways that slip, trip, and fall accidents can be prevented in the workplace. These include:
- Ensuring cables are plugged in as close as possible to the object they are powering. This means the cables won’t have to trail long distances across the floor, resulting in fewer tripping hazards.
- Improving the lighting in the workplace, for example installing brighter light bulbs. This can make it easier for employees to see any trip hazards on the floor.
- Running the cord along the wall or ceiling, as this removes the hazard of employees tripping over it on the floor.
- Using cord covers which decrease the risk of people tripping over a loose wire.
Failure to take precautions such as these could result in an accident leading to injury. If you can show that your accident was caused by negligence on the part of your employer, then you may be able to claim. Speak to our advisors today to find out more about whether you could claim
Calculating Compensation For Tripping Over A Wire
Some websites offer personal injury claims calculators that you can use to calculate your compensation. While these do offer an estimated claim valuation, the service we offer is often more accurate. This is because we collect all the information we need to inform our estimate of your compensation.
However, we have included a table below which includes figures from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This is a publication used by solicitors which contains guideline compensation brackets for different injuries of varying severities.
| Injury: | Severity: | Notes: | Compensation: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other foot Injuries | Very Severe (c) | Permanent, severe pain and serious disability. | £83,960 to £109,650 |
| Other foot Injuries | Moderate (f) | Displaced metatarsal fractures resulting in permanent deformity and continuous symptoms. | £13,740 to £24,990 |
| Other Arm Injuries | Severe Injuries (a) | No need for amputation but extremely serious and leave the injured person little better off than if the arm had been removed. | £96,160 to £130,930 |
| Other Arm Injuries | Less Severe Injury (c) | Significant disability with substantial recovery to have taken place or be expected. | £19,200 to £39,170 |
| Back Injuries | Severe (a) (iii) | Can include, for example, disc lesions or fractures of discs or of vertebral bodies or soft tissue injuries leading to chronic conditions where disability persists despite treatment. | £38,780 to £69,730 |
| Back Injuries | Moderate (b) (ii) | May include injuries such as disturbance of ligaments and muscles giving rise to backache and soft tissue injuries | £12,510 to £27,760 |
| Ankle Injuries | Very Severe (a) | Ankle fracture with extensive soft-tissue damage resulting in deformity and possible future below-knee amputation. | £50,060 to £69,700 |
| Ankle Injuries | Moderate (c) | Fractures and ligamentous tears giving rise to less serious disabilities, like trouble walking on uneven ground. | £13,740 to £26,590 |
| Brain damage | Less Severe (d) | May result in some persisting problems with memory, concentration and focus | £15,320 to £43,060 |
| Brain or head injury | Minor (e) | In these cases there will be minimal, if any, brain damage. | £2,210 to £12,770 |
The figures included in the JCG relate to general damages. This is the part of your claim that compensates you for the injuries you’ve sustained. It will vary depending on how severe your injuries are and how long it will take for you to recover.
Special damages compensate for any financial impact you’ve experienced as a direct result of your injuries. For instance, you may be able to claim back the cost of any medication or treatment that you’ve had to pay for. You could also claim for any loss of earnings you’ve experienced because of time taken off work.
You have to provide evidence to be entitled to special damages. For instance, you may need to provide payslips to prove you suffered a loss of earnings.
Claims For Tripping Over A Wire At Work
Tripping over cables can have significant consequences and there are a wide range of injuries that can be sustained in an accident of this type. These injuries can have a real impact on your quality of life. They can impact your work, hobbies and social life. In some cases, the repercussions can be permanent.
Employers are responsible for the health and safety of their employees. This means that employers have a duty of care to safeguard and protect employees from harm. They should take all reasonably practicable steps to reduce or remove the risk of injury or ill-health to those who work for them.
If you’ve tripped on a loose wire and you feel it was related to your employer’s negligence, you may be able to make a personal injury claim. You can get in touch with our team of advisers who may connect you to our panel of personal injury solicitors.
Your employer’s duty of care
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 states that all employers have a duty of care to keep employees safe and protect them from harm as much as is practically possible. To achieve a safe working environment your employer may opt to:
- Maintaining good housekeeping. Cables and wires that are left trailing across walkways can pose a hazard. These should be tidied away where possible to reduce the risk of tripping
- Carrying out regular risk assessments. Risk assessments are important in identifying risks to workers which can then be removed.
