Supermarket Accident Claims

Potential causes of slips, trips and falls in supermarkets include:-

• Spillages – If somebody has dropped a bottle of wine, jar of sauce or some other liquid, and it is not cleaned up adequately.
• Damaged or uneven flooring – The flooring of a supermarket can be a hazard if it is uneven, ripped or has holes in it.
• Obstacles – Boxes of products, step ladders, loads of produce, baskets of goods, discarded wrappers and litter etc. can all be potential hazards for shoppers.
• Wet floors – Wet floor signs should be used to warn customers of spillages or mopped floors.
• Trailing cables – Supermarkets need to ensure that cables from electrical goods, displays and tills are tidy and not causing any danger to customers.

Supermarkets have a duty of care to both their employees and their customers. As an employer they have to carry out regular risk assessments to identify potential hazards so that measures can be taken to minimize or eliminate these hazards. When customers enter the supermarket, the supermarket is responsible for their safety and well-being and may liable if an accident happens that could have been prevented or that is the fault of the supermarket or its staff. An example of a supermarket slip, trip and fall compensation claim is the case of a woman who tripped on a trailing cable from electronic scales used for weighing fruit and vegetables. This woman injured a foot and hand, and was able to claim £2,300 in compensation from the supermarket for her injury.

If you have been injured by a slip, trip or fall in a supermarket that you think was caused by the supermarket’s negligence, you should contact a specialist no win no fee solicitor immediately to see if you have a case for personal injury compensation. Injuries from slip, trips and falls can vary in severity, from cuts and bruises, which heal quickly, to life threatening head injuries or injuries that result in permanent disability. However small your injury, you should consult an injury lawyer because you just don’t know how that injury will affect you in the long term. If you can prove that you have suffered an injury because of your slip, trip or fall, you should be able to claim and you can help your accident claim and your injury solicitor if you take the following steps:- 1. Report your accident – As soon as your accident has happened, you or your companion should report it to the person in authority. If you are an employee of the supermarket, there will be a procedure for this and if you are a customer you should report it to customer services or someone in authority. Make sure it is logged and recorded. 2. Seek medical attention – Go to hospital or see your GP. Not only will this ensure that you are given the appropriate medical treatment, it will also mean that your accident and injuries are recorded. 3. Gather evidence – If it is possible, take a photo of the scene and cause of your accident and gather any witness statements and contact details of witnesses. 4. Contact a specialist personal injury lawyer so that they can start investigating your case and advise you on your circumstances. They should also be able to give you an idea of the likelihood of success and the likely payout. Don’t feel guilty about making a compensation claim. If the accident was not your fault then the supermarket may be to blame and they will have special liability insurance to cover compensation claims like this. It will also make the supermarket take better care in the future and may prevent accidents happening to others.