How To Claim Compensation If Injured In A Discount Store
Discount store accident claims guide
By Brett Williams. Last updated 4th August 2021. Across the UK, there are several different brands of discount stores that offer a range of products at a reduced rate. As these stores are increasingly popular, they can become particular busy at various periods throughout the day. When a public environment becomes busy with other shoppers, the likelihood of hazards occurring becomes more prominent. An accident could happen in a variety of different scenarios, many of which will be discussed throughout this guide about discount store accident claims.
If you have been injured in a discount store as a result of third-party negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. At Accident Claims, we have up to thirty years’ experience in conducting no win no fee personal injury claims and we can help you pursue a store accident claim.
When you are ready to begin your claim, call our expert advisors on 0800 073 8801. They will provide you free legal advice under a no obligation consultation about your unique case, including the finer details of what happened to you, such as what shop the accident took place in and whether you are claiming as a customer, supplier or worker in the store.
For more information regarding an accident in a discount store, please continue reading this guide.
Select A Section
- A Guide To Claims For Discount Store Accidents
- What Is An Accident Claim Against A Discount Store?
- Retail Industry Health And Safety Standards
- What Accidents Could Happen In A Discount Store?
- Claim If Injured By A Falling Object In A Discount Store
- Claim If Injured In A Trip Of Fall In A Discount Store
- Claims For Retail Industry Workplace Accidents
- Claims For Accidents And Injuries In A Warehouse Or Storage Area
- Claim For A Manual Handling Accident At Work
- Discount Store Accident Personal Injury Calculator – Updated August 2021
- Special Damages Which May Be Awarded If Injured In A Discount Store
- What Steps Should I Take If Injured In A Discount Store Accident?
- No Win No Fee Claims Against A Discount Store
- How Our Accident Claims Specialist Could Help You
- Start Your Claim Against A Discount Store
- Essential References
A Guide To Claims For Discount Store Accidents
When you hear the term ‘discount store’ there are a number of different popular brands which may spring to mind, such as:
- Poundland
- Home Bargains
- The Range
- Value House Shops
- Trago Mills
- Trade Counters
- Max 99p
- Savers Health & Beauty
- Poundstretcher
- B&M Bargains
- Shop Direct Group
- The Factory Shops
- Boyes
- In-Excess UK
- QD Stores
- Quality Save
- Tiger
If you have experienced a store accident and were injured as a result, such as a slip, trip or fall, you could be entitled to a settlement amount. It must be highlighted that the accident could have been prevented had the right safety measures been implemented in the first place.
This guide will seek to answer some of the most common questions asked by clients, such as:
- “What to do if you slip and fall in a store?”
- “What happens when you are injured in a store?”
- “Can you sue a grocery store for injury?”
- “What to do if you are injured in a store?”
- “What to do if I fall in a store?”
- “What’s the average payout for a slip and fall?”
What’s more, we will also look at what you could typically expert from discount store injury settlements to help better your understanding to the discount store accident claims process. This will include explanations no win no fee agreements, personal injury claims time limits, examples of discount store accidents and estimations of how much you could be entitled to using a personal injury claims calculator.
There are a number of different cases which could be considered eligible for compensation, many of which will be described later in this guide, such as manual handling injuries as an employee in a discount store or even discount store slip and fall cases. If you require further information at any point during this guide, please do not hesitate to contact our expert advisors by calling the number at the top of this page.
What Is An Accident Claim Against A Discount Store?
Simply put, a discount store accident claim is a lawsuit for a type of incident that occurs through third-party negligence and injures the individual(s) involved as a result. These types of accidents can be suffered as both shoppers and employees of a discount store. In such cases, it is possible for the victim to make a claim for compensation providing it is conducted within the relevant personal injury claims time limit of three years. However, there are some exceptions to this time limit depending on the diagnosis of specific injuries.
As a shopper, you could find yourself involved in a slip, trip or fall accident caused by items left negligently in the aisles. Whereas as an employee, you may strain your back while lifting a heavy item with the wrong technique because your employer failed to train you correctly. In both circumstances, it is possible to make a claim.
