By Jo Anderson. Last Updated 26th October 2023. Welcome to this case study covering personal injury claims payouts for a slip in a supermarket. Below, you’ll find details of how much compensation for a fall one person received and how fall claims solicitors help with such claims.
We also discuss the question of ‘What’s the average payout for a slip and fall in the UK?’ We examine how someone could claim for a fall accident in a supermarket, and what could affect the slip and fall compensation amounts they could receive.
We also answer slip, trip and fall claims questions about how much compensation for a fall in the UK you could receive, as well as ‘How long do I have to claim slip and fall compensation amounts?’ Mainly though, we explain how a supermarket floor slip led to compensation for one claimant.
If you have any questions or need help starting your claim, please get in touch with one of the advisors from our team. To speak to an advisor:
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Select A Section
- Case Study – Supermarket Slip And Fall
- Slip And Fall Claims – Who Is Eligible For A Fall Claim?
- How Long Do I Have To Claim Slip And Fall Compensation Amounts?
- How Is Compensation For A Fall In A Supermarket Calculated?
- Do I Need Evidence To Make A Trip And Fall Claim?
- No Win No Fee Supermarket Injury Claims
- Useful Links Relating to Personal Injury Claims For A Slip In A Supermarket
Case Study – Supermarket Slip And Fall
In this case study, we are going to look at the case of Mrs A, a woman in her 40s who suffered a slip in a supermarket. The slip, trip and fall injury happened because the supermarket had been negligent causing Mrs A to slip on a wet floor. So what happened? Mrs A was shopping at a popular chain of supermarket in Preston, near her home. It was winter and the weather was particularly bad. It was raining heavily outside and very windy. Unfortunately, the supermarket had large automatic doors which opened when shoppers entered or left the store.
The wind was blowing rain in through the doors into the store. Rain, mud and damp fallen leaves were also being walked in by shoppers on their shoes, as there wasn’t a mat in place for people to wipe their feet. As Mrs A left the supermarket she slipped on the wet floor. This slip, trip and fall accident resulted in Mrs A suffering a fractured wrist as she instinctively put out her hand to protect herself.
What Injuries Did The Claimant Sustain In Their Accident In A Supermarket?
After her accident in a supermarket Mrs A went to hospital, where she was diagnosed with and treated for a fractured wrist. The effects of a broken wrist or fractured wrist are the same, and as we use our wrists in many daily tasks, from working, to cooking, to driving and our personal care, the results of such an injury can be quite debilitating. It is also a very painful injury. A broken or fractured wrist can take between six to eight weeks to heal and in some cases the victim may experience ongoing effects such as ongoing pain or loss of mobility which may take more time to heal. As you can imagine Mrs A’s injuries would have not only been painful, but would have had an overall negative effect on her quality of life.
If you believe you or someone you know has a broken or fractured wrist, you should look for these symptoms. Symptoms of a broken or fractured wrist can include: bruising and swelling, tenderness, a snapping noise or grinding noise when the injury took place and a tingling and numbness. The wrist may also now be an odd shape. If you are displaying any of these symptoms, seek appropriate medical treatment immediately.
Slip And Fall Claims – Who Is Eligible For A Fall Claim?
You could make a slip, trip, or fall claim if you have been injured due to a third party breaching their duty of care. When in a supermarket, you are owed a duty of care both as a customer and as an employee.
- As a customer – Per the Occupier’s Liability Act 1957 (OLA), the party in control of a public space, such as a supermarket, must take all the necessary steps to ensure your reasonable safety when using that space for its intended purposes. An ‘occupier’ could perform regular trip and slip hazard assessments to reduce the risks of accidents.
- As an employer – Your employer owes you a duty of care, as stated in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA). Per this duty of care, they must take all the reasonable steps to ensure your safety while in the workplace.
If either your employer or an ‘occupier’ were to breach their duty of care, causing you to become injured in an accident, you could make a claim. Later in this guide, we will provide some examples of the evidence you could present to prove liability and help support your claim.
Contact our advisors today if you have any questions about slip and fall claims. Our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and could offer you free legal advice regarding your potential claim.
How Long Do I Have To Claim Slip And Fall Compensation Amounts?
The Limitation Act 1980, states that you will have three years to start a personal injury claim from the date of the accident. This time limit also applies to slip and fall claims.
However, there are certain exceptions to this time limit. For instance, if a child is injured in a slip and fall, then the time limit is paused until their 18th birthday. Before that day arrives, a claim could be made on the child’s behalf by a court-appointed litigation friend, which might be a family relative or guardian of the child. If a claim has not been made by the child’s 18th birthday, they will have three years to start a claim from that date.
For injured parties that lack the mental capacity to start their own claim, the three-year time limit is suspended indefinitely. A litigation friend could make a claim on the injured party’s behalf when this circumstance applies. However, if an injured party later regains sufficient mental capacity and a litigation friend hasn’t started a claim for them, then the time limit will start from the date of recovery.
For more information on slip and fall compensation amounts or to see if you have enough time to start a personal injury claim, you can contact our advisors today.
