Can I claim injury compensation for a slip, trip or fall in a shop?

By Ian Morris | Updated September 14th, 2023

149 questions have been answered on this subject, why not ask your own?

We are often contacted by people asking whether they can pursue a compensation claim after a slip and fall in a shop. Such accidents are common on smooth, highly polished floor surfaces such as those found in shops and supermarkets, which become even more slippery after cleaning, spillages and wet weather.

Slipping accidents can seem innocuous, but often the injuries can be serious. Claiming compensation can help you to recover your health and financial losses, including lost earnings.

Whether you can claim will largely depend on if the shop could and should have prevented your accident. With over 20 years’ experience, you can use our knowledge and expertise to prove this is the case. Importantly, claims are made on a No Win No Fee basis, so you pay nothing if your claim fails and have much to gain if you succeed.

Rest assured that making an injury claim won’t put the shop out of business – they will hold public liability insurance, and it is the shop’s insurance provider that will pay any compensation rather than the shop itself.

Causes of slips, trips and falls in shops

Shops and other public venues have a duty to follow health and safety guidance to protect customers. You can seek to make a claim if they fail to address hazards properly and you’re injured as a result. Common causes of slips, trips and falls on shop floors include:

Spillages of liquid or food
Recently cleaned floors
Rain or snow walked into the shop
Leaking roofs, fridges and pipes
Cardboard, bags or rubbish on the floor
Broken steps and railings
Loose wires and discarded items

There are of course other risks of accidental injury that shoppers may face, such as badly stacked displays collapsing, packaging and other debris left on the shop floor to trip over, or shelving units with sharp edges causing lacerations. We have also assisted with a number of claims against stores where claimants have been injured by staff members moving large items of stock without ensuring there are no shoppers in the way.

Can I claim for a slipping on a wet floor in a shop?

Most shopping accident claims arise after a slip on a wet floor. In any shopping environment, the risk of slipping on a wet floor is present and shops should be prepared to do all that they can to minimise the chance of one of their customers slipping and sustaining an injury.

Shops must ensure that any rain water or other spillages are cleaned up as soon as possible. During wet weather, shop entrances should have a mat to enable people to wipe excess rain water from their feet.

Where there’s a risk of injury due to slipping on ice at the entrance to a shop the management has a responsibility to clear the ice in a reasonable time, warn customers of a possible danger and ensure that the area is treated to prevent ice developing.

If there is a spillage, water or other slipping risk present a wet floor sign should be erected to warn of the hazard. These should always be displayed when floors are being cleaned.

If the shop has failed to display a hazard sign warning the floor is wet, you are likely to have a strong claim if you’re injured after slipping over on it. However, even if a hazard sign was erected, you could still be able to claim if it can be demonstrated that the sign was inadequately displayed – hidden or obscured from view, or located in the wrong place.

How to prove the shop is at fault for your injury

To enable a no win no fee solicitor to present a strong claim the correct evidence must be available to prove the shop has been negligent in its duties to protect customers from injury.

First off, it is vitally important to report the details of your accident to the right people. In most cases, anyone injured should insist on the details of their injury and the cause of the accident to be recorded within an accident book. Details held within an accident book can help a claimant prove that the shop in question is liable for their injuries.

If you have an accident within a shop that does not have an accident book, or where you are refused permission to report it in such a way, there are steps that you can take.

CCTV footage and witness statements from other shoppers or staff will provide extra evidence to prove your case.

Medical evidence will also be needed to support a claim – anyone claiming personal injury compensation will need to be able to prove that an injury has been sustained. Therefore, it is vital that you seek medical attention, either from your GP or by visiting the A&E department of a local hospital.

When you present for treatment, advise your GP or nurse as to what caused your injury and where it happened. The details of this, plus any medical diagnosis, treatments provided or referrals for other treatments will be recorded within your medical records. Your solicitor will use this medical evidence to form an estimation of the settlement that you could receive.

Slips and falls can often cause the flare up of an old injury so it’s worth noting that you can claim for the worsening of a pre-existing injury as well as any new ones.

How much can I claim for a fall in a shop?

How much compensation you can claim after a fall in a shop is calculated from the severity of the injury, your financial losses and the impact on your quality of life. For example, a wrist injury that has resulted in permanent pain and stiffness could amount to between £10,000 and £20,000. That’s just for the injury itself, not including ‘special damages‘, which relate to incurred expenses and other effects on the injured person’s life, such as lost income.

Usually we will claim for the following on your behalf:

The pain and distress caused to you by the injuries sustained
Associated costs and losses
Lost earnings if you have been away from work as a result of the accident
Medical treatments, rehabilitation therapies and post accident care
Restrictions on your ability to fulfil your usual activities and social life
Miscellaneous expenses (bus fares, painkillers etc)

Compensation amounts for common fall injuries

There are guidelines issued by the courts for solicitors, but it’s impossible to say exactly how much you can expect as all cases vary. Some example values are listed in the table below for common fall injury claims:

Type of injury	Compensation amount
Neck injury	£2,000 - £140,000
Minor brain or head injury	£2,070 - £11,980
Finger injury	£4,000 - £85,000
Wrist injury	£3,310 - £44,690
Hip or pelvis injury	£3,710 - £24,950
Fractured forearm	£6,190 - £18,020
Permanent back injury	£11,730 - £26,050
Serious shoulder injury	£11,980 - £18,020
Ankle injury	£12,900 - £46,980

How do I make a claim?

To find out more about what you should do after being injured in a shop and how to make your claim for compensation, contact us. Our specialist slip and trip accident claim solicitors will help you to maximise your settlement and claim without hassle.

You can start your claim online or , and one of our expert team will be in touch. Alternatively, call us on 01225 430285. We’ll only need a few minutes of your time to let you know if you can make a claim.

149 questions have been answered on this subject, why not ask your own?

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Questions

Read on for questions and advice about claiming...

Hi I fell over in jDsports today I was with my daughter I was Hiding her eyes away from the trainer’s next thing I knew I had slipped on a metal grid that I didn’t see on the floor as I went down I grabbed hold of my daughter I must of screamed out as I hit the ground two staff came over asking am I ok I was just Shocked and Embarrassed that I had fell over but my daughter said they was looking at each other to say who left the metal grid on the floor when I got home that’s when the pain set in I’ve took some tablets for my pain I just can’t believe they didn’t call there Manager to say what had happened was I wrong to leave the shop i was just Embarrassed I just can’t be off work thankyou for reading my message

It is understandable that you left the store and just wanted to get home or away from the site. Indeed, it is common that people don’t think to record the details of an accident when they have slipped in a shop or public place at the time due to shock and embarrassment. As your accident has happened within the last 24 hours, you can still report the incident to the store in question. You can either email the company or call their head office to report the details of your fall. You should state the location of the store, the date and the time of your fall and list any current injury symptoms.

You mention that you slipped on a metal grate on the floor of the store. Do you know why you slipped on this? Was the grid wet or did it have any other substance or hazard on it that may have caused you to fall? Were there any hazard signs on display? These are the details you should mention in any report you make.

We would like to speak with you regarding your fall in order that we can ascertain whether or not it will be viable to pursue a claim for personal injury compensation. You can either request a call via our website or if you prefer, contact us on 01225430285 to get the advice and support you need at this time.

Good morning.

