Supermarket Wet Floor Slip Claim: Compensation For Customer Injury Whilst Shopping

In this Q&A / FAQ article – we answer a real life accident victim question from a customer who was injured in a slip accident on a wet tiled floor whilst shopping in a supermarket.

After our answer – we provide answers to FAQ’s relating to supermarket slip accidents.

QUESTION – Supermarket Wet Floor Slip Accident Victim

I went out shopping with my husband at a local supermarket. We paid at the counter and were approaching the exit when my feet went from under me and I landed heavily full on my left hip.

The area of floor that I slipped on was tiled and was wet. There were no wet floor warning signs about the danger. My husband assisted me, called a member of staff from the store – who in turn called an ambulance.

Whilst we were waiting for an ambulance – wet floor signs were put out by supermarket workers. An entry was made in the supermarket’s accident book.

We were told a customer had spilt some yoghurt on the floor earlier and the area had been mopped by staff, but signs had not been put out.

My hip was in great pain. The supermarket staff called an ambulance. I was taken to hospital where x-rays were taken revealing multiple pelvic fractures requiring a total hip replacement.

I was in hospital for several weeks and I have been unable to work since the accident.

Can I make a claim for my wet floor slip accident and if so – how much compensation can I claim for pelvic injuries requiring a total hip replacement?

ANSWER – Supermarket And Shop Injury Solicitor Response

From the description you have given we believe you have good prospects of succeeding with a claim for your supermarket slip accident.

Supermarket owes a duty of care

The supermarket owes you a duty of care to keep you safe whilst shopping on the premises. This duty extends to all lawful visitors. Hence, all shoppers are all owed a duty as are workers from other businesses (who may attend or be present on the supermarket premises). For example – consider delivery drivers carrying stock to the supermarket.

Other businesses, such as key cutters, who need to use the supermarket walkway are also owed a duty of care.

Mopped wet floor tiles are a slipping hazard

The supermarket will know that leaving a mopped tiled floor unprotected with neither a warning sign nor a barrier would present a real slipping hazard to customers.

The reasonable person would have known of a danger

Imagine the supermarket tries to argue that they didn’t appreciate there was a danger. Evidently this is wrong and the law would presume the reasonable person would have known of the slipping danger from a wet tiled floor. Hence, the supermarket would not be able to escape liability.

Warning cones put out following your wet floor slip accident

The actions of the supermarket staff following your accident will support your claim. They immediately realised the danger to other shoppers and consequently put out appropriate warning cones.

Supermarket accident book entry

We note that an accident book entry was made immediately following your accident. This is a valuable piece of evidence, which your solicitor can access as part of your claim.

Prove that the supermarket slip accident happened in the manner you describe

To succeed with your claim – you must prove that the accident happened in the way that you assert.

Therefore – the accident book entry is a vital piece of evidence that your solicitor can obtain that will show that your accident occurred in the way you described.

A responsible supermarket would also typically access any CCTV evidence to verify the accident circumstances and take witness evidence.

Ambulance called to supermarket premises

You describe that an ambulance was called to the supermarket and you were taken to hospital.

Therefore – your medical notes will reflect that your supermarket slip accident caused your hip injuries.

Calculating compensation for injury in a supermarket slip accident

Hip injuries are very common in slip type accidents. We note in your specific supermarket slip accident that you not only suffered multiple pelvic fractures, but you also required a total hip replacement.

See our detailed hip injury compensation article for up-to-date average compensation payouts for all manner of hip injuries.

However, at the time of writing the compensation payout you can expect for a total hip replacement ranges between £16,500 – £64,200.

A successful hip replacement with no ongoing symptoms – would attract compensation at the lower end of the range.

Whereas, a partially successful total hip replacement requiring revisional surgery – would attract a compensation payout towards the higher end of the range.

FAQ – Supermarket Wet Floor Slip Accidents

In this section we typical questions you will no doubt have about making a claim against a supermarket.

SUMMARY

In summary – in this article you have learnt that is often possible that you can claim against a supermarket for a slip accident on a recently mopped wet floor.

The supermarket owes a duty of care to keep shoppers safe whilst on the supermarket premises. Spillages can occur – that may need to be cleaned or mopped.

However, it is imperative that the supermarket protects its customers by sectioning off the area and/or using appropriate warning safety cones, etc

FREE Legal Help

We uniquely provide both free telephone and online legal help to accident victims.

You can not only speak direct to our solicitors, but also have your supermarket wet floor slip accident claim assessed and your questions answered by phone or online.