How To Claim For An Accident In A Shop

There are instances where you’re owed a duty of care to prevent you from sustaining harm. In this guide, we will explore the options you have after sustaining harm in an accident in a shop caused by someone else breaching the duty of care they owed you.

In addition, this guide will explore the different ways shop accidents can be caused by someone else’s negligence. This can help you understand whether you’re eligible to seek compensation.

We will also provide information on the steps you can take following an accident in a public place and the evidence you can gather to support your potential case.

If you wish to hire legal representation, you may benefit from getting in touch with our expert panel of No Win No Fee solicitors. The benefits of working with a solicitor from our panel include them being able to offer their services without you having to pay a cost upfront. 

We understand your injuries may have had an impact on different aspects of your life, including physically, emotionally and financially. For more information on whether you could claim compensation for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries, please get in touch by:

  • Calling the number at the top of the page
  • Using our live chat feature below
  • Completing our online contact form 

two women about to have an accident in a shop

Choose A Section

  1. What Is An Accident In A Shop?
  2. Examples Of Shop Accidents And Their Causes
  3. Can I Claim Compensation After Having An Accident In A Shop?
  4. What Evidence Do I Need To Prove My Shop Accident Claim?
  5. How Is Compensation Calculated In Shop Accident Claims?
  6. Claim Compensation With The Help Of A No Win No Fee Solicitor
  7. More Information On Claiming After An Accident In A Shop

What Is An Accident In A Shop?

An accident in a shop refers to an incident in a retail premises in which you hurt yourself through no fault of your own. There are lots of different ways that shop accidents can happen, which we explain in more detail below. However, some of the most common causes are slips on dropped liquids, or trips on boxes and packaging that should have been cleared away.

These incidents can happen in any shop, from your local convenience store to large supermarkets.

Examples Of Shop Accidents And Their Causes

There are lots of different ways that an accident could happen in a shop. We’ve touched on some of the potential causes above, but here’s a more detailed guide:

  • Slips, trips and falls: You may have slipped on a wet floor that wasn’t properly sign-posted. Shops should erect yellow wet floor signs if they’ve just cleaned an area that’s still wet, or they should put a sign up once they discover a slipping hazard. If they fail to do so, someone could fall and hurt themselves. Likewise, if boxes and packaging isn’t cleared away, or if walkways are narrow and cluttered, people could fall and hurt themselves.
  • Defective Equipment – You could get hurt by the likes of shelf racking, shelving itself, or stacked products if they fall over.
  • Falls from a height: You may have fallen down customer stairs that were cluttered with stock.
  • Falling objects – products could fall off a poorly stacked shelf, which could cause injuries
  • Injuries caused by trollies – sometimes trollies can develop defects which make them hard to use. An employee of the shop could also negligently drive a trolley into a customer, which could cause them injury.
  • Escalator and lift accidents – some shops have escalators and lifts which could malfunction and create the risk of injury.
  • Automatic door malfunctions – in rare cases, a person could become stuck by a malfunctioning door when entering or exiting the store.

Contact our advisors for more information on whether you’re eligible to claim compensation for an accident in a shop. 

Can I Claim Compensation After Having An Accident In A Shop?

An accident in a shop can occur for various reasons. However, in order to make a personal injury claim you must be able to prove that:

  • Someone breached the duty of care they owed you
  • You were caused physical or psychological harm as a result

In some cases, the person in control of the shop may have owed you a duty of care under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 (OLA). This means they must have taken reasonable steps to ensure that visitors are kept safe. The steps they must take could include carrying out regular risk assessments to ensure any hazards that pose the risk of causing harm are reduced or removed. 

If there has been a failure on the part of the person in control of the space to uphold the duty of care they owed you, call our team to find out more. Alternatively, continue reading to find out how compensation is often calculated following a successful claim.

Understanding Shop Accident Claims

To make a claim following an accident in a shop we encourage you to get in touch with our advisors as they can offer free legal advice. They may also connect you with an experienced solicitor from our panel to guide you through the different stages of your claim.

A solicitor from our panel can help you gather evidence needed for a personal injury claim, such as: 

  • Medical records – You should ensure you seek immediate medical attention for your injuries. In doing so, it can create records of the treatment and diagnosis you received.
  • CCTV footage – You may request CCTV footage of the accident if there is any.
  • Photographs – This could include pictures of your injury and the accident site.
  • Witness contact details – You could collect contact details from any witnesses so a legal professional can take statements later on.

How Is Compensation Calculated In Shop Accident Claims?

When claiming compensation for an accident in a shop, it’s possible to be compensated for both your physical and psychological injuries and the impact they’ve had on your life, and any financial costs incurred because of the injury. 

When calculating the value of your injuries, lawyers use medical evidence obtained as part of the claim, as well as other supporting evidence.

However, this medical evidence should explain the severity of the injury, the impact it had on your life, and whether or not you’ll make a recovery.

These factors are all taken into account when calculating a compensation payout. Generally speaking, the more severe the injury the greater the compensation amount.

What Else Can I Be Compensated For?

As part of your compensation, you may also receive a payout for special damages. These seek to compensate you for any financial losses incurred due to your injuries. Some examples of what you could claim under special damages can include:

  • Loss of earnings and loss of future income
  • Child care costs
  • Travel expenses 
  • Property adaptations
  • Medical costs

It’s important to keep proof of expenditure, such as receipts and payslips to support your claim. 

For more information on what compensation you may be eligible to receive as part of your accident in a shop claim, contact our advisors today. 

Claim Compensation With The Help Of A No Win No Fee Solicitor

A No Win No Fee arrangement is an option you could consider when hiring a solicitor for their services. The option carries many benefits such as no upfront costs or ongoing costs while your claim proceeds.

Our panel of solicitors can offer to represent your claim under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which is a type of No Win No Fee arrangement. This means that no success fee will be taken if your claim fails. If your claim succeeds, a success fee will be taken in the form of a small, legally capped percentage of your compensation.

For more information on whether a solicitor from our panel can represent your case on this basis, get in touch using the contact details listed in the section below.

Get Advice On Claiming Compensation For An Accident In A Shop

If you would like to determine whether you have a valid case, get in touch with our advisors today and they may pass you to a solicitor from our panel.

Alternatively, they can answer any other questions you may have about making a claim after an accident in a shop caused by someone else’s negligence.

Get in touch by:

  • Calling the number at the top of the page
  • Using our live chat feature below
  • Completing our online contact form 

More Information On Claiming After An Accident In A Shop

Below, you can find some other useful resources:

You can also view other guides on our website, such as the following:

We hope this guide on making a claim after an accident in a shop has helped. However, if you have any other questions, call our team.