Supermarket accident claims

All supermarket and shop owners have a duty of care to make sure shoppers are safe.

Whether you were injured in a Tesco, ASDA, Aldi, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Lidl, Waitrose or any other local supermarket makes no difference. If the shop doesn’t take reasonable care and you’ve been injured, then there’s a good chance you could make a compensation claim.

Even though most people frequently visit supermarkets without any accident, there are many hazards that can cause painful injuries – especially if health and safety rules haven’t been followed.

For example, you can slip on spilt liquids, trip over a damaged piece of flooring, fall over boxes that shelf fillers have emptied, cut yourself on broken shelving or trolleys, and badly stacked shelves sometimes collapse.

Most supermarket slips happen on wet floors, while most trips are caused by general untidiness in the supermarket. Regular risk assessments are critical, so that supermarket management is aware of the risks and can manage them properly.

For example, these types of accidents can often be avoided by taking precautions such as having mats to give extra grip in store entrances, training staff appropriately, and having proper cleaning regimes to clean up spillages quickly.

The question is – was the hazard avoidable? If it was, and you suffered injury as a result, then there’s a good chance you’ll be able to claim. To sue a supermarket for damages, you can contact an expert injury solicitor to help with your case.

To find out if you’re eligible to make a supermarket accident claim, get in touch for free, no-obligation legal advice. Contact a trained legal adviser on 0800 234 6438, or, if you’d prefer, you can fill in the online claim form to arrange a callback.

Although it’s easy to pass off a slip in a supermarket as an unavoidable accident, the truth is that these types of accidents can often cause serious injuries, especially if the person involved is older or landed severely.

Figures collected by NHS Digital – a body that collates figures on patient interaction with hospitals in the UK – revealed that falls involving slipping, tripping or stumbling on the same level resulted in 177,524 admissions to hospitals during the year 2020-21.

Other figures collected in 2013 found that the top three injuries caused by apparently trivial falls of this kind were:

• Fracture of the femur – 60,987
• Fracture of the forearm – 37,424
• Open wound of the head – 34,801

All supermarkets have a legal duty of care to ensure you’re as safe as possible – which involves taking measures to avoid slips, trips and falls. The rules they should follow are included in a few different pieces of legislation.

The Occupiers Liability Act 1957 states that the people responsible for the upkeep of any premises should take reasonable steps to ensure it’s safe for anyone who visits. This means that if a supermarket knew about a hazard but didn’t do anything about it, they acted negligently.

The Occupiers Liability Act overlaps with the legislation set out in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which says that employers in any workplace should make sure the premises are properly maintained and in a safe condition both for members of staff and anyone affected by their work. This duty includes taking steps to control the risk of slips and trips.

Also, The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to assess risks, including trips and slips and take steps to minimise potential hazards.

If they fail to do this and a customer has an accident, they have the right to file a personal injury claim.

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 state that floors have to be in good condition and free from obstructions, allowing people to move around safely. Any obstacles could result in potential trip hazards, so most managers will ensure their team keeps on track with risks.

However, sometimes mistakes happen, and supermarket injuries do happen.

Taken together, this adds up to a robust network of legislation. If the supermarket where your accident happened failed to meet these standards, you’ve likely been the victim of negligence.

When you’ve had an injury in a supermarket, you have the right to file a personal injury compensation claim (as long as the supermarket is to blame). Many people feel uncomfortable making a claim, but the supermarket has to protect you, and it will have insurance in place.

Claiming can seem like an added stress at an already difficult time, but compensation can help you get things back to how they were before your accident. The money you receive can cover the costs your injury has caused and the broader effects it’s had on your life.

For free, no-obligation legal advice, you can contact a trained legal adviser on 0800 234 6438. Or, if you’d prefer, you can fill in the online claim form to arrange a callback.

Most supermarket accident compensation claims work on a no win no fee basis, which means you won’t pay any solicitors fees if you don’t win the lawsuit.

Just because you’ve had an accident in a supermarket doesn’t mean you’re eligible for compensation – you have to prove that the supermarket was at fault.

An expert solicitor will most likely be able to help you make your claim on a no win no fee basis. When you speak to an adviser, they’ll be able to let you know whether they think your supermarket claim will be successful.

The good thing about this is that no solicitor will take on no win no fee personal injury claims unless they believe you’ll win. However, if you don’t, you won’t have to pay any money to the solicitors.

