By Lewis Winehouse. Last Updated 17th July 2023. Obstructed walkways can be dangerous and pose the risk of injuries in the workplace. You might be wondering whether you can claim if you have been injured due to an obstructed walkway at work.
While at work, employers owe their employees a duty of care, the details of which will be explored in greater detail later. If they do not fulfill this, leading to you being injured, this amounts to negligence, and you could seek compensation.
Obstructed walkways claims guide
We will explore specific examples of incidents in the workplace that could lead to a personal injury claim as well as how much compensation you could be owed.
Additionally, the ways you can strengthen your case’s chance of success will also be explored. For example, gathering evidence or hiring a personal injury solicitor to help you with your claim.
You can also speak directly with an advisor from our team if you would like to do so. They are available at all times to offer you free legal advice. To get in touch:
- Call us on 0161 6969 685
- Use our live chat right now
- Contact us online
Select A Section
- What Are Obstructed Walkways?
- Where Could Accidents Caused By Obstructed Walkways Occur?
- What Are The Hazards Of Obstructions On Walkways?
- Steps To Take After A Walkway Accident
- Payout Examples For Accidents Caused By Obstructed Walkways
- Make A No Win No Fee Claim
What Are Obstructed Walkways?
Obstructed walkways can be defined as any object that blocks or overhangs and inhibits or obstructs the use of the walkway. If you encounter an obstructed walkway, particularly while carrying out a task at work, for example, heavy manual handling, this could pose a risk of injury.
The duty of care your employer owes you is outlined in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. This states that you need to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure your safety in the workplace. If they fail to do this, and you’re injured, then this could entitle you to claim.
The level to which you are harmed, as well as the impact your injuries have on your life, will be decisive in terms of how much compensation you are awarded in a successful claim.
If you would like to find out whether you can claim for an accident at work, please speak with an advisor from our team. If your claim is valid, they could connect you with a No Win No Fee lawyer from our panel.
Where Could Accidents Caused By Obstructed Walkways Occur?
Accidents caused by obstructed walkways can arise in many different industries. For example:
- Construction sites
- Warehouses or factories
- Retail spaces
- Hotels and hospitality venues
- Offices
If you would like more details in regard to workplace accident claims, please speak with an advisor from our team. You could be connected with a lawyer for your claim.
What Are The Hazards Of Obstructions On Walkways?
Here are some examples of the various ways that obstructed walkways could cause injury in the workplace:
- Your employer may not carry out a risk assessment before asking you to complete a task that requires you to walk through a corridor that has not been cleared. As a result, you trip on an obstruction that is left on a walkway and fall, suffering an arm injury.
- Another colleague is not provided with the proper heavy manual lifting training but is asked to do so nonetheless. Consequently, you trip on several boxes that they drop, suffering a head injury.
- A computer wire in the office is not covered properly. Subsequently, you trip on it and suffer a foot injury and shoulder injury.
If you have suffered an injury at work due to employer negligence, you might be able to claim. Please speak with our advisors for more information.
Steps To Take After A Walkway Accident
It is crucial to prove that you were injured due to your employer breaching their duty of care in order for your claim to be successful. There are many ways you can do this; however, your first consideration should always be to seek medical attention. This ensures that you receive the treatment you need for any injuries you have. Moreover, it creates a medical report that can be used to support your claim.
Then you may wish to:
- Fill out the accident at work book
- Take pictures of your injuries and/or the scene in which they occurred
- Gather CCTV footage of the incident
- Gather witnesses’ contact details for statements to be taken at a later date
- Keep a record of any financial losses
You could then seek legal advice. While not a requirement, it could be useful in your claim. As previously mentioned, our advisors can offer you a free consultation at a time that is most convenient for you. If you have a valid claim, they could connect you with a lawyer from our panel.
Time Limit To Claim For An Obstructed Walkway Accident
The time limit to make a personal injury claim for an obstructed walkway accident in which you sustained harm, is typically three years from the date that you were injured. This is set out in the Limitation Act 1980.
