Last Updated 10th March 2026. If you’ve been injured in a public place like a store, you may be able to pursue shop accident claims for compensation.
These cases arise when a retailer fails to uphold its duty of care to customers, leading to preventable accidents such as slips, trips, falls, or injuries from unsafe equipment or displays.
To succeed, you must prove that the shop owed you a duty of care, that this duty was breached, and that the breach directly caused your injuries and any financial losses. Below, we explain more about how to sue for compensation in more detail.
We also explain how our experienced solicitors can help you pursue a shop accident claim. We offer a free case check on every claim, so if you’d like to get free advice on your situation, reach out to us today by clicking below.
4.8 (466 reviews) Can You Sue a Shop in the UK?
In accordance with the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, those responsible for a public space must take steps to keep members of the public using the space for its intended purpose reasonably safe. As a customer, this includes you. The shop takes on the role of the occupier in the context of this legislation, and fulfilling their responsibilities means they’re upholding their duty of care.
With that in mind, let’s move into the personal injury claim eligibility criteria:
- Duty of care – Did the shop owe you a duty of care when you were injured? As a customer, you are instantly owed a duty of care
- Breach of duty – Did the shop breach its duty by failing to take steps to avoid you being injured? For example, they may be aware of a wet floor but make no effort to clean it up or display wet floor signs.
- Injury sustained – The breach of a shop’s duty of care needs to have caused you injury in order for you to make a personal injury claim.
What Accidents Could Happen In A Shop?
This section includes some examples of accidents that could cause you injury in a shop. Some are relevant to both customers and workers, whilst some are more specific to one field.
- Slips, trips, and falls – Wet floors could cause you to lose your balance, as can inadequate lighting on the stairs. Incidents could cause broken bones, amongst other injuries.
- Manual handling accidents – Employees must be shown by their employees how to safely carry out these tasks. Inadequate training at work can lead to back injuries.
- Being struck by an object – Stock may not be properly stored on high shelves. If it were to fall on you, it could cause head injuries or possibly brain damage. For example, some stores such as B&Q have lots of heavy items on high shelves. If not stacked properly, they could fall and hurt you.
- Vehicle accidents – A forklift driver could lose control of the vehicle and run over your foot due to them not being properly trained on how to use it.
If you want to find out more about how to sue a shop and if you have a valid claim, get in touch with us today.
What Evidence Do You Need to Sue a Shop?
Gathering evidence to support your claim is a big part of the personal injury claims process. If you’ve sustained an injury in a shop, then in order to have an eligible personal injury claim, the onus will be on you to prove it was caused by the shop breaching their duty of care. If an accident in a shop is entirely your own fault, you cannot make a personal injury claim.
The accident in which you sustained the injury will need to have happened because the shop failed in its duty to keep you reasonably safe while on its premises. You not only have to prove why you think the shop is at fault for the injury you sustained in the accident, but also how you suffered. To do this, you could gather the following evidence:
- CCTV footage – If you appear in CCTV footage, you have the legal right to request a copy of it.
- Witness contact details – If others saw how you were injured, make sure you have a way to reach them. That way, you can pass on their contact details to your solicitor, who can approach them for a statement when required and appropriate.
- Photographs – As well as the hazards that caused your injury, take pictures of any visible signs of the injury you’ve sustained.
- Medical evidence – Your medical records should contain details of your injury, including how severe the damage was.
The list above is not exhaustive. There are other examples of evidence that may be available to you in your circumstances. Get in touch with our advisors today to find out how to sue a shop with the help of one of our No Win No Fee solicitors, who can also help you with the process of gathering evidence.
4.8 (466 reviews) Workplace Accident Claims
The personal injury claim criteria are similar to those stated above if you are an employee of the shop rather than a customer. However, the relevant duty of care in these scenarios is included in the Health and Safety and Work etc. Act 1974.
Because this would be a workplace accident claim rather than being referred to as an accident in a public place, the shop is known as your employer rather than the occupier. However, both instances fall under the umbrella of personal injury law.