I tripped on a tiny step going into a nail salon. I received a very nasty bruise on my upper arm and my middle finger on my left hand was broken. It resulted in months of physio.
I don’t think it was logged, if they have an accident book. There was only a tiny sign to the side of the step that said Mind the Step. Also I was told the owner did nothing about making the step more visible as she didn’t want the aesthetics of the floor changing.
This happened about a year ago and I’m still unable to fully close my finger. The physio said it is unlikely it will fully close now.
Do you think I have a case?
Thank you

If there is a potential tripping hazard or a change in floor height that is not visually obvious, there is a duty of care on a venue or business to provide a clear indication and warning of the need to be aware of the issue. As such, you’ll often see clear differentiation in colour of the step so that it is obvious or a clear visual warning sign. It would appear that the shop owner has breached their duty in this case.

However, as it would appear that there is no record of the incident and your immediate injury symptoms being on record with the shop in question that may well weaken the potential of any claim you may go on to pursue.

It would be prudent at this time to contact the company in question, pointing to your appointment on that day to ask what record they have of the accident. If they have not made a record, you could respond and list the injuries you sustained (pointing out the lack of signage and invisibility of the step).

If there wasn’t an accident book entry, if you had medical treatment fairly soon after the incident and your medical records point to a trip on a step you hadn’t seen, a claim may then be viable. (Photographs of the step and lack of signage would be needed).

My Auntie caught her foot on a store display cabinet near the tills. As a result, she fell and broke her hip requiring a full hip replacement. The store have actioned their loss adjusters who are investigating. They are saying that no one else has ever hurt themselves on the display units, but we are wondering if they are negligent? Also, they lied on the accident form! They logged that the fall was due to an illness and not an accident! And that she felt ‘dizzy’ before the accident, which is completely untrue.

Have you contested the discrepancies/inaccuracies on the accident report form with the store and their insurers? If not, you should do so (in writing) at the earliest opportunity to ensure that potentially misleading evidence that could be in favour of the defendants cannot jeopardise any future claim for compensation.

With the cause of the incident being a trip on an in-store display stand, it is unclear at this stage as to whether or not a claim is viable. Display stands are a normal and regularly seen fixture within a supermarket or large store. However, if the feet or base of the display stand protrudes in to an area that customers would expect to walk without obstacle, it can be possible to succeed with a claim. With this in mind, do you have (or can you obtain any?) any photographs of the display stand in question?

My Mum fell when going into a supermarket as the mat was rucked up and she caught her foot in it. She uses two sticks and fell straight on to her face. An Ambulance was called as she lost consciousness. Mum has fractured her nose and suffered a very bruised face and knees. She has had to attend hospital again since the initial treatment for check up on nose. My Mum is 88 and has been in a lot of pain since the accident and now she doesn’t want to go out at all. I have requested a copy of cctv which I am waiting for. Could I make claim on her behalf?

We can certainly help you to make a claim for your Mother. If you have a power of attorney in place for your Mother’s legal affairs, you can make this claim for her, but if not, your Mum would need to be the actual claimant – but you can certainly assist with this and our Solicitors can work with you to settle this matter in favour of your Mum.

Our Solicitors work on a No Win No Fee basis and you can pursue a claim without any anxiety about the costs should the matter not succeed. For further help, please call us on 01225430285 or use our website form to provide more information and we’ll have our specialist Solicitors on to this for your Mother.

I was walking down the stairs in an estate agents shop today and the last step gave way causing me to twist my ankle. I thought it was okay after a few minutes, but since resting I am having issues standing flat on my foot. Can you advise me if I have a claim? I have not sought medical advice yet and was not given any book or medical treatment on site, just a verbal apology.

You have valid grounds to pursue a claim and our Solicitors can make your claim for you on a No Win No Fee basis. For further help, please call us on 01225430285 or use our website to start your claim for compensation.

In terms of recording the details of the accident, you should email the estate agents to report the accident, stating what happened, where and when and what symptoms you have developed. You can mention that the incident was not recorded in writing at the time and that you hadn’t initially realised that you had sustained injury and that you simply want to ensure that there is a record of the incident.

That you didn’t appreciate the severity of injury immediately is not uncommon. Indeed, many people who suffer a soft tissue injury initially feel that they have avoided any serious damage, only for symptoms & increasing pain to develop in the hours and days after the incident. However, whilst not seeking immediate medical attention will not damage your prospects in your claim, it is important that you do seek medical attention by making a GP appointment or attending a minor injuries unit to ensure that the injury can be assessed and treated, along with ensuring medical evidence will be in place to support any claim you may make.

Good morning

I hope that you are well.

I have been hurt by a wine bottle in the shop – the shop assistant was showing me the bottle and it fell on my ankle. I am in a lot of pain today. Can you advise me whether I have any claim?

Kind regards

Jeannette

You may well have grounds for a claim given the cause of your injury. Although the incident was an ‘accident’, it is likely that it will be possible to establish that the fault rests with the shop and their insurers in this matter.

If an accident book entry was not completed at the time, please ensure that you put something in writing with the shop in question (whether that be by returning to their store, or by emailing them to report your injury) as this will provide vital evidence to support any claim you may pursue.

We also need to consider the severity of your injury to ensure that it meets the required level. With this in mind, when did you suffer the injury and have you had medical treatment? You may prefer to provide further details via the form on our website to see if you can make a claim, or you can email us directly at justice@direct2compensation.co.uk

Yesterday I was in a shopping centre and slipped on a spilled milkshake outside one of the shops in the mall. I now have pain in my hip. There was no wet floor sign and no staff around as I wasn’t in an actual shop. I was embarrassed and jumped up quickly, some people asked if I was ok but I left the scene quickly out of shock and embarrassment wanting to get out of the crowd gathering. Could I make a claim here?

You could pursue a claim given the circumstances of your fall and injury. In order to ensure that your claim has the best possible chances of succeeding, it is important to get the details of the accident recorded with the shopping mall in question. To this end, you should call them or email them at the earliest opportunity to report the incident. You should provide as much detail as possible – the location of the accident, the time of the accident and details of any injuries sustained along with your name, date of birth and contact information.

I just slipped on a marketing poster in a store. I’ve hurt my knee. The store staff were quite humiliating and took a long time to acknowledge I fell. I had meetings so had to leave the store and now I’m home, am in terrible pain. Can I still call the store to ensure it was logged?

The store staff should have taken your name and any details of injuries sustained immediately and the fact that they did not do do, will reflect poorly on them. You can absolutely still contact the store – indeed you should do so to protect your interests. You can either go in person or call their store or head office (although you may want to put a report of the incident and injuries to them via email in order to ensure that there is a written record available) to ensure that details of the incident have been properly recorded.

You absolutely have a right to make a claim if your injuries warrant the same as the cause of your fall can be attributed to negligence in that the marketing posted should not have been on the floor at the time.

Our specialist personal injury Solicitors can assist you on a No Win No Fee basis in pursuit of compensation.

I tripped over a crate in a shop doorway on 25/3/21. Thought all was ok but not- rotator cuff injury. Been to physio and osteopath and had steroid injection. To date spent £1461 on treatment fees let alone travel costs to osteo which is 20 miles from hone – live in rural village. I’ve not been back to shop since or checked whether incident was recorded in shop. Is there anything I can do now or have I left it too long?

You are within the 3 year claim limitation period so you are in position to make a claim. It would be sensible to check whether the shop in question have a record of your injury happening as if there is no record of this and no witness, it may be difficult to succeed with a claim.

A bottle of Prosecco fell from my basket while in Asda straight onto my big toe . When I went to the till I saw that the basket had split on both sides and that’s where the bottle dropped from. I told the till assistant and asked another member of staff to remove the basket as it was broken. I also completed an incident report with a manager and she took a photo and said there was already a bruise. It has been bruised for over a week and two toes sore with my nail still sore too touch. I think I should be entitled to some compensation but thought that Asda would have contacted me?

