Tesco is one of the largest supermarket retail chains in the UK. So, the chances are that you may have visited one of their thousands of stores at some point, to do some shopping. Perhaps you might even be an employee or know someone who works there.
Whatever the case, customers don’t expect to suffer an injury when picking up some shopping and supermarket employees do not expect to come to harm whilst doing their job.
However, sometimes this can happen. For instance, when someone slips in one of the supermarket aisles or something heavy falls from height and causes an injury to a customer or employee.
If you have suffered an injury whilst shopping or working at Tesco and believe that the store was to blame, there is a chance that you could be eligible for financial compensation.
In this guide you’ll find out:
What type of accidents in Tesco you can claim for? What evidence do you need to collect to start your claim? Can you make a claim as an employee of Tesco? and where to find help to begin your claim?
Who Can Make A Tesco Accident Compensation Claim?
Both customers and staff who work at Tesco can make an accident claim against the store. Providing that the injured person was not to blame for what happened, there is a good chance you can make a claim for compensation.
In the UK, there are laws in place to protect the wellbeing of the public. For instance, the law obliges retailers like Tesco to be responsible for your health and safety of their customers when visiting any of their supermarkets. That means if you have an accident whilst shopping, because a store failed in its ‘duty of care’, you could hold them liable for your injuries and seek compensation.
Similarly, if you work at Tesco, the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 stipulates rules and regulations that protect your safety whilst carrying out your daily duties. With this legislation, employers like Tesco have a legal obligation to:
- Ensure that employees only perform jobs they are qualified for
- Train workers on safe working practices as a way of preventing injuries
- Provide staff with personal protective equipment, where required
- Ensure that staff members are not using defective or unsafe machinery
- Carry out regular risk assessments and address any findings that jeopardise workers’ safety
If you get injured because your employer breached or failed in any of their legal responsibilities listed above, you may have good cause to make a Tesco accident at work claim. However, if your negligent actions contributed to the incident, it means any pay-out awarded will be lower.
Whatever the individual circumstances that led to your Tesco accident claim, you have up to three years to start any civil proceedings. This statutory time-line limit begins from the time you had the incident, or from when you first discovered your injuries were due to the Tesco incident, whilst seeking treatment.
Can I Claim For Accidents That Happen At A Tesco Car Park?
By law, Tesco is not just required to keep the supermarket aisles and storerooms safe. The legal duty of care also extends to car parks that they operate and own within their premises.
Keep in mind, though, that not every car park accident can qualify for a claim. For instance, Tesco cannot be held liable for an accident caused by another careless motorist. In such a case, you would seek compensation by filing a claim against the other driver’s car insurance cover.
However, if you sustained injuries because of a pothole or falling Tesco signboard in the parking area, then the store occupying the premises where your accident occurred would be responsible.
Which Types of Tesco Accidents Can I Seek Compensation For in a Claim?
Supermarkets might not seem like the most treacherous of places. However, carelessness in such an environment can create all manner of perils that lead to accidents. Below is a list of the most common incidents that can happen at retail stores like Tesco, which may qualify for an injury claim.
1) Slips, Trips, And Falls:
These types of accidents are commonplace in a supermarket setting, and shoppers or staff alike can fall victim to them. If you slip and fall in a supermarket, you might suffer a blow to the head, bone fractures, torn ligaments, bruises or cuts. You have every right to make a claim if the accident was preventable and due to the store’s negligence.
Trip accidents at supermarkets can occur in several ways. For instance, it is easy to see how someone may trip over boxes or other objects left haphazardly in the aisles, or at the entrance/exit. The same can happen if you inadvertently trip on an uneven pavement or pothole in the car park.
Hazards such as wet floors from liquid product spills, leaking freezers and chillers, or snow and rain brought in by foot traffic can also cause a slip, trip, or fall accident in a supermarket.
2) Falling Objects:
Storage of items on sale in supermarkets typically require shelves. If not appropriately stacked, heavy objects on top shelving can fall and injure shoppers or employees standing directly below. Such accidents can happen in storerooms or supermarket aisles.
3) Lifting And Manual Handling Injuries:
Staff involved in the unloading of goods from delivery trucks, unpacking and restocking of storerooms run the risk of getting injured when lifting or handling heavy items.
You’ll have a strong claim if you were injured because of not having the proper protective gear. It is also possible to get compensation if there was a lack of training, assistance, or even supervision.
