This guide will inform you on how to start a personal injury claim after experiencing an accident in a shop. If third-party negligence caused your shop injury, you may be entitled to compensation.
In certain public spaces, which includes shops, the party that controls the space owes you a duty of care. We will discuss this further in this article and explain how this can be broken, leading to you making
Accident in a shop claims guide
Alongside this, we will explain how legal representation could benefit your case. No Win No Fee agreements could help you to fund the work of a lawyer; we will look at what exactly they entail further on in this guide.
For more information, you can speak to one of our advisors. Our team are available to speak to you at any time of day that suits you. Get in touch using the following details:
- Call us using the contact number above
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Choose A Section
- Could I Get Compensation After An Accident In A Shop?
- How Shop Accidents Happen
- How To Prove A Claim For An Accident In A Shop
- Compensation Payouts For An Accident In A Shop
- How Can I Appoint A No Win No Fee Solicitor?
- Extra Information About Public Liability Claims
Could I Get Compensation After An Accident In A Shop?
If you’ve been hurt in a shop, you may be able to make a shop compensation claim. Shop accidents can cause a wide range of injuries, from relatively minor to life-changing. Shop accidents can include supermarket accidents and shopping centre accidents.
There are a number of forms that shop accidents can take. For example:
- Slip, trip and fall accidents. If a spillage in a shopping aisle isn’t signposted, or a trip hazard is not cleaned up within a reasonable time, you could suffer a fall. This could result in a knee injury.
- Fall from a height: You could end up with serious injuries if you were to fall from a malfunctioning escalator. You could sustain a concussion as a result.
- Struck by a moving object: Unsecured shelves could fall on top of you or trollies that aren’t secured when they should have been could hit you with force.
All of these examples can lead to serious injuries that may make you eligible to pursue a shop compensation claim. Health and safety risks must be managed and controlled by law in order to avoid accidents in public places.
It’s essential that your injuries were caused by negligence in order for you to make a claim. Accidents that occur because of factors that are out of anyone’s control or that are wholly your fault cannot be processed as a valid claim.
To learn more about making an accident in a shop claim, please read on. Or you can get in touch with our team of advisors for free legal advice.
How Shop Accidents Happen
As outlined in the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, the “occupier” of a space owes you a duty of care for the time you are present on their property. When this duty of care is broken it can lead to caution and damage. An occupier does not need to actually occupy the space but should be someone with sufficient control over the space to prevent accidents from occurring.
Those in control of public spaces must do all they reasonably can to keep you safe. This can include doing the following:
- Carrying out risk assessments and running health and safety checks regularly to prevent electrical equipment from breaking down unexpectedly.
- Maintain good housekeeping to ensure the area is tidy and well-lit. For example, store equipment away safely, stack produce correctly on store shelves and use the correct cleaning solution on the floor to stop it from becoming overly slippery.
- Signpost all hazards clearly. This could include using wet floor signs and cornering off sections of the store where electrical wiring is loose until it’s able to be fixed.
Sustaining a shop injury on its own does not qualify you to make a personal injury claim. You must supply evidence to prove you’ve suffered an injury due to the negligence of the party in control of the space.
Contact our team of advisors today for assistance in making your first steps toward an accident in a shop claim.
How To Prove A Claim For An Accident In A Shop
When you have sustained an injury after an accident in a shop, it’s advised that you seek out medical attention as soon as possible. In some cases, this might involve visiting a walk-in centre or arranging for an appointment with your GP. For more serious injuries, you may need to call for an ambulance or visit your local A&E.
After receiving medical attention, it is recommended that you gather as much evidence as you can to prove your personal injury claim. Evidence can include:
- CCTV footage of the accident
- Pictures of the hazard that caused the accident
- Details of witnesses that can give statements on your behalf
- Photographs of your injuries after the accident and during the healing process
Shops may also keep an accident log book that is available for members of the public. The report of your accident in a shop in the log book can be helpful evidence for your shop compensation claim.
Furthermore, independent medical assessments can determine the severity of your injuries and any long-lasting damage. It can also confirm that your injuries are consistent with the accident. If you choose to work with a solicitor from our panel, then they may be able to arrange this for you in your local area.
Our advisors are offering you free legal advice regarding your case. Speaking to a member of our team does not come with any obligations to continue with our services. We can also connect you to a solicitor from our panel if we believe your claim has a good chance of success.
