Last updated 23/09/2025. Are you wondering how to sue a supermarket following an injury? If so, this guide on the personal injury claims process should provide you with the information you need.
We aim to explain how you may sustain an injury while at a supermarket and when a claim for compensation could be justified. Additionally, we will share how much compensation you could potentially receive for your injuries and how these claims are valued.
However, we understand that you may want to talk to someone about the specific circumstances of your case. If so, our friendly team of advisors are available 24/7 to answer your questions. They can also offer you free legal advice and may be able to connect you with a lawyer from our panel. Read this guide to find out how to sue for an injury in a public place.
To talk to us today:
- Call on 0800 408 7827.
- Contact us online.
- Speak with an advisor using our live chat feature.
Choose A Section
- How To Sue A Supermarket For Personal Injury
- What Are The Common Injuries You Can Suffer In A Supermarket?
- How To Sue A Supermarket For Slips Or Trips
- How Much Compensation Could I Get In A Claim Against A Supermarket?
- Could I Start A No Win No Fee Agreement Straight Away?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Learn More About How To Sue A Supermarket
How To Sue A Supermarket For Personal Injury
To understand how to sue a supermarket, you will first need to understand duties of care. A duty of care is a legal obligation to meet a certain standard of care. Lots of people and organisations have duties of care, including parents, teachers, doctors, road users, and many more. We will discuss the specific duty of care supermarkets have in the next section.
A breach is when a person or organisation with a duty of care falls below standards that are reasonably expected of them.
If you were injured in an accident in a supermarket due to a breach of duty of care, you may be eligible to make a claim for negligence. This is the basis of many supermarket accident claims.
In order to make a valid claim, there are certain criteria you must prove:
- A third-party had a duty of care over you.
- They breached this duty of care, causing a preventable incident.
- You were harmed as a direct result of this incident.
If you can show these three conditions, you can make a claim for negligence, at which point the third-party will have to show that they did all they reasonably could to keep you safe.
The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 states that anyone in control of a public place must ensure they are doing all they reasonably can to keep members of the public safe whilst they are using that space for the purpose intended. This is the duty of care owed while you are in a supermarket as a member of the public.
The legislation uses the term “occupier” to describe a person in control of a public space, although they do not actually need to occupy the premises. An occupier could prevent accidents by performing regular risk assessments and ensuring that the space they are in control of is free of hazards, for example.
Contact us today for more information on how this works. You can also keep reading for more information and examples.
What Are The Common Injuries You Can Suffer In A Supermarket?
We’ve provided a list of the common injuries you can suffer in supermarket accident claims:
- Head: Shelves that contain canned goods that are precariously balanced can fall from a height, causing a cut or deep laceration to a customer’s head.
- Knee: A trailing cable or wire connected to a vacuum or other cleaning appliance left along the floor can cause a customer to trip and dislocate their knee on impact.
- Wrist: If a heavy freezer lid is faulty, it can close abruptly and slam down on a customer and break their wrist while they are reaching for the frozen produce.
If you have had an accident in a supermarket and suffered one of the above injuries, you may have an eligible claim. Call us today to find out how to sue a supermarket.
How To Sue A Supermarket For Slips And Trips
One kind of accident that could occur in a supermarket is a slip or trip accident. Some examples of how you could suffer a slip or trip accident include:
- A spillage or mopped floor that is not signposted by a “wet floor” sign. You slip and suffer a broken ankle.
- You trip over on packaging from stock left on the shop floor. This causes you to suffer a broken foot.
As we have stated previously, you must prove that the supermarket breached their duty of care to you and, as a result of this, you were injured in an avoidable accident. If the person in control of the space did all that they could to ensure your safety, but you were injured despite this, you’d be unable to claim.
Call us today for more information on how to sue a supermarket for a slip or trip.
How Much Compensation Could I Get In A Claim Against A Supermarket?
If you decide to pursue a personal injury claim against a supermarket, your compensation settlement could be made up of special and general damages.
Special damages aim to compensate you for the financial losses accrued as a result of your injuries. This can include lost wages and paying for care while you recover, for example. You must provide sufficient evidence in order to claim special damages, such as invoices or bank statements.
General damages compensate you for how your injuries have affected your physical and mental well-being and how they have impacted your quality of life. Just like with special damages, you will need to provide sufficient evidence of your injuries, such as a copy of your medical reports. You may also be asked to attend an independent medical assessment.
Taking this into consideration, we have created the following compensation table with figures taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The reason we have used the JCG is because legal professionals use this document to assist them when valuing claims for general damages. Please remember that how much you could receive in compensation will depend on your specific circumstances, so only use this table as a guide. Notably, the first row in this table has not been sourced from the JCG.
| Injury | Severity | Guideline Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Injuries plus Special Damages | Severe | Up to £500,000 or more |
| Arm | Severe Injuries | £117,360 to £159,770 |
| Injuries Resulting in Permanent and Substantial Disablement | £47,810 to £73,050 | |
| Pelvis and Hip | Severe (i) | £95,680 to £159,770 |
| Moderate (i) | £32,450 to £47.810 | |
| Foot | Very Severe | £102,470 to £133,810 |
| Severe | £51,220 to £85,460 | |
| Ankle | Very Severe | £61,090 to £85,070 |
| Severe | £38,210 to £61,090 | |
| Wrist | Complete Loss of Function (a) | £58,710 to £73,050 |
Call us today for further guidance on how to sue a supermarket for your injuries.
Could I Start A No Win No Fee Agreement Straight Away?
If you are worried about the costs of funding legal representation when making a personal injury claim, then a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) might be beneficial to you. A CFA is a type of No Win No Fee Agreement, and it allows you access to the representation of a solicitor without the upfront fees this can entail.
With this kind of agreement in place, you will generally only be required to pay your solicitor for their services if they win your claim. This will be a success fee taken from your compensation that is legally capped. If your claim is not a success, you usually won’t need to pay your lawyer for the work that they have done.
Contact our advisors today if you would like more information on how our panel of personal injury solicitors could help you make a claim. They can provide you with further information on how to sue a supermarket.
Speak To Us About How To Sue A Supermarket
If you are still unsure about how to sue a supermarket for your injuries, you can speak with us today. Our team of advisors are on-hand 24/7 to offer your free advice and answer any questions regarding your claim.
To talk to us today:
- Call on 0800 408 7827.
- Contact us online.
- Respond to the live chat feature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few FAQs regarding how to sue a supermarket.
Can I Still Claim If My Accident Wasn’t Captured On CCTV?
Yes, you can still claim if your accident wasn’t captured on CCTV. Notably, you can strengthen your claim by collecting contact details from witnesses.
Will My Claim End Up In Court?
Not necessarily, in fact, most supermarket accident claims are settled outside of court and do not require a judge’s intervention.
Learn More About How To Sue A Supermarket
We’ve included links below to more of our guides that you may find helpful:
- Our guide on how to sue a hospital.
- Advice on how to sue a restaurant.
- Can I sue if I hurt myself at the airport?
- How To Sue A Hairdresser
If you would like further resources, why not look at the links below?
- Guidance from the UK Government on Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).
- All about sprains and strains from the NHS.
Contact us today for more information on how to sue a supermarket.