With no win no fee, there aren’t any upfront charges or hidden costs. If you win your case, your solicitor will charge you a ‘success fee as a percentage of the compensation you receive, but this will only take up a maximum of 25% – so you’ll still get to keep most of it.

If you’re injured in a supermarket slip, trip or fall, you can do a couple of things to help with your claim.

First, you should report the accident to the manager or customer service desk so that they can fill out an accident report form.

But if the supermarket doesn’t have forms, you should ask the manager to record what happened in the store’s accident book. Having an official accident record will help if your claim goes to court.

You should also find out if any shoppers saw your accident happen. Ask for their names and contact information so that they can confirm your accident as witnesses if needed.

If possible, you should also take photos of the scene of the accident – perhaps of the wet floor without a warning sign or the broken pavement in the car park. Gathering evidence of the accident gives you a better chance of winning your case.

If your accident is more than a minor one, the supermarket operator is legally required to tell the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) about the accident within ten days.

If you’ve had medical treatment, for example, the HSE must be told, and the supermarket should keep a record of its report.

So, if you went to the hospital after the incident, your solicitor should be able to get the report to the HSE with any other HSE reports written. These will both be vital evidence to strengthen your claim.

Once you choose the right personal injury solicitors for your needs, they’ll file your supermarket accident compensation claim with the operator and start the negotiations.

In most cases, if the evidence is there, the operator will want to settle out of court, and you can negotiate a fee. Unfortunately, some supermarkets don’t want to accept their negligence, and the case might go to court.

Once the judge makes their ruling, you can settle your no win no fee agreement with the solicitor, then get back to everyday life.

To find out if you’re eligible to make a supermarket accident claim, get in touch for free, no-obligation legal advice. Contact a trained legal adviser on 0800 234 6438, or, if you’d prefer, you can fill in the online claim form to arrange a callback.

No win no fee supermarket compensation claims can only be successful if the supermarket is at fault. Let’s take a look at some examples of liability:

No wet floor/warning signs: If you slip on a wet floor, but the supermarket didn’t put a sign in place, they’ve not met the safety regulations.

Items falling off of shelves: Supermarket employees should make sure that all items are stacked safely.

Sharp objects: If shelving and display units aren’t correctly installed, nails or other sharp objects can cause accidents.

Any injury can be very frustrating, but it can be tough to see somebody close to you suffering – particularly if it was due to somebody else’s negligence.

If your child or a loved one was injured due to a slip or trip, a solicitor could help you sue the supermarket on their behalf.

They can also help you claim for someone who is mentally incapacitated and can’t do so alone. In these cases, no win no fee is available in precisely the same way as if they could make a claim personally.

If you can, it’s best to get in touch with a trained legal adviser as soon as possible because you only have three years after your accident (or three years from the date you knew the supermarket’s negligence caused your injury or condition) to start a claim.

After three years, you can be ‘time-barred’ and might not be able to claim compensation. If you’re claiming for a child, you have until they reach 18 years old to make a claim (they then have until they are 21 to claim their in their own name).

If you’re claiming on behalf of someone who isn’t mentally capable of doing so, this three-year period does not start until they’ve regained their mental capacity.

If you suffer a serious injury due to supermarket negligence, you have every right to claim, and our free advice service can match you with specialist solicitors and help you get back on your feet.

For free advice, or to find out whether you could make a claim, you can speak to a legal adviser for free on 0800 234 6438 or enter your details in the claim form on this page.

It ultimately depends on your injuries and how they impact your life. For example, a minor foot injury might result in a small amount of money, but soft tissue injuries are more serious.

If the accident results in a permanent disability, you’ll receive a larger pay-out because it will impact your life and ability to work.

If you choose to work with a reputable solicitor firm like the National Accident Helpline, you’re more likely to win your personal injury claim.

However, some no win no fee lawyers don’t have the experience to evaluate your case successfully, so it’s best to ensure you work with a reputable firm.

Your supermarket accident compensation can pay for numerous things, including time off work, private medical treatments, daily living expenses and any care costs.

Our specialists offer free legal advice, so you can decide whether you want to make a claim. Our partnership with the National Accident Helpline also gives you access to highly experienced personal injury lawyers.

Claiming compensation should be a headache-free process, and we can ensure you get the proper support, from the initial consultation to getting your money.

For free, no-obligation legal advice, contact a trained legal adviser on 0800 234 6438. Or, if you’d prefer, you can fill in the online claim form to arrange a callback.