- Providing training. As well as the duty of care owed by your employer, all employees have a responsibility to ensure their own safety as much as possible. Staff should be provided with health and safety training to support this.
- Plan workspaces. It’s not always possible to remove cables that pose a risk of slips, trips and falls. As a result, it may be necessary to plan pedestrian routes in the workplace away from hazards like these to reduce the risk of injury.
How Much Time Do I Have To Claim For Tripping Over A Wire?
The general time limit for a personal injury claim is three years from the date you suffered the accident.
If you’re under 18, you legally can’t make a claim on your own behalf. However, a litigation friend can act on your behalf to make a claim. The compensation will then be put in a trust until you come of age. If a claim hasn’t been made by the time you turn 18, then you can claim up until your 21st birthday once you’re an adult.
Similarly, if you’re mentally incapacitated, the three-year time limit begins if you commence recovery. Otherwise, a friend or family member can act as a litigation friend and no time limit applies.
It’s important that you submit a claim within this time limit to prevent your claim from being statute-barred. Get in touch with our team of advisors today to see if you could be eligible to claim compensation. We can offer you a free, no-obligation consultation regarding your case.
I Suffered An Injury Caused By Tripping Over A Wire, What Should I Do?
If you’ve suffered an injury from tripping over a wire at work, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention. This might involve visiting an A&E department at a nearby hospital or making an appointment at your GP surgery. Seeking medical attention after an accident means that you’re sure to receive the medical treatment you need for your injuries. Furthermore, it provides evidence of your injuries which may be used to support your claim.
There are other forms of evidence you can collect that may be able to support your claim. This could include CCTV footage or witness statements from anyone who saw the accident happen. Information such as this can help determine the circumstances of the accident and ascertain who was liable. You should also gather financial evidence in order to receive special damages, such as proof of loss of earnings or receipts for any medication you’ve had to pay for.
Finally, it’s recommended that you contact a specialist solicitor to guide you through the personal injury claims process. There’s no legal obligation to have a solicitor act on your behalf in order to make a claim; however, you may find that expert legal representation makes the process much easier.
Claiming For Tripping Over A Wire With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
If you tripped over a wire at work and suffered injuries as a result, you might be eligible to claim compensation. A No Win No Fee solicitor specialising in accident at work claims could provide legal support. Legal representation is not necessary to claim; however, an experienced solicitor can help guide you through the process.
A No Win No Fee solicitor might provide their services under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This is a type of No Win No Fee arrangement. What it means is that you typically won’t be charged upfront for your solicitor’s services. You usually won’t be asked to pay for ongoing costs either. If your solicitor does not secure compensation, they won’t ask you to pay for their services. However, if your solicitor successfully recovers compensation, a success fee will be taken from your award. This is limited by the law.
Our advisors can answer your questions if loose wires caused you injuries. They’re available to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All legal advice about tripping over at work is free. In addition, they can assess your claim and if it seems valid, they can put you in touch with a solicitor from our panel. Our solicitors usually offer No Win No Fee arrangements.
To speak to an advisor:
- Call 020 3870 4868
- Start your claim online.
- Use the live chat at the bottom of the screen.
Other Information
A Guide To Claiming For An Accident In A Shop – How To Claim Compensation If Injured In A Shop: If you’ve suffered injuries from an accident in a shop or supermarket that wasn’t your fault, our guide takes you through the personal injury claims process to gain compensation.
A Guide On How To Claim For An Accident In A Public Place: Have you suffered an accident in a public place that wasn’t your fault? If you’ve sustained injuries, our article explores how you can file a personal injury claim.
Can I Sue My Employer If I Still Work For Them?: This guide offers advice about claiming compensation after an accident at work when you’re still employed by the company.
Report a Problem with a Pavement: Have you suffered an accident in a public place? If you tripped over a dangerous pavement and suffered injuries, our guide explores how you can receive compensation.
How do I know if I’ve Broken a Bone?: If you suspect you may have suffered a fracture, this NHS article shows the signs, treatment plan, and recovery for broken bone injuries.
Preventing Slips and Trips in Work: This guide provided by HSE advises on how to reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls in the workplace.
Thank you for reading our guide about how to claim for injuries caused by tripping over a wire at work.
Writer HL
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