Supermarket and Shop Accident Claims Glasgow
Retail employers owe a duty of care not only to the people who work for them but also to the customers who visit their stores. The retail industry varies widely from department stores and giant 24 hour supermarkets to smaller independent retailers. No matter what kind of store you have been injured in, if you were not to blame, you may be able to make a shop accident claim against the company’s insurance.
Supermarket Injury Claims
Shop accidents can happen for many reasons. Store workers may be pressurised to complete their tasks as quickly as possible, and this can result in oversights that endanger the public. When a store assistant is putting the stock on the shelf, they may leave packaging on the floor that a customer could trip and fall over. New merchandising displays placed in an inappropriate place can create a hazard.
Supermarket slips can be caused by damaged packaging causing leaks onto the floor and by water escaping from refrigerators or freezers. On a rainy day, customers’ shoes can carry in water that makes the floor wet and slippy. The store must see to it that such dangerous conditions are cleaned up.
Car park accidents typically occur in winter. Ice on the roads and walkways can cause shoppers to fall and injure themselves when they are returning to their cars. Even vehicles operating round supermarkets can injure pedestrians or other car drivers.
Working in a Shop Accident Types
Routine tasks of a retail environment can put shop workers at risk from harm. The Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992 set out the responsibilities that employers have for assessing and minimising risk to their employees. The most common types of shop accident a worker can endure are:
Heavy Lifting and Manual Handling Injuries
Retailers are expected to provide a safe working environment for their employees. Shop assistants are often required to do heavy manual lifting as part of their routine duties. Merchandising displays have to be built, delivery vans need to be unloaded, heavy stock is put out on shelves and boxes need to be moved around the stockroom. Staff should be provided with training on how to lift heavy items safely so not to injure their backs, arms or shoulders. When staff are expected to lift particularly heavy items they should be provided with lifting equipment. If employers do not take these steps to protect their workers from the dangers of heavy lifting, then they may be liable.
Defective Machinery and Equipment
Staff may be provided with lifting equipment, cleaning materials, and machinery to crush boxes and packaging. This equipment must be suitable for the job, serviced and maintained. Staff should be trained how to use equipment safely. If employers fail to maintain equipment such as meat slicers and packaging crushers, there can be a real risk of a serious accident taking place.
Falls From Heights
Shop workers often have to reach heights to change merchandise posters, retrieve an item from stock room shelves or clean. Sometimes it will be the shop practice to use impromptu equipment such as an overturned basket, a chair or a table. This is unacceptable, and staff must be given the proper equipment to carry out their role. Any ladders provided must be in safe working order. If you were injured in a workplace fall from height, you might be able to make a claim against your employer.
What Should I do if I am Injured in a Supermarket?
Whether it is a shop worker or a customer who is injured, a shop accident should be reported. A detailed account of what happened should be recorded, and a note should be taken of the name and contact details of any witnesses to the accident. Photographs of the incident can also provide crucial evidence to support your claim.
The amount you can claim will depend on the circumstances of the accident and the severity of the injury that you have suffered. If an employee was provided with equipment or training that they chose not to use, then the amount they can claim will be affected. You may find it useful to read about compensation award guidelines for back injuries, neck injuries, head injuries and leg injuries.
Glasgow Shop Accident Personal Injury Claims
Contact us today to discuss your situation and find out how we can help you to get the compensation you deserve. Our expert team can advise you on how much compensation you may be able to receive for your shop accident. We work on a no win, no fee basis* that allows you to make a claim without having to worry about the cost of legal fees. If you have been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, our lawyers can help you claim compensation. Call us on 01418 465 957. You can also make an online enquiry by completing our claim form.