However, if a young person under the age of 18 is injured in an obstructed walkway accident, they’ll have three years from their 18th birthday to begin court proceedings. The time limit is paused before this point, during which time a litigation friend may make a claim on their behalf.
If the person lacks the mental capacity required to start a claim, the time limit is indefinitely paused. Again, a litigation friend, such as a family or friend, can claim on their behalf during this time. If no claim is made for them, and they recover their mental capacity, they will have three years in which to begin their own claim.
For further guidance on the time limit for personal injury claims following an accident at work, call our team on the number above.
Payout Examples For Accidents Caused By Obstructed Walkways
If your obstructed walkways claim is successful, you could be awarded compensation for the different ways in which the accident and your injuries impacted you. Firstly, you could receive general damages for any pain and suffering that is caused by your injuries. This head of claim compensates you for both physical and mental injuries.
To hello you gauge how much you could be awarded, we have compiled a table of compensation figures from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The JCG is a document that legal professionals use to assist them when valuing claims; these amount are not guaranteed and should only be used as a guideline.
| Body Part | Severity | Compensation Bracket | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head | Moderate (i) | £150,110 to £219,070 | An injury that causes moderate to severe intellectual deficit and personality changes as well as impact on sight or speech. |
| Back | Severe (i) | £91,090 to £160,980 | Involves damage to the spinal cord and nerve roots resulting in a number of very serious consequences not typical in ordinary back injuries. |
| Foot | Very severe | £83,960 to £109,650 | Symptoms, such as continuing and severe pain or a very serious disability. |
| Knee | Severe (i) | £69,730 to £96,210 | A serious injury that causes significant pain and loss of function and requires lengthy treatment. |
| Elbow | Severe | £39,170 to £54,830 | A severely disabling injury. |
| Leg | Very serious | £54,830 to £87,890 | An injury that leads to continuing problems with mobility and the need for mobility aids, such as crutches. |
| Ankle | Very severe | £50,060 to £69,700 | Injuries that are limited and unusual, such as transmalleolar fracture of the ankle with extensive soft-tissue damage. |
| Hand | Serious | £29,000 to £61,910 | An injury that reduces the hand to around 50% capacity. |
| Wrist | Loss of function | £47,620 to £59,860 | An injury that leads to the complete loss of function. |
| Toe | Severe | £9,600 to £13,740 | A severe injury to the great toe or a crush and multiple fractures of at least two toes. |
You might also be awarded special damages for any financial losses that are incurred due to your injuries.
For instance, if you suffer a disabling back injury, you might have to make home adaptations. This could be reimbursed by special damages which may also compensate you for:
- Travel costs
- Medical expenses
- Care costs
- Loss of earnings
If you would like a more detailed analysis of how much compensation you could be entitled to, please get in touch with an advisor from our team. They will be able to offer free legal advice on claims for accidents caused by obstructed walkways.
Make A No Win No Fee Claim With Legal Helpline
Opting to to claim via a personal injury solicitor from our panel can take much of the stress away from what could be an otherwise daunting process. If they represent you via a No Win Fee agreement, this can also have many financial benefits.
They might ask you to enter a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) which means that you don’t have to pay for your solicitor’s services in the event of an unsuccessful claim. You also don’t pay upfront or as the claim progresses.
If your claim is won, you will have to pay a legally capped success fee. This will be a percentage subtracted from the compensation you are awarded to be deducted by your solicitor.
Our advisors can assess all areas of your case to see if you are entitled to claim. If you are, they may connect you with a solicitor from our panel who could represent you on a No Win No Fee basis.
To get in touch:
- Call us on 0161 6969 685
- Use our live chat right now
- Contact us online
Find Out More About Workplace Accidents
We have included some of our own guides that could be useful to you:
- What percentage of compensation do No Win No Fee solicitors take?
- I got hurt at work, do I need a lawyer?
- Payout for a broken hand injury at work
In addition, here is some further reading that may be relevant to obstructed walkways and accidents at work:
- NHS – First aid
- Health and Safety Executive – Lighting at work
- GOV.UK – Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
Thank you for reading this guide on claiming for injuries caused by obstructed walkways.