The weekly trip to the supermarket is just one of those tasks that has to be done for many of us. We go to the supermarket as it has lots of choice, a range of offers and low prices, and we also feel it is a safe environment to take our children in to, as well as those who are elderly. For the most part this is true – for the majority of people, the trips to the supermarket go by uneventfully and safely. However, there are those, many of whom we see here at The Injury Lawyers, who have the opposite experience.
If you have had an accident in a supermarket which has caused you injury and it was not your fault, there is a high chance that you have a claim for personal injury. However, it is the breach of duty of the owner, together with causation, which needs to be proven; this is why gaining the advice and representation of a specialist personal injury lawyer is essential. I go on to explain what this means below:
Breach of Duty
Supermarkets have a duty of care towards their customers – this means that they must protect their customers as far as is reasonably possible from risks to their health and safety. Supermarkets must also abide by strict Health and Safety Regulations. So, if you have had an accident and you feel that there is something which the supermarket could have reasonably done to prevent it from happening, you may have a strong claim for personal injury.
Causation
Within this context, causation is a legal term which means it needs to proven that the accident caused your injuries. So, if you say slipped on a spillage left in an aisle and suffered an injury to your knee, this is reasonable to assume it was caused by the accident. A medical report would also be gained to prove this point. Causation can come into question if your injuries are inconsistent with the accident as detailed.
What do to next?
So you have read the above and feel that you have a strong claim for personal injury; however, there a few more actions which you can take to strengthen your position:
- Report the accident to a member of staff and ensure an accident report is filled out.
- Seek medical assistance for you injuries.
- Check for witnesses to the accident and obtain their contact details if possible.
- Seek the advice of a specialist personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