The fact that the store have failed to contact you is irrelevant in terms of a claim for personal injury compensation. The key thing here is that you have reported the incident and the details of the broken basket and your injuries have been recorded by staff members.

Have you sought any medical attention? If not, we would recommend that you do so and we do feel that you are in a position to make a claim for personal injury compensation. Our Solicitors can advise you further in this matter and if viable, they would make your claim on a No Win No Fee basis.

While shopping in a department store on the 23rd December, I slipped within 5 mins of entering the store on the floor and fell heavily. Since this fall I have been suffering from extreme pain in my lower back and my right arm. I spoke with manager today and filled in an accident form and that was it. What’s my situation here? Can I make a claim? I am looking for advice.

What caused you to slip and fall? If the floor was wet with no hazard sign on display, or if there was another slipping hazard on the floor (such as a discarded plastic tag or display stand etc), you could well pursue a claim on a No Win No Fee basis for personal injury compensation.

I fell in M and S in Belfast on 2nd Nov and broke my hip and dislocated my shoulder I spent 23 days in hospital now having physio at home.
My leg got stuck behind the leg of a display stand as I tried to move sides.
Ways along the display and momentum just carried me on to the floor with nothing to break my fall. The leg of the stand was out at a small angle to the shelves.
Do I have a claim?
I received a letter from the store wishing to reach out to me and wishing me a quick recovery.

You have a right to make a claim for personal injury compensation. The system for pursuing claims in Northern Ireland differs from that of England, Wales and Scotland, but don’t worry – we can still help! One of our specialist Solicitors has a link with a firm in Northern Ireland who are able to pursue matters for claimants in that jurisdiction.

I went into a charity shop in my High Street. It was raining outside. I was walking on crutches the entrance of the shop had a mat. Almost as soon as passing the mat i walked on the shiny tiled floor. i have an amputated foot and cannot weight bear on my left foot. i have to put my two crutches first and hop forward. i had managed to do this once and when i tried the second step both crutches slipped forward on the tiled floor.

If there were no hazard warning signs on display within the store, you are likely to have valid grounds to pursue a claim for personal injury against their insurance cover. It is likely that the floor was wet and therefore slippery due to rain water having been trodden in to the store by customers and the matting was inadequate in terms of being able to prevent excess water making its way on to the tiled floor surface. As such, the lack of a hazard sign is likely to be seen as negligent.

Claims for compensation after tripping over an item left in a shop aisle are matters that our Solicitors pursue on a daily basis. In your case, much will depend on how long the basket was present and whether the shop staff had failed to identify the risk to customers and remove the basket in a reasonable time. You have done the right thing in contacting the shops Head Office once home as the details of the incident should have been recorded immediately in store. However, at least a record has since been made. The way the staff have handled the matter in store is far from ideal and indicates that their approach to customer service and health and safety management is at best, questionable. With this in mind, you have valid grounds to seek to pursue a claim against the company in question for the injuries you have sustained and the impact the injuries will have on you, your independence and also your partner.

We would be very happy to pursue this matter and have our specialist Solicitors consider a detailed enquiry for you.

You have a right to make a claim and the fact that the injury was 2 years ago, means that you are within the 3 year claim limitation period.

However, the problem you will face is one you have already identified – the fact that you did not report the injury correctly at the time of the incident. As the defendant has no record of the incident, they will simply refute any claim and put the onus on you to provide evidence that the injury was caused when you state it was caused and because of the reason you describe (damage to the ground surface at the shop in question).

My 6 year old has just slipped on a wet floor in our local spar shop. There seemed to be a puddle on the floor at the back of the store but there was no warning sign for a wet floor. He’s bumped his head and hurt his hand. After the incident they mopped the floor and put a sign up but no apology. A customer in the shop gave him some sweets and we left. I called the shop after and asked them to log it into the accident book and they agreed that they would. I am not happy at the safety due to no sign and my son has taken a fall because of this.

There is certainly potential to pursue a claim against the store in question as they have been negligent in failing to provide adequate warning of the risk of slipping or ensured that the leak/spillage was dealt with. We now need to see whether the injuries sustained by your Son are sufficiently serious to warrant a claim for personal injury compensation.

As you have ensured that the incident has been logged properly in the accident book, you have ensured that there will be evidence in place to support a claim should one be pursued in due course. We would recommend that your Son’s injuries be reported to his GP in order that medical evidence is also in place.

I have just been injured in a shop. I tripped over a shoe box on the floor and I saw the man from shop moving it after I fell. I fell right over hitting the hard floor. I put my hand out to stop myself and I have sprained that wrist. My leg is very bruised and painful and my veins are stuck out. It hurts to walk. The staff crowded round but I immediately tried to get up as I was so embarrassed. I even made a purchase even though I felt incredibly sick when I left the shop. There was no accident book entry as I didn’t even think about this because I was just so embarrassed, but I now I am on severe pain. I don’t think it’s broken but my leg looks bad swollen with severe bruising. I didn’t even think about asking for an accident book entry as I just felt ashamed.

Don’t worry about the accident book issue – the fact that you didn’t think to report the incident properly immediately is understandable as you would have been in pain, shocked and as you say, embarrassed.

We strongly recommend that you contact the shop in question today to request that the accident book entry be made. Make sure that you list the cause of your fall as the shoe box that was then moved and list any injuries sustained.

Once this is done and medical attention has been sought, please call us on 01225430285 as you appear to have strong grounds to pursue a claim for the injuries you have sustained.

My wife slipped and fell backwards on a mall entrance floor, she knew straight away she had been injured as she couldn’t walk. I couldn’t lift her up, security staff helped to pick her up, a wheelchair was provided for her. I was mad because it was raining outside and the polished floor was awash with trodden in water, no hazard signs. I took photos of the floor and of my wife in the wheelchair I demanded it was put in their accident book. 10 weeks on my wife still has back pain, physio said it would last 6 to 10 weeks.

The scenario you describe regarding your wife’s injuries appears to confirm that this matter should proceed immediately as a valid claim for slipping accident compensation given the lack of hazard signs on display and the fact that the venue allowed a foreseeable risk to remain in situ without action.

Our Solicitors can seek compensation for the injuries sustained, the pain and discomfort caused and the longer term consequences of the fall, potentially including physiotherapy costs.

Hi my husband fell a couple of days ago opening a door in the local Chinese shop for a gent but the floor was wet and my husband slipped, fell down and this with the ring has took off his finger, my son of 10 was there! Do i need to see if there was cctv footage? My son said there definitely was no wet floor sign.

The most important issue at this stage is to protect your Husband’s interests by ensuring that the details of the incident have been reported to the right people. With this in mind, if an accident book was not completed at the time, make sure you make a written report of the incident and email or send it to the business in question outlining what happened, the wet floor and the lack of warning signage. If an Ambulance attended the scene that will help to provide evidence to support any claim. Asking the business for CCTV footage would be a sensible move as if they do have this, it could be vitally important.

Your Husband has a right to pursue a finger injury compensation claim for his serious injury and our Solicitors will ensure that any settlement obtained appropriately compensates him for the long term consequences of such an injury, from grip strength, dexterity and of course the visual after effects, not to mention the potential impact on his ability to work and earn as he previously had.

Hi,
My husband and daughter were walking into the range, there was an empty pallete on the floor which was slightly in the walkway. Long story short, my hubby tripped on this and as the pallete went up his shin causing alot of pain, embarrassment along with grazing and bruising. My daughter was holding his hand and came flying in to the store with him. They are very lucky they didn’t end up on the floor or with more serious injuries.

We have reported it to the store manager who put baskets ontop of the pallets to make it more obvious and recorded the incident. Do we have a case to make claim?

