Slip & Fall on Ice Settlement Amounts

If you have fallen on ice or snow, you may be able to make a claim for compensation. Talk to us about slip & fall on ice settlement amounts, we are here to help you claim the compensation you deserve.

Ice and snow have the potential to cause some serious disruption throughout the winter months. These weather conditions can also lead to circumstances in which injury can occur. It is not always easy or feasible to anticipate the hazards associated with ice or snow. However, the majority of injuries resulting from ice or snow happen due to another person’s lack of awareness of these hazards.

In 2017/18 the NHS reported that more than seven thousand persons were admitted to hospital due to a fall caused by ice or snow. Individuals in the 70+ age range were at the most risk of injury.

Have you suffered an injury because ice or snow was not properly cleared from a public area or pavement? If so, you might be entitled to claim compensation.

Contact our friendly team of specialists today on 0333 358 3034 and they will be able to advise whether you have a valid claim. Alternatively, you can complete our online form and arrange a call-back.

Slipped on an icy pavement?

Gritting is an imperative measure to prevent slipping on icy pavements, driveways and footpaths. If gritting is not carried out, the risk of injury – especially for the elderly and people with disabilities – can be paramount. In some cases, the long-term consequences of such a fall can be devastating.

Local councils are usually the body that is responsible for the safety and condition of public walkways. The Highways Act (1980) stipulates that councils have a “duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that safe passage along a highway” (or pavement) “is not endangered by snow or ice”.

Local councils may be held liable if they have failed to grit a pavement or public highway and you have become injured as a result of this failure. However, due to financial and logistical limitations, councils cannot always be expected to grit every single pavement and road. Therefore, a claim for an injury arising from ice or snow must be evaluated by a specialist solicitor to determine whether a person is eligible for compensation.

In severe weather conditions, local authorities must figure out which public areas need to be prioritised. This is achieved by working out how often walkways are used and whether viable alternatives exist. A person who falls on a busy high street that has not been gritted, for instance, has a stronger claim than a person who slips on a quiet residential street with low footfall. One of our specialists will be able to assess your potential claim and offer relevant advice.

Common injuries following a slip or fall on ice

There are various injuries that can result from slips on ice or snow, including:

• Head injuries
• Broken or fractured bones
• Bruising and soft tissue injuries
• Spinal injuries
• Wrist, hand or elbow injuries

Slip & Fall on Ice Settlement Amounts

All personal injury cases are unique and so the amount of compensation that is awarded in each case is also unique. The amount of compensation that is awarded is determined by looking at two distinct factors – general damages and special damages.

GENERAL DAMAGES

The pain and suffering that your injuries have caused is the main factor that is used to determine how much compensation you are owed.

SPECIAL DAMAGES

However, compensation also takes into account any financial losses that you might have suffered as a result of your injuries, such as a loss of earnings due to being unable to return to work.

Except for children, there is a three-year time limit on making a personal injury claim. This time limit begins from the date that the accident occurred. You should contact a personal injury solicitor as soon as possible to assess your case.

Making a claim following a slip on ice or snow

Personal injury claims must ordinarily be made within 3 years of the date when the incident took place. If you are under the age of eighteen you have 3 years from the date of your eighteenth birthday to make a claim.

It must be possible for you to prove that your injury occurred as the result of a third party’s negligence, e.g. it will be necessary to provide evidence that the local authority failed to implement measures that would have prevented your injury.

How Jefferies can help you following a slip on ice or snow

Call us for a no-obligation initial discussion on 0333 358 3034 today or contact us online via our website.

Other types of claims for accidents involving slips, trips and falls

We may be able to help with a variety of other injuries you might have incurred, for example:

• Slipping, tripping or falling in supermarkets
• Falls at work
• Falling down stairs