4) Food Poisoning:
You may experience this if the supermarket sold you spoiled or contaminated food.
5) General Accidents From Poor Maintenance/Property Negligence
Shoppers can be bruised, scratched or cut by poorly maintained carts, shelves and other fixtures.
Injuries may also result from defective elevators, escalators or doors or by bumping into misplaced trolleys, rolling cages, or boxes that are blocking pathways.
Keep in mind that this is by no means an exhaustive list of possible incidents that can happen in a Tesco supermarket.
What matters most is who was responsible for the injuries you sustained, rather than the type of accident. To claim for compensation against Tesco, you need to prove that the harm incurred was due to the negligent actions or inactions of the store you visited.
How Do I Proceed After Suffering An Accident At Tesco?
If you have been involved in an accident that happened at Tesco or know someone who was a victim, it is important to be aware of the best way to pursue the matter. The actions you take will have an impact on the final result of your compensation claim and making the right steps will increase your chances of success.
Naturally, you may feel embarrassed to be involved in a supermarket accident and want to shrug it off quickly and go on your way.
However, you should never just leave thinking it was just an unfortunate event. The gathering of evidence to support your injury claim starts at the scene of the accident. Here’s what you can do to help your case.
1) Get Photographic Or Video Evidence Of The Scene.
You can ask the Tesco store to supply you with a copy of the CCTV surveillance of what happened. Alternatively, use your camera phone (or a witnesses phone) to take pictures of what caused the accident, as well as any visible injuries you sustained.
2) Report The Matter And Have It Logged In The Tesco Accident Book.
It is a legal requirement to have a written report of incidents in the case of workplace injuries, so report the matter to the store management to be logged in the accident book. Even if you are a customer and don’t work at Tesco, make sure to create an official record of what transpired.
3) Ask For Contact Details Of Anyone Who Witnessed The Accident.
People who were present when the accident occurred could offer witness statements, to help strengthen your case if it later goes to court. Ask for their contact details and for them to write down what they saw.
4) Get Medical Help And Keep All Records Of Treatment And Expenses, As Proof Of Costs Incurred.
Do not shy away from seeing a doctor, even if you feel OK. The full extent of an injury might not be immediately apparent, due to the effects of shock and adrenaline overload, especially if your injury happens in a public place such as a supermarket.
You are more likely in these circumstances to rush from the store, without necessarily realising what injury or damage had been caused.
5) Contact A Claims Advisor Or Personal Injury Solicitor
A claims advisor or solicitor will be happy to discuss the details of your case and, if valid for compensation, help you file a Tesco accident claim.
What Can I Claim For As Compensation In A Tesco Accident Claim?
Generally, seeking compensation for an accident in Tesco will follow the same rules as any other personal injury claim, which aims to reimburse you for two types of damages:
1) General Damages
General damages assess the level of pain and suffering you incurred from the injury. The amounts considered here will depend on the type of injury you suffered and its severity, along with any negative effects on your quality of life (called loss of amenity).
Legal experts and insurance adjusters will arrive upon a settlement figure for general damages using guidelines set by the Judicial College.
2) Special Damages
These cover any financial losses you may have suffered due to the accident. You can claim for medical fees, prescription costs and travel costs to and from treatment facilities.
If you had to take time off work and lost income because of it, you can be compensated for loss of earnings. In fact, in serious injury cases where a person may be unable to return to their former job, then the loss of ‘future’ earnings may also be taken into account.
Compensation may even cover other out of pocket expenses, such as the cost of seeking counselling services or hiring a personal care provider, or adaptations that may be needed to your home or car.
How Much Can I Expect From My Tesco Accident Compensation Claim?
It is common for most people to ask this question when seeking compensation for a personal injury. However, every accident is different and the outcome of your claim will solely depend on its own merits.
For example, settlements for a mild injury can start from a few thousand pounds upwards, but a really serious injury that causes life-changing issues or disability can lead to compensation pay-outs of hundreds of thousands.
Many factors determine how much compensation will be due to you in a successful claim. So, it is not possible to give a definitive figure without commencing civil proceedings or negotiations with the liable Tesco store. A claims advisor will be able to advise further.
Not Sure How To Start Your Claim?
Making a claim can be a complex process. If you want help starting your claim after suffering an accident in Tesco, feel free to use our online form to arrange a free, no-obligation call with an experienced claims advisor. They will help you get the compensation you deserve. Many firms offer a no win-no fee arrangement, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
