to think it's the supermarket's fault I fell

[tactum]

In a small branch of a major supermarket yesterday in perfectly normal flip flops. Walked past the fresh flowers which were in water and promptly slipped on some dropped water and fell REALLY hard on the floor. Instinctively put my hand out to break my fall and landed on my wrist. I am going to minor injuries tomorrow but am fairly certain it is broken - broke my scaphoid on the same hand last year and this feels very similar in terms of pain/tenderness.

The manager filled in a form and suggested I get it checked. He did point out that I was wearing flip flops which probably wasnt wise - WTAF???? I also heard one member of staff tell another 'we should probably put a mat in front of those flowers now'.

I am definitely not a 'where there's a blame there's a claim' type person but I am mighty pissed off that in all probability I will be unable to drive for 6 weeks - logistical nightmare to say the least - will be in plaster, will be in pain and will be inplaster for our 2 week spanish holiday through no fault of my own.

AIBU and WWYD???? (I know I should have gone to minor injuries today but I was in a state of denial which is now giving way to realism!)

yabu
flip flops are not shoes.
next you want to claim compensation if you drop a tin of bean and break your toe?
it's hot and I'm feeling argumentative

Is it usually wet by the flowers? It isn't in our store. I dont think you are to blame but I'm not sure the supermarket is either. Depends on whether they knew there was a problem or could have predicted one.

eggsandwich you cannot get a brain tumour from banging your head, no matter how hard.

Flipflops are everyday shoes though. I walk miles in them with no difficulty at all - and they're much much safer than high heels, wedges etc. for walking - and more comfortable too.
Are we all now going to be required to wear 'sensible' shoes just to go shopping?

Youve done the right thing by getting it recorded in their accident book as it is vital you have proof when and where the accident happened.

I've recently accepted a compensation payment after a very bad slip accident in a shop which resulted in me needing major hip surgery. During the solicitors discussions with the store, he informed me that the store had accepted full responsibility for the accident (the store admitted at the time it was their fault, that HQ knew about the problem but were refusing to fix it until a sufficient number of accidents), he said the store could have accepted part responsibility for the accident - a kind of "yes, we're sorry you slipped arse over tit and injured yourself, we should have mopped up the water / fixed the wobbly paving slab / replaced the missing manhole cover, but you should've been paying more attention".

My solicitor said no one takes on no win no fees for slip no trip claims anymore so you might have a bit of a hunt on your hands to find a low priced firm willing to take you on.

If your wrist is broken ( or even if it's just sprained badly) you should make a claim for compensation. Not because its 'hooray I've won the lottery!' But because it is likely to cost you money and inconvenience. If you can't drive, how will you get around - taxis? Arranging lifts? And there will be things you can't do at home (depending on whether it's your main arm,) you might not be able to cook much - more ready prepared food or takeaways required. What about work? What if it isn't straightforward - when I broke my wrist I had to go for physio 3 times a week for several months after the plaster came off. I would be well pissed off at that just because somebody didn't bother to put out the wet spill sign.

Lots of blaming the victim going on here, water on a floor is a hazard whether it's to be expected or not and no matter what you're wearing on your feet, I've slipped on wet floors in trainers and boots. Sometimes the splashes extend beyond where you'd expect or notice them so you don't even see them until you're already arse over tit.
IntotheBeyond Why would they need to station a staff member to the flower stand when they could just as easily (and a lot more cheaply) permanently put a "Be Careful of Wet Floor" sign there or a mat to soak up drips?

Aren't flip flops a good thing to have on near water?

Life guards wear them

Worth going to see a solicitor to investigate whether there are merits in a claim - impossible to say without more information. Many will offer no win no fee - you'll just have to give 25% of any damages won to the solicitor in costs on settlement/ if you win at trial.

I had a very similar situation at our local
branch of Sainsbury's - I slipped and fell in a puddle of water at the bottom of their escalator inside - it was raining outside. I didn't hurt myself too badly, just bruised, but I reported it to a nonchalant customer service manager who said 'yeah, that always happens when it rains!' What pissed me off was that after I did my shopping, and left the puddle was still there. So I went back up and demanded the manager and said they had been lucky I wasn't injured but not addresssing it after it had been reported was negligent.

