Can You Sue a Supermarket for Accidents?

Slip, trip and fall accidents are a common occurrence in supermarkets, and while many can be laughed off in some cases they can lead to serious injuries. If you have been injured in a slip, trip and fall accident at a supermarket, it could be possible to sue the supermarket for compensation. Read on to discover if and how you can sue a supermarket for compensation, as Tylers Solicitors provides a comprehensive guide on navigating slip trip and fall claims.

Proving Negligence in a Slip, Trip and Fall Case
Can You Sue a Supermarket for Slipping?
How to be Successful in a Slip, Trip and Fall Case
Common Types of Injury Associated with a Supermarket Slip or Fall
Main Causes of Slipping Injuries in Supermarkets
Employee Compensation in Supermarket Slip Accidents
Evidence for Supermarket Compensation Claim
Timeframe for Supermarket Slip Compensation Claim
Compensation Amount for Supermarket Slip
Entitlement to Supermarket Accident Compensation

Proving Negligence in a Slip, Trip and Fall Case

To be successful in a slip, trip and fall case, you must be able to prove that the supermarket was negligent. This means that the supermarket or its staff must have failed to take reasonable steps to prevent your accident. For example, if the supermarket knew about a spill on the floor and did not clean it up promptly or put out hazard signs, this could be considered negligence.

If you are considering suing a supermarket for a slip, trip and fall accident, it is always advisable to contact a personal injury solicitor. If you think you may have been injured in a slip or fall in a supermarket, the team here at Tylers can help you determine whether you have a valid case, while helping you navigate the legal process.

Can You Sue a Supermarket for Slipping?

Under the Occupiers Liability Act 1984, supermarkets have a duty of care to ensure staff and customers can move around the store safely. This means that they are responsible for taking all necessary steps to prevent accidents caused by slips and falls on their premises.

If a supermarket breaches this duty of care by an act of negligence, and this causes you to slip and sustain injuries, you may be able to sue them for compensation.

To be successful in a slip, trip and fall case against a supermarket, you must prove the following:

The supermarket failed in its duty of care.
This failure was the reason for your slip and fall.
You were injured as a direct result of the slip and fall.

Common Types of Injury Associated with a Supermarket Slip or Fall

Let’s be honest, how many of us have laughed when we see someone slip on a supermarket floor. However, what isn’t funny are the potential consequences of this type of accident. Some slips and falls result in minor injuries that heal within days. However, others can be much more serious or even life-changing.

Here are some of the most common injuries that can result from slipping in a supermarket:

Sprains and strains
Fractures
Head injuries
Back injuries
Cuts and lacerations
Severe Bruising
Dislocations

You tend to find there are a lot of hand, wrist, finger, and thumb injuries associated with Supermarket trips and falls as people often use this part of the body to help break their fall.

Main Causes of Slipping Injuries in Supermarkets

There are a number of things that could cause you to slip and fall in a supermarket which can be directly attributed to negligence on the part of the supermarket. Some of the most obvious ones are:

Floors that are wet and have been cleaned recently: If spillages are not cleaned up immediately or floors not given time to dry completely it will pose a significant hazard for staff and customers.
Refrigeration units or freezers that have leaked: Failure to maintain freezers and refrigeration units properly can result in leaks which could create slippy areas on the shop floor.
Entrances that are poorly maintained: Failing to keep entrances clear of snow and rainwater or provide adequate floor coverings can be the cause of slips and falls.
Improper use of floor cleaning products: Overuse of cleaning products can leave floors slippy and dangerous.
Absence of slip-resistant flooring: Large stores like supermarkets should ensure that they have the correct type of flooring preferably consisting of slip-resistant materials to minimise the chances of slips and falls.
Poor or a lack of hazard warning signs: Failing to put out adequate warning signs highlighting wet areas or flooring that has been recently cleaned is a major contributor to supermarket trips and falls.
Lack of employee training: If staff are not given sufficient training around cleaning procedures or the steps to take when faced with spills and areas of wet flooring.

Even if your accident is not specifically described here, you may still be able to claim supermarket accident compensation for slipping. If you believe that the supermarket was negligent in any way, you should contact Tylers Solicitors to discuss your case.

Employee Compensation in Supermarket Slip Accidents

Supermarket employees have the right to a safe workplace under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. This means that your employer must take reasonable steps to prevent you from being injured at work. If you slip and fall at work due to your employer’s negligence, you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injuries.

Examples of employer negligence that could lead to a slip, trip and fall accident include:

Inadequate training
Poorly maintained work areas with spills and leaks
Inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as anti-slip footwear
Unrealistic workloads that force you to rush

If you have been injured in a slip, trip and fall accident at work in a supermarket, our experienced team have the expertise and knowledge to help you get the compensation you are entitled to.

Evidence for Supermarket Compensation Claim

If you slip or fall and injure yourself in a supermarket, it is important to collect evidence to support your claim for compensation. Here are some things you can do:

Report the accident to the supermarket immediately. This will create a record of the accident and help to establish when and where you were injured.
If at all possible, try and get access to maintenance and inspection records of the supermarket premises. This can help to show whether the supermarket owner or staff adhered to proper maintenance procedures and took corrective actions to address slipping hazards.
Take photos of the accident scene before it is cleared up. This can help demonstrate the reasons for your slip or fall.
Talk to any witnesses to the accident and get their contact details. Their statements can help to verify your version of events.
Seek medical attention for your injuries. Medical records and X-rays can help to establish the extent of your injuries.
Request a copy of any CCTV footage of the accident. This can provide video evidence of what happened.

When you use the team here at Tylers for your personal injury claim, the first thing we do is look at the evidence you have collated. If we feel additional proof is needed, we will work with you to secure that evidence to give you the best chance of success.

Timeframe for Supermarket Slip Compensation Claim

You have three years from the date of your injury or from when you reasonably became aware that your injury resulted from slipping in a supermarket to file a claim for compensation. However, if your child is injured, their time limit does not start until they are 18 years old. Parents, guardians, or adults can claim on behalf of a child at any time before their 18th birthday.

Your solicitor will need to carry out several tasks before filing your claim, so it is important to start the claims process as soon as possible. If you wait too long, your claim may be refused, and you could lose out on any compensation you are due.

Compensation Amount for Supermarket Slip

There is no set compensation amount for slipping in a supermarket, as each case is different. The amount of compensation you may receive will depend on the severity of your injuries and the financial and physical impact they have on your day-to-day life.

As a result, you could claim compensation for:

Pain and suffering caused by your injuries
Medical expenses you incur, including private treatment and physiotherapy
Psychological injuries, such as distress and anxiety
Care costs, if you needed help from someone else while you were recovering
Loss of earnings both current and in the future
Travel expenses
Loss of amenities, for any normal activities affected by your injuries
Vehicle or home modifications
Mobility aids
The cost of replacing personal property damaged in your accident

To find out more about how we calculate personal injury compensation claims, contact the friendly team here at Tylers Solicitors today.

Entitlement to Supermarket Accident Compensation

If you have been injured as a result of a slip or fall in a supermarket that was not your fault, Tylers can help you claim compensation for your injuries and their impact on your life.

Supermarket accident claims can be complex affairs, but our team will make it as easy as possible for you. We will handle all the legal paperwork and negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf.

Also, we operate on a no win, no fee basis meaning that you can start your claim without worrying about the cost. Any fees will be deducted from your final settlement, and if for any reason your claim is unsuccessful you will not pay anything at all. Contact us to start your supermarket compensation now via our online contact form or on 0800 699 0079!