Table of Contents

• 1. Get Medical Attention and Record Your Injuries
• 2. Reporting an Accident at Work Under RIDDOR
• 3. What to Include in the Workplace Accident Book
• 4. How to Prove Employer Negligence After a Slip and Fall at Work
• 5. The Accident at Work Claim Time Limit You Need to Know
• 6. Starting the Claims Process with a No Win No Fee Solicitor
• 7. Your Rights and Protection After Reporting a Slip and Fall at Work
• Frequently Asked Questions

Last Updated: September 22, 2026

1. Get Medical Attention and Record Your Injuries

Your health comes first, and the medical record you create now becomes the backbone of any later claim. A slip and fall at work can leave injuries that seem minor at first but worsen over days. Get checked by a GP or A&E, and tell the clinician exactly how the accident happened.

Then keep your own record going:

• Note the date, time, and place of the fall
• Photograph visible injuries as they change
• Keep every appointment letter, prescription, and receipt
• Log any days you could not work

This running diary matters because compensation for a slip and fall at work covers more than the injury itself. It can include lost earnings, treatment costs, and travel to appointments. At Claims 24, we tell clients the same thing from day one: gaps in your records are gaps an insurer will try to use.

2. Reporting an Accident at Work Under RIDDOR

Reporting an accident at work under RIDDOR is a legal duty on your employer, not on you, but you should always report the incident internally as well. RIDDOR stands for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations. It requires employers to report certain serious workplace incidents to the Health and Safety Executive.

Your employer must report incidents such as:

• A worker being off work for more than seven days after injury (Types of reportable incidents)
• A fracture, other than to fingers, thumbs, or toes
• A serious injury requiring hospital treatment
• A dangerous occurrence, such as a near miss with machinery

Speak to your manager or health and safety officer the same day where possible. Ask for a copy of the report. If your employer refuses, that refusal is itself worth noting in writing.

3. What to Include in the Workplace Accident Book

The workplace accident book is your first written evidence, so get the details right while your memory is fresh. Under the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979, employers with ten or more staff must keep an accident book, and the record should be kept for at least three years.

When you make your entry, include:

• The full date and time of the incident
• Exactly where it happened, with landmarks or a room name
• What caused the fall, in plain words
• Any witnesses, with their names and roles
• The name of the person you reported it to

Read your entry back before you sign it. If something is wrong, ask for it to be corrected rather than crossing it out. A clear, honest entry protects you later.

4. How to Prove Employer Negligence After a Slip and Fall at Work

How to prove employer negligence comes down to showing three things: your employer owed you a duty of care, that duty was breached, and the breach caused your injury. Employers must provide a safe working environment under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which sets out their general duties to protect staff (Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974).

Evidence that helps build this picture includes:

• Witness statements from colleagues who saw the fall
• CCTV footage, requested quickly before it is wiped
• Maintenance or cleaning records for the area
• Risk assessments and any previous complaints about the same hazard (Source: Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974)

A common mistake is assuming a fall is “just one of those things.” In practice, most slips trace back to something that could have been prevented. Your solicitor’s job is to find that thread and follow it.

5. The Accident at Work Claim Time Limit You Need to Know

The accident at work claim time limit is generally three years from the date of the injury. This comes from the Limitation Act 1980, and it applies to most workplace injury claims in England and Wales.

Make a Claim →

There are exceptions worth knowing:

• If the injury was not immediately obvious, the clock may run from the date you reasonably knew it was linked to the accident
• For claims involving a child, the three-year period usually starts on their eighteenth birthday
• For someone without the mental capacity to claim, different rules apply

Miss the deadline and the claim is usually barred, however strong the evidence. This is why early legal advice matters. If you are unsure which date applies to you, check with a solicitor rather than guessing.

6. Starting the Claims Process with a No Win No Fee Solicitor

Starting a claim is simpler than most people expect. A no win no fee agreement, properly called a Conditional Fee Agreement, means you pay nothing if the claim does not succeed. The solicitor’s fee is only payable if you win, and it is usually taken as a percentage of your compensation.

A typical first step looks like this:

1. A free consultation to talk through what happened
2. A review of your medical records and evidence
3. A decision on whether the claim has reasonable prospects
4. Signing the agreement and formally notifying the other side

Claims 24 handles this on a no win no fee basis, with in-house solicitors and support available seven days a week. We explain each stage and the initial paperwork in plain terms, so you always know what you are signing and what happens next.

7. Your Rights and Protection After Reporting a Slip and Fall at Work

You are protected by law when you report a workplace injury. The Employment Rights Act 1996 gives you the right not to be dismissed or treated unfairly for raising a health and safety concern. If you are dismissed for reporting an accident or claiming compensation, that may itself be an unfair dismissal.

What you can expect:

• The right to see your accident book entry
• The right to request your personnel records
• Protection from being penalised for making a claim
• The right to change solicitor if you are unhappy with your representation

One point people often miss: you can claim compensation and still keep your job. A claim is against your employer’s insurance, not against your manager personally. Most employers expect it and handle it as a routine process.

A slip and fall at work can leave you facing pain, lost pay, and a mountain of paperwork while you are still recovering. You do not have to work out the deadlines, evidence, and legal tests on your own. Claims 24 offers a free consultation, no win no fee representation, in-house solicitors, and support seven days a week, with the aim of securing the maximum compensation for your injury, lost earnings, and treatment costs. Get started with Claims 24 and let someone else carry the legal weight while you focus on getting better.