If you add up all the time you spend in a supermarket over your lifetime, I think you may be surprised at how large the result comes out as. Together with this, all bands of people use and require the services a supermarket offers – whether this be the elderly, the young, or those that may be suffering with a medical condition. With this in mind, it is crucial that safety standards are kept incredibly high – and on the most part, this is the case; however, for a small minority of people, accidents can happen.
If you have had an accident in a supermarket that was not your fault, you may be entitled to claim for compensation. Supermarkets, like anywhere else, have a duty to protect their customers, as far as is reasonably possible, from risks to their health and safety, and in doing so, must comply with strict health and safety standards. Therefore, if you have had an accident due to their negligence, you may have a claim.
There are many potential hazards in a supermarket; some of which I have listed below:
- Slipping on a spillage that was left unattended / un-cleared.
- Tripping on an item left negligently on the floor of a walkway.
- Items falling on you from a poorly stacked shelf.
In order to comply with Health and Safety Regulations, supermarkets must ensure that their employees are trained in maintaining these standards. Examples of this can be to ensure aisle inspections are completed regularly to ensure they are free from hazards, and training in how to stack a shelf safely provided to all employees.
If you have had an accident in a supermarket, there a few actions that you can take to strengthen your claim. Firstly, it is advisable to report the accident to a member of staff as it is usually the case that an accident report will need to be filled out. You should ensure that the details you report are as full as possible, and ensure that these details are then recorded by the member of staff accurately. The reason for this being that a record can be used as evidence for or against your case. You should also check for witnesses to your accident, and seek medical assistance for your injuries. Lastly, it is advisable to seek the advice of a specialist personal injury lawyer.
At The Injury Lawyers, we give free claim assessments – so you have nothing to lose by giving us a call and getting some information.