Are There Time Limits To Sue A Shop For Compensation?
You generally have 3 years from the date you were injured to begin the process of making a personal injury claim. This time limit begins from the accident date. This is all stated in the Limitation Act 1980.
The Act also includes exceptions to the time limit for child injury claims and claims for those who do not possess the capacity to claim for themselves. Reach out to our advisors today for more information.
If your personal injury claim meets all of the criteria above, as well as falling within the limitation period, then it could be valid.
How Much Compensation Can You Claim From a Shop?
The value of a personal injury compensation claim depends on various factors. Your claim is valued specifically, and so the figure that’s arrived at will be unique. For your pain and suffering, there is a head of claim called general damages. Those responsible for making the necessary calculations often do so with the assistance of the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The JCG contains guidance amounts pertaining to general damages.
We’ve provided some extracts from the JCG in the table below, which you can use as a rough guide. However, bear in mind that your own claim will differ in value.
The table’s top entry, which takes into account a head of claim called special damages, does not appear in the JCG.
| Injury | Severity | Bracket Amounts |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple serious injuries and special damages. | Very severe | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Paralysis | (a) Quadriplegia | £396,140 to £493,000 |
| (b) Paraplegia | £267,340 to £346,890 | |
| Brain damage | (a) Very severe | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Neck | (a) Severe | In the region of £181,020 |
| Arm | (a) Severe | £117,360 to £159,770 |
| (c) Less severe | £23,430 to £47,810 | |
| Eye | Total loss | £66,920 to £80,210 |
| Shoulder | (a) Severe | £23,430 to £58,610 |
Special Damages
Some claimants can also be eligible to receive special damages. This additional head of claim can reimburse you for financial costs and losses caused by your injuries.
Examples can include:
- Medical expenses – Prescription medication such as painkillers, for example.
- Loss earnings – Your income may have been disrupted if you’re left unable to work on a temporary or permanent basis.
- Walking aids – Your injury may have caused you mobility problems.
- Travel costs – You may need to travel using public transport and taxis to reach medical appointments.
- Damage to personal property – The accident that caused your injury may have damaged or destroyed personal items such as a phone or laptop.
Get in touch with our advisors for more examples of special damages, how compensation is calculated, and to have us give you a bespoke estimate of how much you could be owed.
4.8 (466 reviews) Step-by-Step: How To Sue a Shop
Below, we’ve provided streamlined guidance which can help you take the right steps if you’re giving thought to how to sue a shop:
Report the Accident
You can report a shop accident immediately to the store manager or supervisor on shift at the time. Additionally, as it is a public space, there should be an accident report book which can be filled out with details of the accident, the time and how your accident occurred.
This report of the accident itself can be used as evidence in your claim.
Seek Medical Attention
After your accident, you should seek urgent medical attention. This means that a medical professional can examine the extent of your injuries through tests, scans or even X-rays.
Sometimes injuries might initially seem minor, but making sure to be checked over by a doctor or nurse means that you can receive the treatment needed to support your recovery after an accident in a shop. Additionally, this creates an official record of the treatment which can also be used as vital evidence in your shop accident claim.
Gather Evidence
Once you have sought medical help, you can begin to gather documentary evidence. In a shop accident claim, this could include:
- Photographs of any visible injuries, the hazard in the shop or the accident scene itself
- A copy of the shop’s accident report book
- CCTV footage of your accident
- Copies of your medical records
- Financial evidence such as payslips, bank statements or receipts to show financial losses caused by your accident
Contact a Solicitor
Once you have gathered some documents as evidence, you should then get in touch with a specialist personal injury solicitor. This can be invaluable, as a solicitor will have specialised knowledge and expertise to handle your claim.
Some benefits of instructing a solicitor include:
- Estimates of how much accident in a shop compensation you could receive in a successful claim
- Handle all legal complexities and communications on your behalf
- Ensure that your claim is started within the time limits
Liability Investigation
During this stage of your claim, your solicitor will discuss the particulars of your case with the defendant and their insurer or solicitors. Additionally, investigators here will gather medical evidence to paint a picture of the extent of harm caused by your shop accident; and liability can be discussed and debated during this stage.