Please use the ‘start your claim‘ page of our website to get further help. We feel that there is a valid claim as the walkway within the store should not have been obstructed without adequate signage to warn of the potential hazard.

Today I went out shopping and on walking down the main aisle towards the lift I have tripped on the corner of a pallet situated on the corner of the aisle with 3 rugs on it, approx a foot off the floor. I have not seen this pallet due to height and the rug being on top similar colour to the floor.
I landed face down and suffer from arthritis, being in a lot of pain since, what are my entitlements?

It would seem that your fall can be attributed to negligence on the part of the shop in question. As they have allowed a display to be in a location where shoppers may not see it or expect it to be present, the display has become a tripping hazard and you have sadly sustained injury as a result. We would be very happy to help you to pursue a claim against the shop for personal injury compensation and associated costs or losses. This is a No Win No Fee service and our Solicitors would ensure that your rights are upheld and that you are compensated adequately.

If you haven’t already done so, please ensure that there is a written record of your accident with the shop in question – they should have completed an accident book entry with you at the time, but if they did not do so, either return to the store or make contact with them in writing to advise what happened to you, what injuries you have sustained and include the date, time and location of your fall.

I suffered a fall on Wednesday 9.6.21 in my local Morrison’s store – I slipped on produce debris by the salad items. I fell heavily on to the floor and against the metal shelving. I have significant swelling and bruising to my left arm and have been totally overwhelmed / distressed by the whole event. I have been seen in my local Emergency Department and had x-rays taken. An accident form was completed by a member of staff at the time however they were unable to locate their first aider to check me over. I was told I would be contacted the following day to see how I was doing / feeling. No contact from the store since then. Have been left feeling very disappointed by the lack of concern on their part. I have photo evidence of what I slipped on, a willing witness to this unfortunate incident and a member of staff commented to my husband at the time “to not having enough staff to go round to keeping cleaning up”.
Would be keen to understand if worth pursuing a claim against the store/company. Thank you

We feel that you have a very valid and justified claim for slipping accident compensation to be pursued against the store in question – particularly with regards to the anecdotal comments of the staff member to your Husband.

Our Solicitors would be able to act for you on a No Win No Fee basis, meaning that you would pay no costs to any party should your claim fail.

My cousin went to shop with her daughter, while walking along the aisle she spilled a drink and later the daughter walked around the same aisle, she fell and broke her arm. Can she claim against the shop owner?

Did your cousin report the spillage? If not, there is no claim as they knew the spillage was present and could have reported it and avoided it.

I tripped up stairs in Starbucks in Glasgow and have really hurt just below my knee. The stairs had metal on the edge and the metal cut my leg. This happened on Saturday and although it hurts and I can’t actually kneel on my left leg, I haven’t visited the Dr. They took my details – no accident book that I recall – and have offered complimentary drinks on my next visit. I’m not a complainer but I do feel this is quite a nasty injury and wonder if there is scope to make a claim?

Providing it was not damaged, loose or sticking up to cause a tripping hazard, the metal edge on the stairs is unlikely to be seen to be dangerous and is there to ensure that the edge of the stair remains fixed and safe. Therefore, we need to consider why you tripped and whether negligence can be established as the cause.

If you simply misplaced your footing and caught your foot on the edge of one step and fell in to another, you would have no claim. However, if there was some sort of slipping hazard on the step (spillages or loose item) or if something caused you to trip – such as a loose stair edge or furled carpet etc, you would certainly have valid grounds to pursue a claim.

If you would like to elaborate a little more on the cause of your fall, we can advise further.

Hi
I am making an inquiry on behalf of my aunt (who is close to 80 years of age) and lives in Central London. She recently visited a food shop near where she lives and whilst shopping her foot got stuck on some strong adhesive tape which was on the floor but was attached to cardboard boxes containing food items that were in the aisle ready for the shop assistant to stack on the shelves. My aunt lost her balance (due to her foot stuck on the floor) and she fell breaking her knee. She was unable to move and in the end had to call a taxi to take her to the A&E at the nearest Hospital. She is at home now and recuperating but would like to explore her options in taking legal action. She has heard of ‘no-win, no-fee’ arrangements and keen to explore this. One relevant detail is that she is on full benefits and wonders if all/any of any likely compensation would have to be declared to the government.
Thank you
Chris

It would appear that there is robust grounds to pursue a claim for compensation. The cause of the fall can be attributed to negligence and it would seem that the shop had failed in their obligations under the occupier liability act to provide a safe environment for customers.

In terms of the benefits issue, a Solicitor will ensure that a claimant is helped in minimising the impact that a settlement may have on benefits entitlement and whilst any settlement should be declared, there are legal ways of receiving settlement – such as in to a personal injury trust – to ensure that a claimant is not disadvantaged when they are compensated for their injuries.

I fell coming out of a coffee shop door as there was a concrete step on exit. I was attempting to leave balancing drinks with no holder & no help, the step was not signed. Fell on to my knees & have suffered dreadful pain since, will be reporting to GP now as getting worse.

If you can obtain some photographs of the step showing the lack of signage and report the incident to the coffee shop, we can look further in to a potential claim for you.

Hi I had a fall in a local shop a box of bananas was left on the floor with no easy way to see it I received A/E treatment to a deep gash on my arm I took photos of above + short video. But the shopkeeper refuses to give any information about insurance he offered me £200 and not to take it any further I said no. I have been told and read that it might be too risky to sue him owing to proof of assets. I would like to know what your initial thoughts are to sue or not sue Thank you for your time and reading my rant. Kind regards

Our Solicitors can conduct insurance searches on the business in question and can also investigate whether the proprietor has sufficient personal assets to face a claim if there is no insurance in place.

Dear Sir,

My 2 years old daughter slipped on the floor in Tesco shop and has some injuries. I was in shock and I did not report it in the shop at the time.
The incident was yesterday around 1pm. I have a receipt from tesco as well.

Can I make any claim for her?

Yes, you can make a claim for your daughter. Of course, we need to discuss the accident and find out a little more about the injuries that she has so that we can confirm things, but yes – as a parent, you can act as a litigation friend and make the claim on behalf of your daughter.

It is understandable that you didn’t report the incident at the time, but as you have a receipt, I would suggest that you return to the store in question and speak with the customer services team and request that an accident report is completed. Alternatively, you should email the store to make a report of the incident.

I tripped and sprained my ankle today when stepping out of a Chinese shop due to bad paving directly in front on the door. My ankle is now swollen and I’m in a lot of pain as a result. I was unaware of an accident book and the shop owner didn’t even come to see if I was ok. I was helped out by two strangers. I was wondering if this was something I could make a claim for?

Can you obtain any photographs of the uneven and dangerous paving surface? There is certainly the potential to pursue a claim for compensation and it would be most helpful if we could view images of the accident site so that we can advise further. Can you email such images to us at justice@direct2compensation.co.uk

It would be sensible to return to the shop in question – or make contact with them via email – to make a report of the incident with them. As the accident has happened on the pavement outside the store, it is likely that the local authority will be the party against whom any claim would be made.

I fell down in shop entrance where he put cardboard. The card board was wet and I fell down. There are bruises on my hand and my back is very painful. Can I make claim?

You can make a claim in such circumstances. Please make sure that your injuries have been recorded within the shop (in an accident book – or in writing). If they don’t have an accident book, or won’t let you use it, just email them to outline what happened and when.

