Can I Make An Accident In A Shop Claim?
You can make an accident in a shop claim if you are able to prove that your injury was caused by the negligent actions of a third party. Shop accidents can cause serious injuries and significant fallout for the individual who has been hurt, which is why it is vital that you know your rights when making public liability claims.
What You Need To Know
- Injuries that a person can suffer in a shop accident can range from a broken finger to brain damage.
- Many different accidents can happen in a shop, including falls from height, crushing incidents, and slips, trips, and falls.
- According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 2,250 self-reported non-fatal workplace injuries occurred in the wholesale and retail trade industry in 2024/25.
- Shop accidents can be prevented by conducting regular risk assessments, maintaining clean shopping environments and providing thorough staff training.
- Our panel of solicitors can offer their legal services under a No Win No Fee arrangement so that you can claim without delay.
Here at UK Law, our advisors can assist you on numerous fronts, including assessing the eligibility of your shop injury claim and providing a compensation estimate during a free consultation. There’s no obligation to proceed with our services when you get through to an advisor; however, if this is something you are interested in and you have an eligible claim, you can be put through to a solicitor from our panel straightaway.
Contact Us
- Call us on 020 3870 4868
- Claim online
- Text us using our live chat feature, where you will be able to speak to a dedicated advisor.
Jump To A Section
- Can I Make An Accident In A Shop Claim?
- What Accidents Might Occur In A Shop?
- How Much Accident In A Shop Compensation Can I Get?
- Is There A Time Limit To Claiming For A Shop Accident?
- What Will I Need To Prove Fault For My Shop Injury?
- How Can UK Law Help Me Make An Accident In A Shop Claim?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Learn More
Can I Make An Accident In A Shop Claim?
You can make an accident in a shop claim if you can prove that your injury was caused by the negligent actions of someone else.
Simply put, your accident in a shop claim must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- You were owed a duty of care
- This duty of care was breached
- This breach resulted in you suffering an injury in a shop
We go into more detail below relating to how the duty of care can look different depending on the setting in which the accident occurred, and when a claim can be made. A duty of care is a legal obligation that places responsibility for a person’s reasonable safety onto a liable party.
Accidents As A Customer
Accidents as a customer involve the occupier’s duty of care. Specifically, when you are in a public place, the occupier (the person or company with a sufficient level of control of the space) legally owes you a duty of care. This is carried out by taking steps to ensure your reasonable safety, as per the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. As a result, if the occupier fails to do this and you suffer an injury, they may have breached their duty of care towards you, resulting in you having an eligible accident in a shop claim.
Accidents As A Member Of Staff
Accidents as a member of staff involve the employer’s duty of care. Your employer has a legal obligation to provide you with a duty of care by taking reasonable steps to ensure your safety while you are working, as outlined in the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. This means that if your employer fails to uphold their duty of care and you get hurt, they may have breached their duty of care towards you, resulting in a valid accident at work claim.
Speak to an advisor to discuss legislation in relation to supermarket accident compensation claims in greater detail.
What Accidents Might Occur In A Shop?
Accidents that might occur in a shop can include those related to shelving and stock and slips on wet floors or produce. Here are a few examples of when you could have a valid accident in a shop claim:
- An employee has stacked tins in a supermarket in a precarious position, causing produce to fall from a height onto an elderly customer’s head. They suffer a deep laceration on the crown of their head and a severe (Grade 3) concussion.
- Customers are tracking in rainwater from outside, making the bookshop floor very slippery. Despite knowing about the hazard, the shop fails to mop up the water or post a wet floor sign, resulting in a customer slipping, breaking their wrist, and dislocating their thumb.
- An employer has provided an employee with a faulty ladder to stack shelves. The ladder breaks while in use, causing the employee to fall and suffer a lumbar vertebral fracture.
If you have a specific shop accident you’d like to discuss, connect with an advisor today.
How Much Accident In A Shop Compensation Can I Get?
How much accident in a shop compensation you can get depends on what injuries were suffered, their severity and whether financial losses were also experienced.
When calculating compensation, solicitors often use the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) as a framework. This is because the JCG is a published document that contains a wide range of injury types, their severities, and suggested compensation brackets. Specifically, your solicitor will determine what you are entitled to in general damages. This is a head of loss which compensates claimants for the pain and suffering they have endured, including both the physical and psychological effects of the injury.