Retail Industry Health And Safety Standards
According to a the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the retail industry is a major employer in the UK, employing around 3 million people across the country. In order to manage risks in store, there are several risk assessment tools which can be implemented to spot small low-risk hazards quickly and easily, before they develop.
However, if a hazard is ignored and it continues to develop, it is likely that an accident may occur as a result. Every discount store will owe its customers a duty of care while they are on the premises. If this duty of care is breached in any way, shape or form and the customer suffers an injury due to this breach, a personal injury claim could be made.
A ‘breach’ could be construed as something ever-so simple, such a lack of wet floor signs provided on the shop floor while cleaning, which resulted in a shopper slipping over and suffering an injury.
What Accidents Could Happen In A Discount Store?
There are a handful of accidents which are common to the retail industry as a whole. In the following sections, we will look at these types of accidents in greater detail, including all the relevant information needed in order to begin your compensation claim with a personal injury lawyer. If you are unsure whether your own experience fits in these criteria, call our experts today. They will discuss your circumstances under a free, no obligation consultation.
Claim If Injured By A Falling Object In A Discount Store
In discount stores, there are several formations of storage systems which could easily malfunction if they are not consistently risk assessed, including racking, shelves and clothes rails. If items placed on these storage systems are not stored correctly, both customers and staff could be harmed in the process. Something as simple as an overloaded storage space could result in injuries ranging in severity, from lacerations to head injuries.
Furthermore, a more critical incidents that could occur on a shop floor includes a shop sign falling on a customer because it is not secured correctly, nor was it risk assessed at the time of being built.
Claim If Injured In A Trip Of Fall In A Discount Store
According to the Health and Safety Executive, a slip, trip or fall incident is one of the major causes of injuries in the workplace across the UK. With this in mind, it is possible for such incidents to occur at almost any given moment. Where there is failure to keep a floor space free of spills, obstructions or wet surfaces are without correct sign-postings, an accident is likely to occur.
In order to prevent such mishaps, there are certain prevention methods that can be implemented by businesses, such as:
- Regular spot cleaning
- Wet floor signs
- Housekeeping
- Removing obstacles from walkways
- Clearing debris/general waste
- Ensuring rugs/carpets are flat
- Sign-postings for uneven surfaces/steps
These are but a few prevention methods which could minimise risks within any space for both employees and shoppers alike. In addition to this, risk assessments of the space in question could spot early warning signs before they have time to develop. However, if you do find yourself suffering, you could make a claim for a slip and fall accidents settlement amount. Call us today for more information.
Claims For Retail Industry Workplace Accidents
To give you a better understanding of accidents in a retail store, this section will now look at some of the most common questions asked by previous claimants:
How long do I have to claim if my injury develops over a long period of time? With developing injuries, it is possible for symptoms and issues to appear later down the line or suddenly appear without any notice or warning. According to the HSE, an estimated 1.4 million workers who were suffering from an illness believed this was worsened by their working environment. In such instances, the person in question will have three years from the date of diagnosis. This is because it could be difficult to accurately pinpoint when the symptoms began.
How do I know whether my claim is valid or not? To have valid grounds for a compensation claim, you must first prove that another party was at fault (i.e. your employer) for the harm caused. An estimated 581,000 workers sustained a non-fatal injury at work in 2018/19, though this may vary across different industries. In such cases where the injury was the result of negligence, these workers would be entitled to claim compensation. Further from this, it is vital that you are seen by a doctor to ensure that there is a record of these injuries.
Should I tell my employer I’m going to make a claim against them? Any accident which occurs in a working environment must be recorded in an accident book. Therefore, you employer should be aware of what has happened to you in order to log the event in said accident book. Under RIDDOR guidelines, every employer is legally required to keep an accident book on site at all times.
If I make a claim against my employer, will I get fired? It is against the law for your employer to fire you or treat you unfairly for conducting a personal injury claim against them for an accident in a store.