Where's there's blame, there's a claim eh OP?

No way on earth it could have been ANYthing to do with you eh? Going out shopping in a supermarket in fucking flip flops? WTF?! 🙄

I imagine you would have a claim. A friend of mine got 4 figures from a well known supermarket for pulling a muscle in similar circumstances. They have a legal responsibility apparently to take certain steps to keep the floor as safe as possible for customers which almost no supermarkets adhere to. They were required to show evidence of how often the floor was cleaned and they didn't have it so made my friend an offer of compensation which she accepted. She went through a proper legal form though not one of those accident places. Hope your wrist heals quickly.

And I agree that flip flops tend to grip better to slippery surfaces than regular shoes. Hence them being good pool shoes. If she'd have tripped I would blame the flip flops but not for slipping on water.

I work in an office where no flip flops allowed as they are a trip hazard and offer no protection if something drops on your foot!

flip flops tend to grip better to slippery surfaces than regular shoes

Also agree. I'm paranoid about slipping but I never slip in my flip-flops: they are quite grippy.

If your wrist was broken surely you would know in less than twenty four hours after the event. Hopefully it's just a bit bashed and no worse.

As others have said, why go to the supermarket in flip flops, in fact who even leaves home in them unless going to the beach!

dont get all this claim crap this country has got into

watch where your walking

oh an for the other poster-u cant get a brain tumour by banging your head

Jesus fucking wept. You fell. It was your own ineptitude at staying upright, or were others around you falling like flies too?

flip-flops are going to give you less secure footing

Totally agree. Flip flops are for wearing on the beach to protect against hot sand and shells. They are completely useless as functional footwear in any other day to day situation.
If you want to twist or break an ankle, wear flip flops.
Any A&E dept will tell you that they are dangerous to wear anywhere but the beach.

Are we all now going to be required to wear 'sensible' shoes just to go shopping?
I think it might be going that way. A fishmonger in my town has a sign up banning the wearing of flip flops in their shop as they are dangerous and extra slippy. If you slip, your foot goes off the side and twists. Doesn't happen in proper shoes.

Any shoes with a sole that has worn smooth, or was smooth to start with, are going to slip on wet tile floors whether they are 'proper shoes' or not. In fact smooth soled high heeled shoes would be worse then flip flops.

The manager's attitude was poor. He should have put the mats out after you slipped to ensure it didn't happen to anyone else.

'I am definitely not a 'where there's a blame there's a claim' type person'

But clearly you are

Not saying you shouldn't claim, but you haven't even sought medical help yet you're discussing a claim already. Prioritising getting medical treatment before thinking of money would be wise.

God, there are some horrible posts on this thread.

Effing and blinding at the OP who is sitting at home in pain.

Shame on you.

OP, I'm sorry you've hurt yourself. The manager's attitude alone would be enough to send me straight to the solicitors. They could have put a mat down. Next time it might be an old lady who falls and breaks a hip.

(No doubt there'd be posters going, "Serves you right for going shopping with those fucking brittle bones.)

Do people really not take responsibility for their own actions,
flip-flops are going to give you less secure footing,
you know flowers are kept in water,
take care round flowers in a supermarket if in unsafe footwear.
These days it's all about how much compensation you can claim
Once upon a time you'd swear at yourself for not being more careful and get on with it.

Jesus people, thanks for getting all nasty on me. I actually have stated the truth - I am NOT a where there's a blame there's a claim person! I have no real intention of taking this further - if you see my title it doesn't say "Would IBU to sue the supermarket" it is about fault and what could have been done differently.

I obviously live in a parallel universe to most of you who never step outside of a beach in your flip flops - do you literally change them as soon as the sand stops????? Where I live in a perfectly normal non beachy part of England people wear flip flops all the time in weather like this, to do all sorts of normal everyday activities.