What Could I Get For A Shopping Centre Accident Claim?

This guide will look at the process of making a shopping accident claim for an injury that was caused by negligence. We’ll explain what constitutes a shopping centre accident with provided examples and what compensation you may be eligible to receive. 

When you’re in a public place, the party in control of the space owes you a duty of care. If they breach this and you sustain an injury, then you might be eligible to receive compensation. 

Our advisors are available 24/7 to answer any of your questions about making a personal injury claim; furthermore, they can help you understand whether you have grounds for a claim. If you do, they may pass you to our panel of No Win No Fee solicitors who can help you get the process started today. Get in touch by: 

shopping centre accident claim

Shopping centre accident claim guide

Choose A Section

  1. An Introduction To Shopping Centre Accident Claims
  2. What Is A Shopping Centre Accident?
  3. Examples Of Shopping Centre Accidents
  4. How Much Could I Get For Shopping Centre Accident Claims?
  5. How Do I Find No Win No Fee Lawyers?
  6. More Resources On Shopping Centre Accident Claims

An Introduction To Shopping Centre Accident Claims

If you sustained an injury in a shopping centre accident due to third-party negligence, you may be able to claim compensation. When you attend a shopping centre, the individual or organisation in charge of the space, otherwise known as the occupier in the relevant legislation, has a duty of care to ensure that people are kept adequately safe whilst visiting their space.

An accident in a shopping centre is a type of public liability claim. The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 (OLA) outlines the health and safety regulations that an occupier must follow as part of their duty of care, and it details some of the necessary steps to keep the area reasonably safe.

If the occupier is negligent regarding health and safety, resulting in your injury, this may form the basis for a claim. Contact our advisors today for guidance on whether negligence caused your accident 

Shopping Centre Accident Statistics

The Department for Work & Pensions reports in their Compensation Recovery Unit performance data 2022 that there were 52,724 cases of public claims being registered with the CRU.

The number has risen from 51,286 cases in 2020/21. It is an increase of 1,438 incidents which amounts to 2.7%. 

What Is A Shopping Centre Accident?

Accidents can happen due to many contributing factors, however, when making a claim it is important to find out whether occupier negligence resulted in your injury as this could be grounds for a claim. 

The OLA states that as part of the occupiers’ duty of care, they need to take steps to ensure that the space is safe to be used for the intended purpose. They can do this by reducing and removing hazards wherever possible and adding signage where this cannot be done. The occupier of a public space should also prepare for children who can be less cautious than adults.

Some of the steps that occupiers are expected to take include:

  • Risk assessments- Those in control of the space should look at what hazards should present themselves and take steps to mitigate or remove them.
  • Good housekeeping- In shopping centres, things like stock should be kept clear of walkways. Areas should be well-lit so that any hazards that present themselves are visible
  • Maintenance- Hazards like loose floor tiles or sharp edges on shelving units could cause injury. The space should be maintained to reduce these kinds of risks.

However, it is important to remember if you were injured in a shopping centre, you will not automatically be eligible to claim. Occupier negligence has to have taken place for you to sustain your injury. If you were injured because of your own actions, or because of something that the occupier could not have reasonably prevented, then you would not be able to claim. 

Contact our advisors today for more information on the accidents in public places claim process.

Examples Of Shopping Centre Accidents

A public space cannot be made completely safe as there are many risks present in the space. Shopping centres are no exception and accidents can easily hapen. Some examples of accidents include:

  • Struck by a moving object– For example, you could be struck by a moving object as an employee when an unsecured trolley hits you.
  • Falling from a height– This might happen if you’re travelling down an escalator that malfunctions, causing you to be thrown from the top.
  • Slips, trips and falls– You could experience an injury if the wrong cleaning products are used on the floor, making it very slippery.

These risks are supposed to be controlled or eliminated, where possible. Failure to do so could be a sign that the occupier has breached their duty of care.

If you are injured in an accident and want to make a claim you should provide evidence in support of your claim. Hiring a No Win No Fee lawyer can help this process by providing legal guidance and examples of the proof needed, including:

  • Medical records – You should seek medical attention to ensure your well-being. Documents created by a medical professional can support your claim.
  • CCTV footage – You can request CCTV footage that shows the accident taking place.
  • Pictures – Take photographs of the injury and the accident site.
  • Witness details – A professional can take statements from witnesses if you collect their details beforehand.

For free legal advice on what evidence to collect, get in touch with our advisors today. If your claim has a good chance of success, they could connect you with a lawyer to work on your case. 

How Much Could I Get For Shopping Centre Accident Claims?

If your claim is successful you may receive two heads of claim. The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) outline potential compensation brackets for general damages; this is the part of the claim that covers your pain and suffering. The below table shows possible payout figures according to the type and severity of the injury:

InjuryCompensationNotes
Less severe brain or head injury (d)£15,320 to £43,060Good recovery made, but not all normal functions may have been restored.
Chest injury (g)Up to £3,950Rib fracture or soft tissue injury
Illness/damage resulting from non-traumatic injury e.g. food poisoning (iii)£3,950 to £9,540Food poisoning causing significant discomfort but recovery within a year.
Moderate neck injury (i)£24,990 to
£38,490
Fractures and dislocations causing severe symptoms and necessitating a spinal fusion.
Minor neck injury (ii)Up to £2,450Fully recovered in three months.
Moderate back injury (i)£27,760 to £38,780Wide range of injuries including crush/compression fractures of the lumbar vertebrae with a substantial risk of osteoarthritis.
Minor back injury (i)£7,890 to £12,510Full recovery, or to a nuisance level, has taken place without surgery and within two to five years.
Lesser pelvis and hip injury (i)£3,950 to £12,590Where the injury is notable but has no lasting disability.
Other arm injuries (d)£6,610 to £19,200Simple fractures of the forearm.
Wrist injury (c)£12,590 to £24,500Where the injuries are less severe resulting in some permanent disability, such as persisting pain and stiffness.

You may also get another head of claim known as special damages. This head of your claim reflects the financial costs incurred as a result of your injury, which can include:

  • Domestic costs, e.g. cleaning and gardening 
  • Travelling to medical appointments
  • Loss of income and future earnings 

Contact our advisors for free advice on claiming compensation for an accident in a public place.

How Do I Find No Win No Fee Lawyers?

We encourage you to speak with our advisors to see if your claim is valid and if they find your case has grounds they can connect you with a No Win No Fee lawyer from our panel.

Our solicitors can offer a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), a type of No Win No Fee agreement that allows you to avoid any upfront costs and accruing costs over the course of your claim. 

If your claim succeeds, you will pay a success fee. It is a small, capped percentage of your compensation automatically taken to cover their costs. Furthermore, if your claim fails you do not need to pay this fee to your lawyer.

Ask Us About Shopping Centre Accident Claims

To begin your shopping centre accident claim, get in touch with our advisors today by:

More Resources On Shopping Centre Accident Claims

We have provided some of our other helpful articles:

And we have included informative useful external links :

How do I know if I’ve broken a bone?

Can you receive Statutory Sick Pay?

Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents 

Contact our advisors today for more information on your shopping centre accident claim.

Written by Jac

Published by Fer