We have carefully sourced several entries from the JCG and put them in a table for you. Please note that the first entry is of our own design and not selected from the JCG. Lastly, the remaining entries are not guaranteed, so please use our table as guidance only.
| INJURY | SEVERITY | COMPENSATION GUIDELINE |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries with Special Damages | Severe | Up to £1,000,000+ where the claimant is also awarded special damages which includes things like loss of wages, care costs and private medical treatment. |
| Brain & Head | Very Severe - Full-Time Nursing Required | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Brain & Head | Moderately Severe - Very Seriously Disabled | £267,340 to £344,150 |
| Leg | Severe (iii) Serious - Serious Compound/Comminuted Fractures | £47,840 to £66,920 |
| Arm | Less Severe Injury - Significant Disabilities | £23,430 to £47,810 |
| Back | Moderate (i) - Crush Fracture to Lumbar Vertebrae | £33,880 to £47,320 |
| Elbow | Less Severe Injuries - Impairment of Function | £19,100 to £39,070 |
| Wrist | c) - Some Permanent Disability | £15,370 to £29,900 |
| Foot | Modest - Simple Metatarsal Fractures | Up to £16,770 |
| Thumb | Moderate Injuries to the Thumb | £11,800 to £15,370 |
Special Damages In An Accident In a Shop Claim
Special damages in an accident in a shop claim cover any financial losses you may have incurred as a direct result of your injury, including private medical treatment, lost wages and miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses.
Special damages can also cover the following financial losses:
- Medical expenses such as prescription fees
- Travel costs
- Car and home adaptations
- Loss of future income
If you believe you have incurred financial losses because of your injury, you may be eligible to apply for special damages. Your solicitor will ask you to provide evidence of your financial losses in the form of invoices, payslips and receipts (or any other documentation that proves what you spent to accommodate your injuries).
We can help you claim compensation. Connect with one of our dedicated advisors today to find out how much compensation you could be eligible for.
Is There A Time Limit To Claiming For A Shop Accident?
Yes, there is a time limit to claiming for a shop accident, and it’s 3 years from the date of the incident to start your claim, as per the Limitation Act 1980.
Most personal injury compensation claims have to adhere to the above time limit, however, there are exceptions to this for minors and those lacking mental capacity, and you can find out more about this by reading our other guide on time limits to claim after an accident.
Are you unsure whether your accident in a shop claim falls within the legal time limit? We can assess your eligibility during a free consultation. Call and advisor today.
What Will I Need To Prove Fault For My Shop Injury?
To prove fault for your shop injury, you will need as much evidence as possible to back up your claim, including things like your medical records, CCTV footage and photographs of any visible injuries.
Some more examples of strong pieces of evidence are:
- Photographs or video footage of the accident scene
- Contact details from any witnesses (Your solicitor can use these details to write up witness statements later on in the claims process)
- A filed record of the accident, such as a photocopy of the documented incident from the shop’s accident logbook
- Personal diary entries detailing your symptoms and treatment
Our panel of solicitors can collect evidence for you as part of their support services. Contact us today to find out more.
How Can UK Law Help Me Make An Accident In A Shop Claim?
UK Law can help you make an accident in a shop claim by providing legal services on a No Win No Fee basis through a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This means that:
- You pay nothing up front for your solicitors’ fees
- You pay no solicitors’ fees while your accident in a shop claim is in progress
- You pay no solicitors’ fees if your shop accident compensation claim fails
- If your accident in a shop claim wins, you will pay a small success fee, and it will be taken directly from your compensation. This will be as a legally limited percentage, as outlined in the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013.
Our panel of solicitors will offer their expertise within an impressive range of support services. Services can include:
- Ensuring time limits are correctly adhered to, including monitoring the defendant’s response times.
- Translating any and all legal jargon so you can understand what is happening with your shop accident claim.
- Calculating your compensation so that it accurately reflects all types of suffering and losses.
- Assisting you in applying for interim payments.
- Aiding your recovery by securing you any rehabilitation support that you require.
Our panel are experts at what they do and have fought on behalf of clients across the entire UK. To find out how our panel can help you with compensation claims, get in touch using the contact details below:
Contact Our Team Of Advisors
- Call us on 020 3870 4868
- Claim online
- Text us using our live chat
Frequently Asked Questions
Please find the answers to our most frequently asked questions below:
What Should I Do After Being Injured In A Shop Accident?
After being injured in a shop accident, you should seek immediate medical attention, report the accident, gather as much evidence as you can and secure legal representation to begin the claims process.
Can I Still Claim If I Was Partially Responsible For The Accident?
Yes, you can still claim if you were partially responsible for the accident; however, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
What If The Shop Denies Liability For My Injuries?
If the shop denies liability for your injuries, your solicitor will gather as much evidence as possible to challenge the denial. If the defendant still refuses to accept liability, the claim may end up in court.
Can Accident In Shop Claims Cover Psychological Injuries?
Yes, accident in shop claims cover both the effects of physical and psychological injuries.
Should I Accept A Compensation Figure From The Shop Without Seeking Legal Advice?
No, you should not accept a compensation figure from the shop without seeking legal advice. We recommend accepting a compensation figure vetted by a legal professional to ensure all damages and losses are accounted for.
Learn More
To learn more about personal injury claims, read our other guides:
- Read our guide on gym accident claims.
- Have a read of our guide on public transport accident claims.
- Take a look at our guide on supermarket accident claims.
Broaden your research and knowledge by reading these external resources:
- Request CCTV footage of yourself from GOV.UK.
- Check your eligibility to receive Statutory Sick Pay.
- Learn about giving first aid from this NHS resource.
Thank you for taking the time to read our guide on making an accident in a shop claim.
