Can I claim compensation for breaking wrist falling in a supermarket on a wet floor, even though outside it was raining?
Eoin P. Campbell, LL.B., Solicitor
Editor in Chief
It is possible to claim compensation for breaking wrist falling in a supermarket provided that the supermarket in question can be proven to have failed in their legal “duty of care” to provide their customers with an environment that was safe to shop, thus establishing their responsibility for your injury. It must be stressed, however, that their duty of care is not “absolute”, which means that if the hazard which led to your fall could not possibly have been identified and removed within a “reasonable” time period – if the water had dripped from another customers umbrella mere seconds before you fell, for instance – the supermarket could not be held at fault.
After you receive medical treatment for your injury from a medical practitioner – to ensure that your medical history is updated – you would be recommended to contact a solicitor experienced in dealing with claims for broken wrist in supermarket fall who can assess your claim, determine its viability and guide you through the process of proving the supermarket’s negligence.
If you have not already done so, your injury should be documented in the supermarket’s Accident Report Book, where it could be discovered that previous accidents that occurred because of supermarket negligence, which could be used to support your breaking wrist in supermarket fall compensation claim. Your solicitor can help with gathering the details of any employees who came to your aid after the accident, and can access any relevant images recorded by the supermarket’s CCTV, which can possibly establish the length of time the hazard was present and the effort taken by supermarket staff to remove it.
There is the possibility that the supermarket’s insurance company may directly approach you with an early offer of compensation for breaking wrist falling in a supermarket, effectively admitting their client’s liability. In such an instance, this offer should be referred to a solicitor who will be able to indicate whether it is a reasonable amount which sufficiently represents how much breaking wrist in supermarket fall compensation you justifiably qualify for. Whereas compensation settlements should incorporate a number of different elements, the supermarket’s insurance company may not take each one into account.
If an injury has affected the victim’s quality of life – if they cannot perform everyday tasks without pain, for example, or partake in leisure or social activities that they previously enjoyed – those pursuing claims for broken wrist in supermarket fall should be compensated for their “loss of amenity”. It is also possible to be recompensed for any financial expenses you have incurred, from medical costs to loss of earnings, if you are unable to work.
You would be well advised to speak with an experienced solicitor about your compensation for breaking wrist falling in a supermarket to have your case thoroughly investigated and professionally prepared in order to maximise the probability of success and of recovering compensation for your injury in the swiftest manner possible.