I slipped in a store recently and fell flat on my left side. Frankly they really didn’t treat it well and that was worrying, I had to insist that it be logged, in-fact who turned out to be the manager had seen I and merely said are you ok, hen walked on and started cashing on the till. I then went ot him and asked If I could speak with the manager when he informed me he was. I am in agony in my back , been to A& E ye said nothing Is broken bu my pains are still severe. I am on pain killers and my friends keep saying to claim, but I feel ashamed. Should I be feeling this way? I came home after , rang my GP after I rang te store head office and asked about their slip policy. I was a retail manager so I know the rules, there was no cone etc and the mat at the entrance was wet.

You should not feel ashamed or embarrassed by your recent fall. Although such feelings are understandable, you were caused to fall by negligence – a wet floor with no hazard warning signs in situ. You have done the right thing in terms of contacting their head office to discuss the accident reporting system and to ensure that they have your details and it is also good that you have obtained medical treatment and your injuries have been noted on your medical records.

We can help you make a claim for compensation and look forward to helping you.

I was in my local spar shop today when l suddenly slipped on spilled gravy from hot food l went over on my ankle and fell among the biscuits. There was no warning signs. A member of Staff came over with a chair and bottle of water while another member of staff took my details. She phoned a taxi which we had to pay for for. The member of staff said she’d ring me.

Given the cause of your ankle injury was a spillage on the floor of the shop in question, our Solicitors can pursue a claim for you under the Occupier Liability act and seek compensation for your ankle injury and recover any associated costs – including the taxi fare – on a No Win No Fee basis.

I slipped on something on the floor in Aldi in December 2020, the accident was logged in store.
Since the accident I have sought medical advice as had pain in neck, shoulder and lower back affecting my left leg.

Do you know what you slipped on? Was it a liquid? Squashed produce or a piece of plastic/wrapping? If you can identify what you slipped on, we can help you make a claim for the injuries you have sustained.

I fell after slipping on cards left on the floor in cardfactory, bruised and skint knee, bruised hand and arm. I didn’t know about an accident book and the staff didn’t mention it?

If this happened recently, contact the shop – or company – by email and make your own report of the incident. Tell them what happened, when and how you were injured. You should also mention that the staff didn’t inform you of, or give you the opportunity to record the details in the accident book.

You have a valid claim under the occupier liability act, to pursue a claim for personal injury compensation. The store has an obligation to ensure that the premises is safe for customers and the fact that they allowed cards to be left on the floor – which is a foreseeable hazard – is negligent and you would likely succeed with a claim for compensation after being injured as a result.

I fell in a boots store and landed with my chin hitting the floor I had to go to A and E and have stitches, banged my knee and wrist bruised. It is on cctv, can I claim for this? It has shook me up and knocked my confidence, I still have the shakes from it.

Please contact us on 0122543085 so that we can discuss your accident with a view to helping you start your claim compensation for both the physical injury and the emotional impact that the incident and scarring has caused you.

Just slipped over in the local coop, was over an empty bread basket. I stepped in it on route down aisle and I slipped and landed on my knee and left arm.

The bread basket should not have been left unattended in the aisle of the shop, the fact that it was is likely to be seen as negligence. As such, you have a valid claim for slipping accident compensation under the occupier liability act and we would like to help you to pursue this matter.

I walked into the grocery store slipped and fell down on my left knee from squished tomatoes on the floor I did not fracture my knee or break my knee bone but is the store still liable for compensation?

As long as the accident was reported in the store and your details taken (accident book or similar), you have a right to make a claim for compensation and this can be done on a No Win No Fee basis. You won’t therefore risk liability for costs if the supermarket in question can demonstrate that they had an adequate cleaning and inspection regime in place.

I fell going into Sainsbury’s today just as I was about to pick up shopping basket. I fell really hard and was quite shocked and felt sharp pain in my lower back and my hand which I think took the blow. I sought of did the splits but land on left knee. I do have wear and rare arthritis but am in pain already and I only did it an hour ago.
The young chap on the entrance to Sainsbury’s was very nice and asked if I was ok but had not noticed that the floor was wet by the basket stack. The weather is quite wet today so customers are bringing in wet footwear in to store.
I just want to know what I am to so if my lower back pain persists and becomes a problem as I already have minor aches and pain with arthritis. Can I get compensation for slipping on the wet floor which I was not made aware of?

I fell over in a sweet shop. Due to cardboard at the door on the floor. I fell and twisted my back. The shop keeper smile which I was very unhappy about. There is also cctv in the shop so it is on the camera.

Under the occupier liability act, a shop keeper or business owner has a legal responsibility to ensure that they provide an environment that is safe for visitors and free of hazards. Should a hazard be in situ (such as a water leak or other item on the floor as in this case), it should be clearly marked with a hazard warning sign until it is removed.

As there appears to have been no such hazard warning in this case, it would seem that you have a valid and robust claim for personal injury compensation and this is a matter we are happy to help with.

Hi my wife slipped on a flooded area on a floor at a Tesco store. I called for staff to get a manager. She hit the hard floor damaged her right knee and hips also damaged, hurt her left arm and shoulder after trying to break her fall. There was many staff on scene including various managers, they said they were aware of a leaking fridge and said they had failed to check the area. And they admitted they were to blame for the excess water with in the isle. There was a camera on the area.

We could not get an Ambulance as 111 said it was not important enough to send one. So 2 staff got my wife up off the floor a put her in a wheelchair so we could get her in our car, which was not easy with her injuries. I took her to the local Hospital for tests etc.
My wife is unable to walk due to the damage caused. She has crutches to try to get around but not very successful. Tesco told us we would get a call from their head office within two weeks, 3 weeks on still nothing.

We have tried phoning and sending emails but they will not respond. How long should we have to wait for a response from them, do you think they will bother?

Regardless of whether Tesco contact your wife (which they of course should do), you should wait no longer and make further contact with us to start a claim for compensation. Tesco store staff appear to have pretty much admitted liability verbally in-store when they confirmed that they had failed to check the area and keep it safe.

Our specialist Solicitors would be happy to make a claim for your wife on a No Win No Fee basis to recover compensation for the numerous injuries sustained, the pain and discomfort caused along with the impact on her independence and mobility.

Slipped on metal sheeting floor at a local corner shop, wet rainy day and not fully covered by shelter from the outside elements along with others traipsing water in and out of shop on shoes, 1 wet floor side propped up against produces so not in plain sight. Hit my knee on impact and flat on my stomach, laid out for a few minutes with my sign of help from shop assistants metres away at til, I managed to get up and get inside shop also slipping on entrance, made them aware of what happened to be given a half hearted “I’m sorry that happened to you” there is a sign, you should be careful, we cannot clean up every minute, you was wearing the wrong shoes. Etc no manager available to speak to about insurance policy for the store asked for the cctv footage, was told to come back to store tomorrow after demanding they call someone which they called the store owner who was no help. I worry they have erased footage, I was in pain and shock and didn’t get a chance to record on my own phone. Any possibility I have a case? Off work currently laid up in bed as I await x ray for possible fracture to knee.

The failure to properly erect a hazard warning sign in clear and plain sight indicates that you may be able to succeed with a claim for the painful knee injury you have sustained.

I slipped in my local Tesco on Sunday August 2nd, I saw the warning sign about slippery floor, but didn’t see all the water due to the lights not being on fully (just before store opening time) and my glasses being steamed up from wearing a mask, when I slipped backwards and fell full force onto my legs & back. I banged my hand and I was soaked head to foot in water, my hair was dripping and my clothes were drenched through to my skin, THERE WAS alot of water on the floor otherwise I wouldn’t have got wet. The staff tried to dry me off with towels and I WAS IN DEEP SHOCK. my left leg hurt and I had trouble standing up, the following day i went to my local minor injury unit where they took me in an ambulance to A&E, as they had concerns about my high blood pressure (180) and constant headaches and feeling nauseous, I had head & leg scans, luckily no concussion or broken/fractures.