Settlement Or Court Proceedings
If the defendant accepts liability, the insurer of the shop or supermarket will explore settlement amounts with your solicitor. Here, your solicitor will fight on your behalf to achieve a fair settlement that reflects the full extent of harm you suffered following your accident.
If the defendant disputes liability, your claim may be litigated. Here, your solicitor again will advocate on your behalf to achieve an outcome that is suitable.
If you’ve got any questions about the process of how to sue a shop, please get in touch with our advisors today.
Suing A Shop On A No Win No Fee Basis
If you’re struggling to understand how to sue a shop for negligence, you may find making a claim with the help of one of our No Win No Fee solicitors to be very helpful.
When working with our solicitors, there is nothing to pay them upfront, this is because they work with a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) in place, which is a form of No Win No Fee arrangement. If your claim is successful, your solicitor will take a fee from your compensation in the form of a legally capped percentage. This is not taken if your claim fails, which is why it’s referred to as a success fee.
Contact Us
Getting in touch with us is free of charge, and we will answer your questions and give you guidance regarding your claim. If we think your claim could be valid, we can also pass you on to one of our No Win No Fee solicitors to help begin the process of claiming.
4.8 (466 reviews) Frequently Asked Questions About Shop Accident Claims
Below, we explore some of the most frequently asked questions about how to sue a shop:
Can You Sue A Shop If You Were Partly At Fault?
Yes, you could still sue a shop even if you were partly at fault. Your compensation would be adjusted based on your level of contribution to the accident, for example, if you were 50% responsible for the accident, you would receive 50% of your settlement upon a successful claim.
What If The Shop Denies Responsibility?
If a shop denies liability or responsibility, you will need to present a strong body of evidence that supports your claim. Additionally, instructing a specialist solicitor can also mean that they will negotiate with the insurance company of the shop, and advise that you are pursuing a claim against them.
Can You Sue A Supermarket, Convenience Store Or Small Shop?
You could sue a supermarket, convenience store or small shop if we can show that their actions or inactions led to your accident and injuries.
Can I Sue A Shop For Slipping On A Wet Floor?
You could sue a shop for slipping on a floor and sustaining injuries if we can show that the shop acted negligently. Whether this be their failure to signpost a spillage or clean it up, as long as we can demonstrate that their negligence led to your accident, you could have merit to sue.
Can I Sue A Shop If I Didn’t Report The Accident?
Yes, you could still sue a shop even if you didn’t report the accident. However, this removes an immediate official record of the accident, meaning you may have to gather stronger evidence to prove negligence.
Can Children Sue A Shop For Injury?
Children themselves are unable to claim independently, as a minor can’t bring their own claim until they are 18. However, a trusted adult is able to claim on their behalf as a litigation friend; get in touch for more information on how you could make a shop accident claim on behalf of your child.
Learn More About How To Sue A Shop For An Injury
Follow the links below for more helpful information.
More from us:
- We have answers to some of our public liability claim FAQs. Head here to read the answers.
- You can also claim if you’re injured in other shared spaces, such as if you had an accident in a public park. Find out more by reading this guide.
- Explore this guide to learn more about claiming for ankle injury compensation.
Guides On Suing Specific Shops
We’ve also compiled some useful guides on suing specific shops, which you can find links to below:
- Aldi Accident Claims
- Asda Accident Claims
- B&M Accident Claims
- Frankie & Benny’s Accident Claims
- Home Bargain Accident Claims
- Iceland Accident Claims
- Lidl Accident Claims
- Pizza Hut Accident Claims
- Subway Accident Claims
- Waitrose Accident Claims
Information from other sources:
- There is information regarding the Pre-Action Protocol for Personal Injury Claims on the Government website.
- In certain claims, a litigation friend may need to be assigned to claim on behalf of someone who is unable to do so themselves.
- The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has simplified some legal jargon so you can understand it with greater ease.
Thank you for reading our guide on how to sue a shop.