If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact our advisors today. Their lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Claims For Accidents And Injuries In A Warehouse Or Storage Area
It is important for workplace environments to implement the appropriate safety systems to ensure the space in question is in working order at all times. Failure to implement such structure could lead to an accident. As such, the HSE has released several different guidance notices which include relevant legislation to aid effective workspaces, such as this guidance note on pallet safety.
An accident of this nature could result from a lack of basic training when operating machinery or lifting heavy objects. As a result, a repetitive strain injury (RSI) could develop after a task is repeated in the same manner, with tissue damage and nerve entrapment just some consequences of such an injury.
Claim For A Manual Handling Accident At Work
In laborious roles, manual handling at work is a main core aspect of the job. For any employee, there is basic training that is required to ensure that heavy items are moved correctly with minimal risk of injury. In addition to this, employers must provide the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the right tasks to ensure that their employees are kept safe. If this equipment is defective or neglected entirely, then the employee made to suffer as a result could make a settlement claim with a lawyer for a plethora of injuries, such as a back injury.
Discount Store Accident Personal Injury Calculator – Updated August 2021
To provide you with a better understanding of how much you could be entitled to from a discount store accident claim, the table below outlines compensation amounts in accordance with the relevant injury. Please note that these settlement amounts will vary from injury to injury, depending on the severity and future prognosis.
Each amount will be assessed on an individual basis to provide a more centralised estimation of the compensation awarded. This is why we recommend all of our clients to discuss their circumstances with an advisor in order to gain a more specific estimation rather than using an online personal injury claims calculator.
| Type Of Injury | Severity | Compensation | Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoulder Injury | Severe | £18,020 to £45,070 | Often this type of injury will be associated with neck injuries/damage to the brachial plexus which results in significant disability. |
| Leg Injury | Severe | £90,320 to £127,530 | Some injuries in this bracket may not require amputation, though they are so severe that courts will award a settlement equivalent to amputation injury settlement amounts. In the most serious of injuries, amputation is necessary due to extensive degloving and/or disfigurement occurs. |
| Neck Injury | Moderate | £12,900 to £23,460 | These cases involve soft tissue or an injury of wrenching-type, which results in serious limitation of overall movement. |
| Achilles Tendon Injury | Moderate | £11,820 to £19,770 | The tendon is partially ruptured or significantly injured. In such cases, the exact amount is based on the pain, functionality, disability and overall recovery time of the injury in question. |
| Foot Injuries | Modest (Minor) | Up to £12,900 | The likes of simple metatarsal fractures, ruptured ligaments and puncture wounds are included within this bracket. |
| Hand, Finger And Thumb Injuries | Minor | Up to £4,461 | A fracture which generally recovers within a six-month period. |
The information listed above is based on guidelines provided by the Judicial College. If you cannot place your injury on the amounts in this table, call us today and our advisors will help provide you with an estimation.
Special Damages Which May Be Awarded If Injured In A Discount Store
The settlement amount you receive from a successful claim will include a number of different damages. These are sorted into two categories, referred to as ‘general damages’ and ‘special damages’. The following include:
General Damages: Anything that cannot be quantified, such as your physical and/or psychological injuries. These damages are generally calculated on the information sourced from your medical assessment. It is virtually impossible to put a monetary value on your health and well-being, but the amount awarded could ease other factors of your life, such as income loss and private medical bills.
Special Damages: Unlike general damages, this compensation type refers to the areas of a personal injury claim which can be quantified. These are areas of your life which may have suffered because of your injury/illness, including additional costs which have resulted from this harm. This includes, but is not limited to, areas such as medical costs, travel costs and income loss.
What Steps Should I Take If Injured In A Discount Store Accident?
In order to provide sufficient evidence that can support your claim, you should consider some basic steps following an accident in a store.
Firstly, it is vital that your injuries are seen to by a healthcare professional. The medical attention you receive will help your personal injury solicitor build a stronger case on your behalf, as medical evidence plays an important role in such claims. If you did not see a doctor following your injuries, there may still be time to discuss your symptoms with a GP, providing they are ongoing.
