Compensation for injuries in supermarket slip

In this supermarket slip case settled by our Personal Injury Solicitors our client was walking down an aisle in Asda when he slipped on some liquid on the floor falling backwards landing on his right elbow and leg, and at the same time banging the back of his head.

Arm injury in supermarket slip

Following the accident in the supermarket, he went to Tameside General Hospital and had an X ray for suspected radial fracture. A radial head fracture is a break in the small, rounded end of the radius bone at the elbow joint, often occurring after a fall on an outstretched hand.  In this case thankfully the arm was not fractured, but the injury did impact his arm and caused severe tennis elbow and had a sling for several weeks.

As a self-employed plasterer this incident had an immediate and obvious impact on his day-to-day life and his job.  He was unable to work and subsequently has ongoing issues with his elbow and cannot fully extend it.  Our client has had to have ongoing physiotherapy to strengthen his arm and elbow.

“My client worked long hours of 50 to 60 hour weeks, but due to ongoing pain he has been severely restricted and can only manage two or three days a week at the moment,” said Michael Talbot, Personal Injury Solicitor, who acted in this case.

Injuries in public places

“In many cases of injury in public places it is the ongoing effects of the fall that further impact clients, not only the initial injury.  Personal injury claims are often settled out of court and will include costs for physiotherapy treatments, loss of income and any other assistance needed by the client,” he added.

In this particular case the man could not help with daily activities around the house, do physical gardening jobs and was unable to drive for long periods following his fall.  He no longer goes to the gym because of the pain and so the incident has had an impact on other areas of his life and the settlement reflects this.

Under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, supermarkets like Asda must ensure their premises are safe. If they fail in their duty of care (e.g., not cleaning up a spillage promptly), you could have a valid claim.  In this case Asda accepted liability and settled out of court with our client receiving compensation of £4,350.

“The defendant failed to ensure that the Claimant was reasonably safe when visiting its premises and failed to clean up the spilt liquid, failed to inspect or enforce any adequate system for the inspection and cleaning of the floor, or give any warning to customers or place a barrier around the wet floor and as such they breached their duty of care,” said Mike.

Pearson Personal Injury Solicitors are specialists in this area of the law.

Accidents and injuries in public places

If you have an accident in a public place that was not your fault and you are injured, you are entitled to make a compensation claim within a three year time period.

What to do if you slip or trip in a public place:

• If you're injured, seek medical attention right away. Your health is the priority, and medical records will be crucial for your claim.
• Inform the store manager or a staff member immediately. They should record the accident in the store’s accident book—this is a vital piece of evidence.
• Take clear pictures of the accident scene, including any hazards (e.g., wet floors, spillages, or obstacles).
• Collect contact details from any witnesses who saw what happened.
• Keep proof that you were in the store (e.g., a receipt or transaction record).
• Write down the date & time of the accident. What caused the injury (e.g., slippery floor, faulty equipment). How the accident occurred and the injuries you sustained.

How can we help?

Our personal injury solicitors regularly act for clients who have had an accident in a supermarket or in the workplace including slips, trips and falls. For expert legal advice or to see if you have a supermarket accident claim contact us on 0161 785 3500 or email enquiries@pearsonlegal.co.uk

Subscribe to our newsletter

Please note that the information and opinions contained in this article are not intended to be comprehensive, nor to provide legal advice. No responsibility for its accuracy or correctness is assumed by Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers Ltd or any of its members or employees. Professional legal advice should be obtained before taking, or refraining from taking, any action as a result of this article.