Unfortunately, it would seem that the supermarket in question are unlikely to have been negligent in this matter. As a hazard sign was erected – and you have confirmed having seen it, they would argue that you were aware of a possible slipping hazard. Further, the lighting in the store was not fully on as it was yet to open and you also couldn’t see the pooled water due to your glasses steaming up – which of course is not the fault of any party.

Hi, I went in to my local shop and when I was leaving, I slipped on their metal step. It was raining at the time so the step was wet. I was wearing flip flops at the time. The step I believe is a non-slip step. They also have signs on door saying ‘caution mind the step’. When I fell, an ambulance came & after treatment, I have found that I have some torn ligaments in my leg. Can I make a claim?

It is unclear as to whether or not you can pursue a claim. The step appears to have been marked clearly and therefore, it is a case of whether the surface of the step should have a non-slip surface or a sign indicating it could be slippery when wet.

We would be happy to investigate a potential claim for you, but would need to see some photographs of the step in question.

Sandles caught in between faulty flooring poundland,lamenate hard lino. Cut at the back . Never wrote in accident book jus took my name number. Gave me plasters blood all over the place. Flooring was already faulty . I have photos flooring and photos of my injury.

Please call us on 01225430285 so that we can help you start your claim for personal injury compensation

I slipped and fell in a grocery store on water leaking from a tank of some sort and hit my head, causing my smell and taste to go and my ears constantly to ring and my words are slurs. Can someone please help me please?

Please call us on 01225430285 so that we can help you start your claim for compensation.

I went to lidl today and there was spring onion on the floor, which i didn’t see. I slipped and fell down, hurt my back. Can i claim for it?

Yes, we can help you pursue a claim against the supermarket and their insurers in this scenario.

If you haven’t already done so, it is important to ensure that a record of your accident and injuries has been made with the supermarket in question. If it wasn’t done at the time, make sure you either go back to the store or contact them over the phone to get this done.

Hi, I have fractured my ankle through a fall down a slope In My local shop, the floor is tiled and had been raining outside, no Mat on entry to shop to dry feet, and no wet floor signs. It wasn’t recorded in an accident book, however two members of staff witnessed the fall And came to my aid. Would I have a claim?

The failure of the shop staff to place any hazard warning sign or matting to make the floor of the slope safe or to warn of the risk of injury would appear to be negligence and you appear to have a valid claim worthy of pursuit.

If your fall was recent, you could still attempt to have the shop in question note the details of the injury in their accident book, either by going in person to the shop or by emailing them to outline what happened.

I tripped in asda over a empty pallet getting injuries, bruised and swollen cheek bon,e bleeding mouth, bruised leg, all in accident book. They’re admitting all responsibilities saying they will offer compensation, what would that be?

Hopefully you are being represented by a specialist personal injury Solicitor in your claim for compensation? If not, you should call us on 01225430285 in order to get specialist representation. A specialist Solicitor will ensure that an appropriate level of compensation is obtained in your claim. A Solicitor will be able to ensure that an appropriate compensation settlement is reached by obtaining a medical experts report with a detailed understanding of the prognosis of any injuries sustained and what you recovery period will be (or if any ongoing symptoms will persist). A Solicitor would also ensure that any out of pocket costs you have incurred or lost income etc is also recovered.

As for the value of your claim, without knowing the extent and severity of your injuries, we cannot advise.

Hi Ian,

Walking in a local shop aisle, scanning the shelves for a particular item, turned the corner walking along the other side of the aisle again scanning the shelves not realising a staff member left the basement store room door wide open and unattended. I fell right into it and luckily, and I have to idea how, I ended up hanging off the other side of the hole by my arms. My chest and shoulders took the impact and lower back from the sheer drop from being on my feet to just hanging and i’m in great pain.

I felt foolish, the shop worker as he came up from the basement said, I should have seen the door open which at that point I raised my voice and said how dare he leave this unattended and I could have broken my leg or something, he apologies and closed the basement store door. I was in shock and feeling embarrassed and left shortly after, I didn’t think to take a picture, there was no one who witnessed this and I don’t know if they have cameras.

I there anything that can be done?

You should ensure that a report of your accident is made – in writing. If an accident book wasn’t completed at the time, you could email the shop in question or their head office, to report what happened and list any injury symptoms sustained.

The fact that the hatch was left open without any barrier or warning indicates that you were the victim of negligence and my initial view is that you have a good claim that should be pursued.

My son 7 years was running In a well known home store. While running around the corner he tripped and fell hard, his leg hit a pointed raw metal shelf that is placed on all metal shelves for the stocking machines not to bump into the shelves. My older son 8 year tried to help him up and he fell again on to metal Pointed raw metal .. he had a gash in stomach and a large black blue mark on his leg, he complain of neck pain and had a bruise on his leg where metal hit. I did not see exact incident, but was told by bystanders and kids. Is this worth a claim? Can I advocate for them to remove this pointed metal as they can be dangerous?

The cause of the accident would appear to be your Son running and losing balance/slipping. In this case, it may well be that he would not be able to bring a claim for personal injury compensation as the counter argument/defence would be that he should not have been running within the store. However, there may be an argument to be made that the metal shelving is unsafe and that the injuries sustained would not have been sustained if the shelving was safer.

Do you have photographs of the shelving that caused the injury? If we could see those photographs, it would help us further consider whether a claim can proceed on this occasion.

I fell backwards over some boxes that had been left stacked in the aisle of a store. Am I responsible for half of the accident?

This could be a case where you may have to accept an element of contributory negligence as there may be an argument that you should have seen the boxes and the store needs to replenish stock. However, whilst the store is expected to replenish stock and you as a customer are expected to take appropriate steps to look around you for hazards, this is likely to be a case that you could pursue a claim for.

If you have not already done so, you should make sure that a report of the accident is made within the stores accident book and seek medical attention for the injuries.

If you have taken these steps and wish to pursue a claim, please contact us for further help.

Hi I’m wondering if I have a claim walking out of the local shop and tripped over a lottery sign and was caught up in cctv wires in the way, before I hit the lottery stand I landed on my knee and it’s pretty cut up. I winded my self and bruised my hand, also the force of the fall had pulled the camera off the wall as these wires weren’t fixed to the wall but yet left tied and dangling in the wind !

It would appear that you have a valid claim. Of course, supporting evidence such as photographs of the wires etc, would be extremely helpful. Can you provide any such evidence? Was the accident reported and recorded within the shop?

Not really the person worked just asked if I was ok. And only to replace the chocolate egg which had broke no first aid was offered. I do have a witness who helped me onto my feet! I will be taking photographs of these wires but what do I do if they don’t record it in shop but it should be on cctv of the accident?

I would recommend that you approach the witness to see if they would ‘back you up’ in any claim and you should also write to the shop to formally complain/report the incident and send the letter by special delivery, retaining a copy and proof of postage.

Once you have taken the photographs of the wires, please forward them to us at justice@direct2compensation.co.uk with your name, contact number and a brief description of the accident/injuries. We’ll then call you to discuss further and look to pursue this claim for you.

My son fell on the shop floor because there were objects left on the floor. At the time of the incident I did not report it because my son was in so much pain I rushed to medical care. I however have made a complaint about this but nothing is being sorted because I didn’t report it. I wanted to know would you be able to help me with this?

We would certainly be happy to look further in to this.

I have slipped in Asda today on some spilt shower gel. I have injured my knee and have had to come home and rest, feeling rather sick. I had to go in room and fill in an accident form, a member of staff witnessed my fall.