Compensation Payouts For An Accident In A Shop
Personal injury compensation can be split into two heads. General damages compensate you for the pain and suffering caused by your physical and psychological injuries.
We’ve included a table below using summaries of compensation brackets which are highlighted in the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). Legal professionals use this document as a guide to help value general damages. However, please note that compensation brackets listed by the JCG are just guidelines, not guarantees.
| Injury | Compensation | Description of Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Very Severe Brain Damage | £282,010 - £403,990 | The top of this bracket includes little evidence of meaningful response to the environment, little or no language function and need for full-time care |
| Moderately Severe Brain Damage | £219,070 - £282,010 | The injured person will be seriously disabled. They may suffer from limb paralysis, marked impairment of intellect and reduced life expectancy. |
| Moderate Brain Damage (i) | £150,110 - £219,070 | Symptoms include severe intellectual deficit, personality change and effect on speech/sight/senses |
| Moderate Brain Damage (ii) | £90,720 - £150,110 | The injured person will experience a reduced ability to work |
| Moderate Brain Damage (iii) | £43,060 - £90,720 | Dependence on others is very limited, but concentration and memory are affected |
| Very Severe Ankle Injuries | £50,060 - £69,700 | Injuries include soft tissue damage resulting in deformity, risk of under-the-knee amputation and degeneration of the joints at a young age |
| Severe Ankle Injuries | £31,310 - £50,060 | Injuries require extensive treatment in plaster or pins and plates. The level of award depends on the risk of osteoarthritis, regular sleep disturbance and unsightly scarring |
| Moderate Ankle Injuries | £13,740 - £26,590 | Fractures and ligamentous tears that can cause serious disabilities with difficulty standing and walking on uneven surfaces |
| Wrist Injuries (a) | £47,620 - £59,860 | Injuries resulting in complete loss of function in the wrist |
| Wrist Injuries (b) | £24,500 - £39,170 | Injuries resulting in significant permanent disability with some useful movement |
Special damages, on the other hand, relate to the financial losses you’ve suffered as a result of the accident. For example, if your injuries left you unable to work, then you could recover the loss of earnings this caused you. To receive special damages, it’s important to retain evidence such as prescriptions, receipts and payslips.
For more support on making a claim for an accident in a shop, or for a more accurate assessment of your case, contact our team today.
Read more about claiming compensation after an accident while working in a shop.
How Can I Appoint A No Win No Fee Solicitor?
Appointing a solicitor isn’t compulsory to make a claim. However, legal representation can ease any worries when approaching your case and can strengthen your claim. Furthermore, working with a solicitor could mean that you receive more than you would otherwise. This is because they have knowledge of all the areas of your claim and can make sure they are included. This is important as, if you missed something, you cannot go back and claim again once the case is settled.
No Win No Fee agreements allow you access to all benefits of being legally represented without any upfront fees. Furthermore, there are no costs during your claim and no fees to pay your lawyer for their services if your claim is unsuccessful.
If your claim succeeds, your solicitor will require you to pay a success fee. This fee is legally capped at a small percentage of your settlement.
Your solicitor will discuss all of the above information with you before starting your No Win No Fee agreement. To connect with a solicitor, or to learn more information about No Win No Fee claims, reach out to our team today.
Use Our Solicitors To Make An Accident In A Shop Claim
Our panel of advisors can provide you with legal advice free of charge. If you’re looking for assistance with starting your accident in a shop claim, our team can help you make the first steps. To reach an advisor today, see the following contact details:
- Fill out our contact form
- Call us on 0113 460 1215
- Message us using the live chat feature
Extra Information About Public Liability Claims
We’ve included some links that may be of use to you.
The NHS gives an overview on how to perform first aid as a beginner.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) offers knowledge on how to prevent serious accident injuries.
Find out whether you could be eligible to receive statutory sick pay (SSP).
Or to read more of our guides regarding personal injury claims, please see below.
- Compensation Payouts For A Head Injury Claim
- How To Claim For An Accident On Public Transport
- Public Liability Claims
- Can I Get Compensation After An Accident In A Supermarket?
- Claim Compensation For An Accident In A Public Place
- Personal Injury Claims Against The Local Council
For answers to any further queries about making an accident in a shop claim, please get in touch.
Writer Jess Angler
Publisher Fern Stringer