Secondly, you should report the accident to the relevant body who oversees your place of work (as an employer) or the manager in charge (as a shopper). This will enable your supervisor/manager/employer to log the event in an accident book – which is legally required to be on premises at all times. This will provide sufficient evidence to your claim.
Finally, you may also benefit from collecting contact details of anyone who witnessed the event. Once passed on to your lawyer, they will be able to gain witness statements which, again, will be used to support your claim.
Please note that this list is not exhaustive and there are steps you should take in order to help build a strong case.
No Win No Fee Claims Against A Discount Store
When you come to conduct your store accident claim, it will operate under a no win no fee agreement. As your personal injury solicitor will discuss with you, this type of agreement simply allows the client to begin a claim without having to consider upfront fees or hidden costs.
Also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), your legal expert will operate on the basis that their fees will be settled only if the case is successful. This will be deducted as a ‘success fee’ which, legally, is capped at 25% of the final settlement amount. However, if you find that your claim is unsuccessful, you will not be held accountable for your solicitor’s fees. This type of agreement is seen to reduce the financial risk of pursuing a personal injury claim while also allowing the claimant to worry less about hidden fees throughout the discount store accident claims process.
How Our Accident Claims Specialist Could Help You
While there may be a number of legal options local to your area, we feel that this is no longer necessary. With the aid of modern technology, many cases can be handled over the phone or by email. This means that you are no longer limited to solicitors in your local area.
As such, our team of legal experts can handle cases up and down the country even though we are based elsewhere. Here at Accident Claims UK, we can provide our services nationwide to help you receive compensation for your suffering.
Start Your Claim Against A Discount Store
Contact us today to begin your claim for compensation. If you were injured in a discount store and think you have sufficient grounds for a claim, or you are still unsure about the validity of your circumstances, our advisors discuss those matters into greater length. We offer free legal advice under a no obligation consultation to help answer any questions you may have and discuss the claims process into further detail with you.
You can contact us by:
- Calling today on 0800 073 8801
- Emailing us at office@accident claims.co.uk
- Filling out a call back form at the top of this page
Discount store accident claims FAQs
As we are nearly at the end of this article about discount store accident claims, we’ve decided to provide answers to some relevant questions.
Can you sue if you’re injured in a store?
If a retailer or business operator is negligent in some way and causes an accident, you could begin legal action against them. You could claim for any injuries you have sustained as well as any costs you incur because of them.
What should I do if I am injured in a supermarket or a shop?
You should report the accident so that it is recorded by the shop. Also, you should get details of any witnesses who saw the accident happen and ask for a copy of any CCTV footage. Importantly, you should get treatment for your injuries at A&E. This will mean medical records exist that show the extent of your injuries.
How much can you get for falling in a shop?
The amount of compensation paid for shop accidents is determined by the injuries you sustain rather than the type of accident. Therefore, injuries like strains, sprains and bruises caused by a fall in a shop could be paid between a few hundred and several thousand pounds. Claimants who have sustained serious or life-changing injuries could therefore be paid a lot more.
How long do have to register discount store accident claims?
In the UK, the personal injury claims time limit is 3-years. This will generally begin on the date of your accident. Bear in mind, though, that claims involving children don’t have a time limit so the claim can be made at any point before their 18th birthday.
Essential References
Head Injury Claims
Our guide to compensation claims for head injury victims.
Ankle Injury Claims
How much could you claim for an ankle injury of any severity?
Legal Rights After A Workplace Accident
Where does an employee stand legally after a workplace injury?
Health And Safety At Work
A guide by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to criminal and civil law for health and safety regulations.
Back Pain Advice
A leaflet produced by the NHS for those suffering from back pain.
Non-Fatal Injuries At Work
Information and statistics associated with the number of non-fatal injuries that occur in the workplace in Great Britain.
Thanks for visiting today and reading about discount store accident claims.
Article by Hollie
Editor Jay