Well done with making sure that an accident book entry was made. Making a proper report of an accident such as a slip in a shop is very important and protects your interests should you pursue a claim for compensation. Not only does the accident report confirm the date and location of the accident, but it also will confirm the nature of the injuries and details of any persons who witnessed the incident. As such, this would provide strong evidence to support your claim in future.

Please call our team on 01225430285 so that we can further discuss your accident with you. We feel you have a valid claim and one that should be pursued. Whether or not the supermarket in question can mount a robust defence of such a claim is yet to be seen, but as we work on a No Win No Fee basis and you would pay nothing at all should the claim fail, you have nothing to lose by exercising your legal right to make a claim for compensation.

Hi, I slipped in a well known shop in town on advertising cardboard that had fallen on the floor. My back, knee, arm and hand are so painful.

A member of staff recorded it in their accident book. Can I make a claim?

I don’t work because of back problems and I am so angry as I wasn’t treated that well and was told that if it gets more painful then I was to call 111.

You certainly have a right to make a claim for compensation and we would be very happy to investigate your situation further.

Call us on 01225430285 or ask us to call you at a time that suits you.

I was walking out of Gregg’s and I slipped down the slope that was wet coming out of the shop. There wasnt a visible sign. I fell onto my bum but with embarrassment i said i was fine to the worker who came to see if I was okay. I got up and he gave me my order for free. As the day has gone on my coccyx feels tender and bruised. When I got up he then came and put out a slippery wet floor sign. I wasnt offered an incident book also, but with embarrassment and pain at the time I just wanted to hurry and leave! Will this be a claim I can get looked into?

Yes, this is a claim that could be investigated for you. We would recommend that you return to the store in question to have the matter recorded – or contact Greggs main office to report it directly to them. You should also seek medical attention for the injury to your coccyx and lower back as such injuries can become quite serious.

Today in Sainsbury’s I slipped on what looked like squashed carrot on the floor causing me to to fall on to my left side, I have tendinitis in my left shoulder and had a second steroid injection in it just a week ago, the fall seems to have agravated it as the pain as flared up again, i also have pain in my left leg and hip, the accident was recorded in the accident book.

Given the fact that the incident has been recorded in an accident book, you can certainly consider pursuing a claim for compensation. Whilst you appear to have exacerbated a pre-existing condition, you can claim for the worsening of your symptoms. You also have ‘new’ injuries and they can form part of the claim also. You should make sure that you attend your GP to discuss the injuries and once you have done so, please call us on 01225430285 to ensure that you get the help and advice that you need.

I was at a shop on Monday 16/09/19 and when leaving the shop, I tripped over a metal basket holder that had been left in the doorway.

I’ve now got 2 big bruises on my leg and I have hurt my foot. I’ve not yet been to the Doctor. I didn’t tell staff in the shop but went in today and told the manager. Do I have a reason to claim?

You certainly have reason to make a claim for compensation. The basket holder should clearly not have been left in the doorway as a tripping hazard.

At this stage, you should make a GP appointment to have your injuries noted and assessed.

I went for shopping to local Lidl store and unfortunately during making my shopping my leg got stuck and i fall in the floor.
The floor was full of foil and some rubbish. I catch one of the supervisor and i was on completely shock i ask him what is that rubbish and because of this i fall down. He just ignore me and left no apologies, no report for accident, nothing.
I contacted lidl customer service. They apologise and they have everything on CCTV. I want to make claim against then.

We think you have a strong claim for slipping accident compensation against Lidl. Please call us on 01225430285 or if you prefer, call you at a time that suits.

i was shopping in my small local shop/petrol garage and on my way out i tripped over broken tiles on the entrance/Exit door onto the forecourt. i’ve grazed my knees and they’re swollen and very painful, and my arms and wrists are painful from trying to catch myself. i was carrying a few small groceries as well. i reported it to the shop with staff who witnessed it. but there was no accident book available so just wrote my details on paper.

You describe an accident scenario that would appear to give you strong grounds to pursue a claim for compensation. Given the lack of an official accident book, you should follow their recording of your details on paper up with their head office and perhaps email the company to outline what happened and why. Ideally (although possibly not feasible), you should get some photographs of the broken tiles as that would be really good supportive evidence to your claim.

It seems that you have a valid claim and we would like to help you with this.

I was shopping at a department store and purchased several pairs of shoes. The sales clerk handed me the boxes to go stand in line and purchase. My vision was obstructed because of the size of the boxes. In the meantime, there was a toddler playing on the floor and I tripped over him and fell. His mother grabbed him and took him away immediately.
I am now experiencing knee pain and have gashes on my knees. Is the store in any way liable?

It is hard to see how you would succeed with a claim on the basis of your description of the incident. Whilst the staff member provided you with the boxes of shoes you wished to purchase to walk to the payment desk, the store were not the cause of your fall – it was the child who you tripped over and the store would argue (likely successfully) that they were not liable for your trip as they had no responsibility to prevent the toddler from playing on the floor.

I was in Waitrose a week ago and one minute I was walking around next minute I was on the floor. I was helped up by a member of staff my hand came up with a bruise straight away, when I and the staff member looked there was water on floor and no sign. They took my details and said they would ring me but never did, I went to the walk in centre a few days later as in pain with my arm they said it was not broken just badly bruised muscles. I have been in to the shop and a lady who was there said they looked at the cctv and saw what happened they had wheeled out flowers for out side and water and fell on the floor I have since received a letter with £20 gift voucher, is this good enough?

The £20 gift voucher is simply a gesture of goodwill and should not be seen as an offer of compensation and should not be accepted as such.

The incident you describe and the apparent admission of staff as to the cause of the water would lead me to believe you have a valid and strong claim for compensation. We would be very happy to help you pursue your claim and I suggest that you use the ‘start a claim’ page of our website to send us some contact information so that we can call you and discuss your options and explain how we can help you claim a proper compensation settlement.

I was visiting a chemist to buy some cream. After being directed to the area they are in, I turned to walk and tripped over a stall, tearing my toenail off. I’m in a lot of pain and have lost my toenail as a result. Do I have a valid claim?

In your case, whether you can attach negligence to you walking into a stall within the store is questionable. The stall would be a necessary part of the equipment used by the staff to refresh the stocks on the shop floor, and in and of itself is not a hazard that would be seen to be negligence. The argument from the defendant is predictable and would lay the blame for your misfortune on your failure to see the stall in situ.

Yesterday my daughter slipped on a melon skin which was on the floor of a New Look shop in West Wales. The incident was recorded and apparently a photo was taken of the melon skin. This was a serious accident for her because she has an existing condition of arthritis in her knees, and it is exacerbated by trauma such as this. She is now in considerable pain. We are not sure how to proceed. Took place yesterday.

In any incident in which someone is injured in such circumstances, it is important that an accident book entry is made and it is good to see that this has been done. You also have taken photographic evidence of the slipping hazard and this will provide further evidence to support a claim.

When someone has pre-existing injuries or a pre-existing health condition that is impacted by an accident, they are entitled to claim compensation for the exacerbation of any symptoms and also for any new injuries such as bruising or soft tissue damage. In your daughters case, we would be very happy to assist with a claim for compensation.

Hiya, so about 10 mins ago I just fell in Tesco and hurt my wrist and my bum because the floor was so wet and there was no sign AT ALL!!!! I’m pregnant as well so I’m even more concerned and I’m not too sure what I should do now so if you could get back to me and let me know what options I have it would be appreciated, thanks.

After slipping on a wet floor, you should make sure that the details are recorded within the accident book in the Supermarket. If this wasn’t done at the time, you could email, telephone or even return in person to the store and make a report.

