If you are considering making a claim for shopping accidents you must ensure that you although there may be some potential difficulties if you have not already carried out the standard procedures that it is recommended you followed after an accident in a shop.
First, you must be able to prove that the management or worker of the shop where your accident occurred failed in their legal “duty of care” to provide their customers with a safe and clean shopping environment. You should also remember that any perceived delay in pursuing legal action may allow the shop’s legal representatives to question why you did not begin proceedings sooner. If you consult with a personal injury solicitor, the chances of you being successful in your shopping accident compensation claim would be much greater.
Secondly, you should have sought professional medical attention immediately following your accident occurring. First aid was administered on site is insufficient as, unless you have been treated by a qualified medical practitioner at the earliest opportunity, the negligent party’s insurers may be able to argue against your claim on the basis of contributory negligence.
Thirdly, if you have not done so previously, make sure and have your injury recorded in the shop’s Accident Report Book. This will give you further evidence to support your shop accident compensation claim. It will add weight to your claim and it may be seen that other similar accidents had been recorded at the same shop, therefore further proving the store’s negligence.
As mentioned previously, the shop has a duty of care towards the public that comes into it. However, that duty of care is not “absolute”, meaning that if staff did not have a reasonable chance to ensure your safety in a “reasonable” amount of time, the shop could not be held responsible for causing your shopping accident.
You should get in contact with personal injury solicitor in relation to your shopping accident injury compensation claim, and they will be able to assist you in gathering evidence on your behalf, along with reaching out to witnesses to obtain the video recorded on CCTV. Additionally, if the shop where the accident occurred admits liability and you are approached with an unsolicited offer of compensation by their insurance company your personal injury solicitor could advise you if their offer is worth accepting or not.