What Should I Do if I am Injured in a Supermarket or Shop Accident?
Accidents in supermarkets and shops are common and can often lead to injury. However, if you have been injured in a shop accident the chances are that it will be the first time something like that has happened to you and accordingly you may be unsure about the action that you ought to take.
Not wanting to ‘make a fuss’
The majority of supermarket and store accidents result in a fall, most commonly as a result of slipping on a wet floor. Most people who contact us for advice following such a fall describe feeling embarrassed after the accident and ‘not wanting to make a fuss’.
Shock and embarrassment
Often people do not not immediately realise that they are injured and feelings of shock and embarrassment often lead them to shrug off the accident and go on their way as quickly as possible. Unfortunately this is not always in their own best interests.
At the point of an accident many people are unaware of the full extent of any injury as shock and adrenaline can make you feel better than you actually are. It is therefore very common for those injured in shop accidents to leave the shop without stopping to take a few steps which will greatly assist in the event that a future claim is made.
It is completely understandable that when an accident happens the first thought is not ‘What steps should I take now to help me in the event that I need to make a compensation claim in the future?’ However, the failure to take a few simple steps at the time of an accident can make the difference between a successful or unsuccessful future claim.
What steps should I take after an accident in a supermarket or shop?
- First Aid: If you feel that you are injured, ask to see the shop first aider so your injury can be assessed and appropriate first aid given or, in the case of a serious injury, an ambulance called
- Witnesses: Ask any witnesses for their details: a name and address is preferable but at the very least ask for a name and contact telephone number
- Staff details: If you are assisted by a member of staff after an accident make a note of their name
- Photographs: If the accident was caused by a wet floor, spillage, obstruction etc take photographs of the spillage or trip hazard. Many people now have cameras on their phones so taking photos at the scene of an accident is often possible
- Accident book: Ask for the accident to be recorded in the shop accident book.
- CCTV: Ask if the accident was recorded on CCTV and if so, ask for a copy of the CCTV footage. If you subsequently instruct a solicitor to pursue a claim the CCTV footage will be formally requested but, by that time, the footage has often been over-written and may not be available.
What next?
Taking the above steps immediately at the time of an accident can greatly improve the chances of a compensation claim being successful. If you are unable to take all the above steps at the time of the accident do at least try to contact the shop as soon as possible to ensure that the accident has been recorded and any CCTV footage requested.
If you find that you have been injured in an accident you may need to seek medical advice from your GP or the hospital depending on the severity of your injury.
Obtaining Legal Advice After A Supermarket Accident
We recommend taking advice from a specialist personal injury solicitor to assess whether you are entitled to make a claim for compensation. At Beckett & Co we are happy to discuss any potential claim free of charge and advise if a claim can be made. We will also discuss with you the various options for funding such a claim, including no win – no fee.
If you find that, as a result of your accident, you did not sustain any injury, then the steps that you did or did not take after the accident will not, after all, be important, but if an injury was sustained they could make all the difference.
If you have been injured in a supermarket accident contact us for free advice about making a claim or cal us on freephone 0800 731 5434. We are here to help!