Slip and fall
- Loss of grip on a slippery surface
- Spills, rain, ice, oil, freshly mopped floors
- Cleaning logs and warning signs are key
- The hazard can vanish within minutes
Accident types
Slip and fall vs trip and fall
A slip and a trip both end with you on the ground, but they happen differently, and the evidence that proves each one is different too.
The short answer
You slip when your foot loses grip on something like water, oil, ice or a polished floor. You trip when your foot catches on something, such as a raised paving slab, a cable or an uneven step. In a slip claim, the key question is usually how long the hazard was there and whether anyone checked. In a trip claim, it's the size of the defect and whether the owner knew or should have known about it.
At a glance
Trip and fall
- Foot catches on an obstacle or level change
- Uneven paving, potholes, cables, loose mats
- Measurements and angled photos matter most
- Inspection and repair history is central
| What differs | Slip and fall | Trip and fall |
|---|---|---|
| What happens | Your foot slides as grip is lost | Your foot catches and you pitch forward |
| Typical hazard | Water, oil, ice, spilled food, polished floors | Raised slabs, potholes, kerbs, cables, debris |
| Best evidence | Photos of the substance, cleaning logs, weather, CCTV | Measurements with a scale reference, lighting, repair records |
| Key legal question | How long the hazard was there before you fell | Whether the defect was known or should have been found |
| Typical injuries | Falling backward or sideways: hips, wrists, head | Falling forward: wrists, knees, face, shoulders |
What to record before it's gone
A spill gets mopped up and a paving slab gets repaired, sometimes the same day. If you can, or if someone with you can:
- For a slip: photograph the substance, its size, any footprints or trolley marks through it (which suggest it had been there a while), and whether any warning sign was nearby.
- For a trip: photograph the defect from several angles with something for scale, such as a coin, key or ruler, and measure the height difference if you can.
- Photograph the lighting, and your footwear.
- Report it to the manager or owner and ask for a copy of the incident report.
- Ask in writing for CCTV to be kept. Footage is often recorded over within days or weeks.
- Get names and numbers of anyone who saw it.
Who is responsible, and deadlines to watch
In the US, premises liability usually depends on whether the owner knew about the hazard or would have found it with reasonable inspections. Stores that can show regular floor checks are harder to claim against, which is why cleaning logs matter. In the UK, the Occupiers' Liability Act 1957 covers falls on private premises, and falls on public pavements are claimed against the highway authority under the Highways Act 1980. Councils can defend a claim by showing they had a reasonable inspection and repair system. Canadian provinces have their own occupiers' liability laws.
Falls on public property have extra traps. Many US cities and states require written notice within a few months. In Ontario, you must usually give the municipality written notice within 10 days of a fall on a sidewalk or road. Don't wait for the full limitation period.
Example
A woman trips on a raised paving slab outside a bus stop and breaks her wrist. Her son goes back that evening and photographs the slab with a tape measure against the lip. When the council fixes it two weeks later, those photos are the only record of how big the defect was.
Common questions
What's the difference between a slip and a trip?
A slip is when your foot loses grip and slides, usually on something wet or smooth. A trip is when your foot catches on something, like a raised edge or an object, and you fall forward.
Do I have to prove the store knew about the spill?
Usually you need to show the store knew about it, or should have found it through reasonable checks. Evidence that the spill had been there a while, or that nobody inspected the aisle, helps show that.
Who is liable if I trip on a public pavement or sidewalk?
Usually the council, city or highway authority responsible for it, though in some US cities adjoining property owners share the duty. Public bodies often have short written-notice deadlines, so act quickly.
How long do shops keep CCTV footage?
It varies, but many systems record over footage within days or weeks. Ask the owner in writing to keep it as soon as possible after your fall.
Last reviewed September 2026. General information, not legal advice.