Supermarket accidents

Supermarket accidents happen often because supermarkets are full of potential hazards such as due to all the different products they sell. They can occur inside the supermarket as a customer, in the supermarket car park and even for staff working in supermarkets.

Supermarket accidents can happen when safety regulations and procedures aren't followed. The Health and Safety Executive outlines legislation, regulations and advice designed to keep supermarket workers and shoppers safe.

If the supermarket hasn't followed these strict rules, then accidents are more likely to happen. Some causes of supermarket injuries are listed below.

Wet floors

Floors in supermarkets can often become wet as the result of, for example:

• floor cleaning
• leaking chilling cabinets and freezers
• shoppers walking water into the store when it's raining or snowing outside
• squashed food on the floor
• split drinks

When you suffer an injury in a supermarket due to wet floor it can result in your trolley tipping up and crushing you. 

Supermarkets have a responsibility to make sure that floors are dried as quickly as possible and that warning signs are put up to reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls. Spillages should be cleaned up as soon as possible and staff should check aisles regularly for any spilt liquids or foods.

Crushing and dangerous machinery

Supermarkets use a lot of different equipment to store and transport stock. A lot of this equipment, such as shelving, racking and forklift trucks needs to be regularly checked to ensure that it's safe to hold stock and products. Trolleys can also tip and crush customers as can warehouse cages if pushed onto you. 

Failing to regularly check shelving can result in accidents because unsafe structures can collapse causing crush injuries to those nearby. Shelving accidents can also occur because shelves were not put up correctly in the first place.

Failing to check forklift trucks and waste balers can lead to equipment malfunctions that can cause serious injury both to the staff of the supermarket and customers.

Trips in a supermarket

Supermarkets must keep aisles clear of trip hazards to reduce the likelihood of accidents. It's easy for items to become dislodged or fall from cages and shelves, but with correct stacking this can be avoided. Items such as boxes, pallets and ‘roll cages' used for restocking shelves should be stacked properly and kept out of the way of customers.

There are a wide range of injuries which can occur as a result of a supermarket accident. These can include:

• broken teeth
• trapped fingers
• bruises
• broken bones
• whiplash
• torn muscles
• fractures
• cuts from broken glass
• crushing injuries
• concussion
• death

If you suffer a supermarket accident, it may be possible to make a compensation claim.We generally advise that if you were injured in a supermarket or shop in the last three years and it wasn't your fault, then we'll be able to help you.

You can find out for sure by contacting us for free at  or by trying our online claims checker, which will give you a good idea of whether you can make a claim based on your answers to some simple questions.

We'll never push you into making a claim. If you do decide you'd like to go ahead, we can put you forward to one of our specialist solicitors who can answer any more questions you may have and will guide you through the next steps.

If you suffer an accident in a supermarket car park because a car park barrier malfunctions; the car park surface is uneven or there is a pothole, you could make a claim. However, you will have to successfully prove that the owner of the car park acted negligently. 

However, if a driver in the car park hits you, you will likely need to make a claim against the driver, rather than the car park owner, for breaching their duty of care as a road user. 

You can claim compensation if injured in a supermarket when working there. This is because, as your employer, the supermarket has a legal duty of care to keep you safe and well at work. This means they must take steps to prevent accidents from happening.

If your supermarket accident was caused by another customer you may still need to make a supermarket accident compensation claim. Even though the other customer caused the accident such as by dropping a product causing a spillage, it is the duty of the supermarket to then clear this up to avoid the accident occurring. 

When you make a supermarket accident claim, you will need evidence to support your claim. The type of evidence which may help progress your compensation claim includes, for example:

• photos of your injury and the accident area
• accident reports
• medical records
• CCTV footage where available, which you are legally entitled to request  from the supermarket
• details of witnesses particularly independent ones
• any record you wrote after the accident about what happened

When you make your compensation claim for a supermarket injury it is understandable to ask yourself how much compensation you can claim. Your compensation can consist of general damages which reflect the injury and pain you suffered, as well as any special damages. 

How much compensation you get will depend on a variety of factors such as:

• how much pain you suffered
• any medical expenses you incur
• travel expenses as a result of the supermarket accident
• loss of income
• any adaptations you need to make in your life to cope with your injuries
• care needed

You can make your supermarket accident compensation claim on a no-win no fee basis. Our no-win no fee policy takes the financial risk out of making a claim. If you don't win your case, you won't need to pay your solicitor - leaving you with one less thing to worry about. We also protect you from upfront costs and hidden legal fees throughout your claim.

If you qualify for a no-win no fee agreement your solicitor will let you know before you start your claim. Together, you'll agree on the amount you'll pay your solicitor if you win your case (typically taken from your compensation).

If you are injured in a supermarket accident, it is advisable to use a supermarket accident solicitor. This is because the supermarket's insurer will deal with your compensation claims and they will want you to clearly demonstrate that it was the supermarket's fault before they pay you any compensation. A personal injury solicitor will know how to show this as they have experience in the field.