No one goes to Sainsburys expecting to come back with an injury. But, surprisingly, accidents regularly occur in supermarkets, with the most common being falls, slips, and trips.
If you have recently had an accident in Sainsburys, or in the last 3 years, and it was through no fault of yours, then you could be owed compensation.
In this guide you’ll find out:
What accidents you can claim for, how to start your claim, if you can claim if you are an employee of Sainsburys and how to get free advice to start your claim.
What Are The Common Causes Of Accidents In Sainsburys?
When it comes to making a compensation claim, the accident you had must be as a direct result of a lack of care by Sainsburys.
With this in mind, most injuries that happen in Sainsburys and lead to claims are usually caused by the following:
- Faulty lifts, doors, and escalators
- Falling objects from high up
- Defective products
- Uneven or broken surfaces, both inside and outside the store
- Defective or damaged fixtures and shelves that lead to cuts
- Misplaced items blocking people’s path, or causing trip hazards
- Spillages or wet floors
- Food poisoning, from improperly stored or temperature controlled food
What Should I Do If I Have An Accident in Sainsburys?
When making a claim, it is important to make sure you have a collection of key evidence to help back up your assertions. To ensure you collate the right kind of information you should:
Write Down The Details Of The Incident
You may think that you would never forget how the incident happened. But, as research has shown, you cannot completely trust or rely on human memory to recall important details, as it tends to fade over time. Therefore, it is really important that you pen down exactly what happened as soon as you can.
What day did it happen? What were you wearing? In what part of Sainsburys did the accident happen? Who saw the accident happen? Knowing the answers to these questions can give you an idea of what to write.
In the same vein, be as comprehensive and detailed as you can. Write down everything you remember, no matter how trivial it may seem. You never know, tiny details could later become an important part of your claim, even though at the time they might seem inconsequential.
Visit Your GP
You will need to visit your doctor to get an assessment and treatment for any injuries you suffered in the accident.
It is important to undertake this step for two key reasons:
- First of all, you need to get treated by a medical professional, so the injuries do not worsen over time.
- Secondly, the details of your assessment and treatment will be recorded in your personal medical report. It is this report that will be one of the key determinants of your final compensation amount.
Log The Accident
Sainsburys will have an ‘Accident Report Book’ in which you can make an entry about the accident.
This entry should include details of the accident and the injuries you sustained.
At this stage, there is no reason to apportion blame to anybody. When you have completed the accident book entry, get your own copy of the report to use as evidence.
Take Visual Evidence
Your visual evidence will be in the form of pictures of the scene of the incident. It is also helpful to take photographs of your injuries.
If possible, you might want to find out how long Sainsburys keeps a record of their CCTV and ask for a copy of the footage of the accident. This could highly increase your chances of winning your case, as the CCTV will show exactly what happened.
Get Contact Details
An important item in a compensation claim is the full contact details of the party responsible for the accident.
All supermarkets, including Sainsburys, owe a duty of care to their customers. So, if they have breached this duty and acted in a negligent manner which causes injury and harm to a visitor, customer or employee, they may be liable.
In this case, since the accident happened in Sainsburys, then you need to get the contact information of the store, as well as their Head Office.
You will also need to get the contact details of anyone who saw how the accident happened. Eyewitness statements are a substantial piece of evidence in cases like this.
Collate Your Injury-Related Expenses
Whilst treating your injury, there are most likely a number of out-of-pocket expenses that you will have to pay.
These expenses could include such costs as transportation to and from the GP/hospital appointments, private consultation fees, or buying medications. You can get refunded for these expenses when your compensation claim is being calculated. But that will depend on if you have proof of these expenses.
So, you will need to keep receipts and invoices that document all injury-related expenses as evidence. It is also possible to be reimbursed for lost wages caused by any time off work needed to recover from your injuries. Again, keep a note of any financial losses incurred.
Contact A Claims Solicitor
Now that you have done your part, it is time to turn over the case to a solicitor experienced in such matters.
Your solicitor will go through all the information you have collated and assess your chances of winning your claim. If it looks like you have a strong case, your solicitor will formally file your claim, with your consent of course.
How Much Compensation Will I Receive?
Each compensation claim is unique and is largely determined by the severity of the injury and its long-term implications.
Thus, it makes it impossible to give an exact compensation amount in this article. However, compensation settlements for personal injury claims can be anywhere from a few hundred pounds to hundreds of thousands of pounds.
A claims advisor will be able to give you an example of compensation pay-outs they have secured for previous clients with similar claims as yours.
Of course, the amount awarded for loss of earnings, and in serious injury cases potential future loss of earnings, depends entirely on the client’s individual job and salary.
I Had A Car Accident In The Sainsbury’s Car Park – Can I Make A Claim?
If you had a car accident at Sainsbury’s car park due to no fault of yours, you may also be able to file a claim.
However, you will have to determine who is responsible for your accident.
If another car collided with yours in the car park, then your claim will not be against Sainsburys, it will be against the driver of the other vehicle.
But, if your accident was caused due to untreated potholes or hazardous uneven surfaces in the car park, then you may be eligible to file a claim against Sainsburys.
I Am A Sainsburys Employee – Can I File A Claim Against My Employer For An Accident At Work?
As a Sainsburys employee, the law allows you to file a claim against your employer if you have an accident at work that was not our fault.
All employers have a duty of care towards their employees and must adhere to strict health and safety rules to keep them from harm. They are tasked with the following:
- Conducting appropriate and regular risk assessments
- Providing adequate training to employees on how to use store equipment and machinery
- Ensuring employees are kitted out with quality protective gear
- Guaranteeing that machinery and equipment in the workplace are safe to use
However, if you have an accident in the workplace and can prove that your employer neglected to keep up with the above responsibilities, then you may be entitled to make a claim.
Will Sainsburys Dismiss Me From Work If I File A Claim Against Them As An Employee?
There is no reason to fear repercussions if you file a compensation claim against your employer. There are provisions in the law to protect employees from such acts.
And, if Sainsburys ignores the law and does dismiss you as a result of bringing a claim against them, you can make an unfair dismissal claim too.
All employers in the UK are mandated by law to have insurance before they can operate. It is from this insurance that you will be paid your compensation, if you have a successful claim, and not from your employer’s pocket.
Where To Find Help Starting Your Claim
It can be embarrassing to have an incident in such a busy and public place like Sainsburys.
Apart from the mental trauma, the pain and suffering caused by any sustained injury could have a debilitating effect on your finances and quality of life.
So, if you’d like to start your claim, but are unsure where to start, use our claims form to schedule a free, no-obligation call with a claims advisor now.