You should also get your injuries checked at a GP/Hospital A&E or at a walk-in-clinic and then use the ‘start a claim’ page of our website to submit a claim enquiry request. In an accident where someone has slipped on a wet floor with no hazard sign present, it could well mean that you have a valid claim for compensation.

I slipped on some squashed fruit in a supermarket. All was recorded and logged in an accident book and it was followed up by a solicitor who said that the supermarket we in fact not liable for the accident as the isle was cleaned 59 minutes earlier.

I am still undergoing medical treatment 18 months on from the incident.

Would this be worth following up with a different solicitor?

59 Minutes is a long time from the previous cleaning and is something we feel our Solicitors would fight further on.

I was taking my daughter into McDonald’s as she needed to go to the toilet, as soon as we walk in we both slipped on the very wet floor, I have sustained injuries to my back which I went to a + e for and my daughter immediately came up in a big bruise on her face which she received first aid from staff. There was a sign up but it was far away from the wet floor and we had no chance to see this as the door was closed and my first step inside the door was when we fell. When we came out I saw that on the men’s toilet door they had a sign up saying warning cleaning wet floors however this was not on the women’s toilets so there was no way for us to see this until it was too late and we had already fallen. The manager apologised and said that there is normally a sign on the door and this shouldn’t have happened.

Whilst there was a hazard sign, you are right to identify that it was not situated correctly and was therefore irrelevant in this matter. You should certainly make a claim for compensation with us as we believe you would have a good prospect of succeeding.

I slipped on a piece of dirt/ cake yesterday in a branch of Greggs. On an already filthy slippery floor. Slammed down on my shoulder and arm. Went A and E, no breaks but masses of bruising and soft tissue damage. The dept manager immediately admitted liability. Is it worth pursuing a claim?

It is certainly well worth pursuing a claim for compensation in this matter. At Direct2Compensation, we have an expertise in slipping accident compensation and will be able to advise you fully regarding your rights in this matter should you wish to take this further.

It is good to note that you reported the incident to the duty manager in the store. If they did not take your name etc, it would be worthwhile contacting them to make sure that they have a proper record of your accident.

My toddler ran off from his dad recently in a big department store. He ran to go under the clothes rack. As he did so he tripped and hit his head on the wheel break as it was stuck out instead of being tucked under the rail.

This resulted in a 2 inch laceration to his forehead! As this needed immediate medical attention my partner scooped him up ran out of the shop and took him to the hospital.

I have since been in contact with the store who acknowledged they know about the accident.

Are we able to claim on behalf of our son?

As parents, you can act on behalf of your child as a Litigation Friend. This is where you, as the guardian or parent provide instructions to your child’s Solicitor on their behalf.

Given the circumstances you describe, I feel that a claim is certainly worthy.

Hi, I slipped in my local shop and hurt my lower back and elbow, it was straight as I walked in the door a slip sign was up but not actually on the area I slipped, and as I was getting helped up I noticed one of the members of staff turned the sign to make it more visible after I had fallen, is there any point making a claim if a sign was up even if not on the actual area I slipped?

As we have previously stated, displaying hazard warning sign doesn’t always prevent success in slipping accident compensation claims. Indeed, far more important than the hazard sign is the position of the hazard sign and what actions are taken to remove the slipping risk. In your case, we feel that you should still try to make a claim and this is something that we would like to help you with.

I was coming out of a shop which had a dropped curb, I thought the curb met the concrete and was flat but it was a very small step which I didn’t notice. I went over on my ankle tried to steady myself but I couldn’t and I fell. An ambulance had to be called as I was in too much pain to be lifted up. I broke my humerus at the top of my arm, 5 breaks and 4 fractures, awful lot of pain the bruising to my body was really bad. I am still having physio for my arm, this was done on 12th of Nov 2017. I tried to get in touch with the shop to see if it had been put in accident book but no reply don’t know if I have a claim or not?

We have succeeded in similar cases in the past where hidden steps, albeit small ones, were not marked with any warning sign such as ‘mind the step’ or painted with any ‘hazard’ markers such as yellow edgings.

We think that we should see what we can do in your case too, given the severity of your injury it is definitely worthwhile allowing our specialist Solicitors to investigate your prospects of succeeding with a claim for compensation.

We would need some sort of photographic evidence of the step in question and we would suggest that you discreetly visit the store and take a couple of photographs of the step. Regarding the recording of your accident within an accident book, you could write to the store in question – by email or recorded delivery, outlining what happened to you and why (the unmarked step) and asking them to make sure it is recorded. You are supported by the fact that an Ambulance came to the scene to assist you and in that respect, there will be evidence to demonstrate that you were injured where you claim to have been injured.

We would happily investigate your claim for you.

I went into a newsagent shop to buy some groceries, on the floor there was cardboard box covering the floor, as I walked across that my leg went through the floor. It took a three or four minutes for my leg to come out. My leg was bruised and gashed. The person working there said boss was not there. My leg is paining and I am going to doctors to check out bruise. I took video and photos of shop etc. Do I have a claim on this?

On the basis of your description, my immediate view is that you have a very strong claim for personal injury compensation here. The newsagents have completely failed in their duty of care by leaving a hole in the floor covered only with cardboard. This area should have been completely cordoned off and signs erected to warn of the hole in the floor.

If you would like to pursue this claim further, we would be very happy to link you with one of our expert personal injury compensation solicitors.

I walked into KFC today and slipped over on there wet floor there was no wet floor sign I went to the toilet to cry as I hurt my knee! I ordered my food and told the cashier there wasn’t much response as I was given my food I asked to speak to the manager and told her to put a sign there I started cryin and left KFC I then rang them to report the incident and was offered a free meal have I got ground for a claim?

You can certainly pursue a claim for this accident and injury. You have done the right thing in reporting this to KFC by phone and indicating to the Manager of the premises that they should have a warning sign on display.

I wondered if you could give some advice on whether I have a valid claim. On the 3rd March I went into a local store and on the way out I slipped on a very wet surface, it had been raining quiet heavily night before and morning. A member of staff asked if I was OK, I quickly got up and left to go home as was shaken and extremely embarrassed. Once I returned home the pain in my leg and wrist was getting bad and bruising to both started to come out I went into store asked if accident book can be filled in. No manager available so they took my details and promised manager would call – never happened I showed them where I slipped and they replied yes that slippery I’ll put cones out I went home. 3 days later no contact from store so I sent a complaints letter to head office. Today 21st received a letter back saying that accident report and cctv been sent to health and safety team and that the store has since seen me and gave me a bunch of flowers as gesture of good will.

I think you may well have a viable claim for compensation here. Of course, we would need to find out more specific information (such as where in the store you fell) during a phone conversation to be able to confirm things, but given what you have said about your slipping accident, we are of the view that we think you should be making a claim for compensation.

Last night I had an accident in debenhams they had a palette out on the shop floor and I tripped on a piece of plastic.
I badly hurt my knees and side of my body, I had to take the day off work coz I can’t really walk.
I wasn’t going to claim but I feel I should I badly hurt myself.
Do I have a claim?
I filled in an accident form and a witness saw it.

Kirsty

The incident you describe would suggest to me that you have a very strong prospect of succeeding if you opt to pursue a claim for compensation against Debenhams.

A pallet is something that should not be left unattended on the floor of a large shop as it is likely to be something that shoppers will not notice whilst looking at eye level height displays. Further, pallets are known to have plastic wrap on them that will be almost invisible under the lights of a shop and this is a further hazard. The fact that an accident book entry was completed is great in terms of helping your claim going forwards.

We’ll be delighted to assist you with the pursuit of this No Win No Fee claim.

All the best

Ian

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