If you have been
injured while
working in a
supermarket,
talk to the
experts.

Are you a supermarket employee who has had an accident at work?

Supermarkets can be busy places and unfortunately accidents do happen. These accidents often happen very suddenly, and can cause painful, long-lasting injuries. Whether the incident took place in the car park, the aisles, the petrol station, café or on anywhere on the premises, the supermarket could be responsible.

What types of accidents might occur in a supermarket?

• Injuries caused due to heavy lifting.
• Mistakes by colleagues that caused an injury to someone else.
• Broken equipment (such as shelving or trollies).
• Slipping accidents when cleaning practices have not been carried out properly.
• Accidents in warehouses (such as fork lift truck collisions or falling stock).
• Falls caused by unsafe working at height.
• Burns due to faulty equipment or unsafe working systems.

What is the claims process and will I need to go to court?

• Your new file handler will assess your claim.
• We will prepare initial paperwork and request insurance details.
• The CNF (Claims Notification Form) is logged and the Defendants have up to four months to respond.
• If liability is admitted you would be examined by an independent medical expert, who will examine you, consider your medical records and document your injuries.
• Treatment will be administered (and payment requested from the Defendants) if appropriate.
• When medical evidence is complete this will allow us to value your claim and agree terms with the Defendants’ insurers.
• Settlement would include recovery of reasonable losses such as loss of earnings or treatment costs.
• If liability is denied, we will assess the disclosed documentation and decide whether you have a better than 50% chance of succeeding with the claim.  If you do, we will prepare medical evidence (as above) and potentially issue proceedings on your behalf.

If you win, any shortfall in our costs is covered by our ‘No Win, No Fee’ agreement (usually limited to 30% of damages).

If you lose, or we do not believe your prospects are higher than 50%, you will not be charged for the work we have done.

What accident reporting process must my employer follow?

For a company with more than ten employees, any accidents should be recorded in their accident book. In addition to any internal investigation – if an accident at work involves death, a serious injury or industrial disease, an employer must report the accident to the relevant enforcement authority. These can include the Health and Safety Executive or Local Authorities.

Will I have to go to Court?

The vast majority of claims settle before proceedings are issued and, of those that do need to proceed through the Court process, most do not need a Trial to be resolved.

Can shoppers make a claim as well as employees?

Any worker or customer can make a claim for an injury on supermarket property if it wasn’t their fault. When you are a lawful visitor to a premises, the business has a legal duty to keep you as safe as they can.