How Is Compensation For A Fall In A Supermarket Calculated?
If your personal injury claim is successful, your compensation for a fall in a supermarket could consist of two heads of loss. These are general and special damages.
General damages compensate for the physical pain and mental suffering you have endured due to your injury. Legal professionals could refer to the compensation brackets found in the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) as guidance when valuing personal injury claims. This document lists guideline figures for different types of injuries. We have included some of the amounts listed in the 16th edition of this document in the table below.
Please only refer to this table as a guide.
| Injury site | Notes | Guideline Bracket |
|---|---|---|
| Neck Injuries - Severe (i) | A neck injury that results in permanent spastic quadriparesis or one that is associated with incomplete paraplegia. | In the region of £148,330 |
| Back Injuries - Severe (i) | Severe damage to the nerve roots and spinal cord that lead to serious consequences and severe pain. | £91,090 to £160,980 |
| Leg Injuries - Severe (iii) Serious | Serious comminuted or compound fractures, or joint/ligament damage that will result in instability. | £39,200 to £54,830 |
| Arm Injuries - Less Severe (c) | The person will have suffered with significant disabilities, they will have made a substantial recvoery. | £19,200 to £39,170 |
| Skeletal Injuries - (b) | Multiple facial bone fractures that result in some form of facial deformity. | £14,900 to £23,950 |
| Knee Injuries - Moderate (i) | A dislocation or torn cartilage/meniscus that results in weakness, wasting and instability in the knee. | £14,840 to £26,190 |
| Ankle Injuries - Moderate (c) | Fractures or ligamentous tears that make it difficult to walk on uneven ground or for a long time. | £13,740 to £26,590 |
| Elbow Injuries - Moderate or Minor (c) | Injuries such as tennis elbow syndrome, lacerations and simple fractures. The recovery time will affect how much is awarded. | Up to £12,590 |
| Hand Injuries - Fracture of Index Finger (j) | The fracture may have mended quickly but the hand's grip will have remained impaired. | £9,110 to £12,240 |
| Achilles Tendon - Minor (d) | A turning of the ankle that causes damage to the tendon. | £7,270 to £12,590 |
If you have any questions about slip and fall compensation amounts, get in touch with one of the advisors from our team. They can also value your claim for free.
Slip And Fall Claims – Examples Of Special Damages
Some slip and fall compensation amounts also include special damages. This is the head of claim that offers compensation for the way your injuries affect your finances. For example, if you were to suffer a fractured hip as a result of a slip and fall, claims for special damages might include a loss of earnings if you had to take time off work to recovery. Special damages could also cover:
- Home care costs
- Medical bills
- Prescriptions costs
- Travel expenses
- Domestic help
However, to claim under this heading, you may need to provide evidence of your losses. Because of this, you might find it beneficial to collect any bills, invoices, or other proof of expenses related to your injuries.
For more information on special damages and how to claim for a slip and fall, contact our team of advisors today.
Do I Need Evidence To Make A Trip And Fall Claim?
There are various actions you could take after a slip and fall in a supermarket that could help you in the long run when claiming compensation. Some of these include:
- Seeking medical attention – It is essential that you obtain medical advice and treatment for your injuries if needed. This will not only ensure that you get the help you need to make a good recovery but your medical records can be used as evidence in your claim.
- Gathering evidence – If you can gather photographs of the scene of the accident, an accident report, CCTV footage or details of witnesses who saw the accident, this could all help to support your claim.
- Getting legal advice – We recommend seeking legal advice before you start a slip and fall compensation claim. This way, you can make sure you are within your rights to claim, and can ask any questions you might have about the process. One of our solicitors may be able to help with this, and you can contact our team to learn more.
Our advisors are on hand to check your eligibility to claim for free. They can also answer any questions you might have about the average payout for a slip and fall in the UK, and how to make a No Win No Fee claim. Get in touch today to learn more.
No Win No Fee Supermarket Injury Claims
Now we have explained how much compensation for a fall in a supermarket could be appropriate, let us move on to whether you could use a solicitor to help you make your claim.
One of our solicitors may offer to take on your personal injury compensation claim under a No Win No Fee arrangement. This means you would not typically have to pay them upfront for their work. Instead, under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), you would pay them a legally capped success fee out of your compensation payout.
If your slip and fall compensation claim was unsuccessful, and there was no payout, you would not typically have to pay the solicitor for their work.
To learn more about No Win No Fee supermarket accident claims, or to check your eligibility to work with one of our solicitors, please contact an advisor.
- Telephone: 0800 073 8801
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Useful Links Relating to Personal Injury Claims For A Slip In A Supermarket
These guides contain information on how to claim after a slip, trip, or fall in a supermarket. Or for claims against other retailer, or other locations.
A guide to how much compensation you can claim for a injury from falling
How much compensation can you claim for a slip, trip, or fall injury? Find out in this compensation claims guide which covers the claims process, and what special damages you could claim for.
A guide to wet floor injury claims; How much compensation can I claim?
How much compensation can people claim for injuries caused by slipping or tripping on a wet floor? Find out in this guide.
