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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

134 replies

tactum · 19/06/2017 18:28

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!)

OP posts:
RiverTam · 20/06/2017 08:05

Personally I would wait and see what actually happens with your wrist. Then, either way, I would make a complaint about the manager. But I wouldn't be suing or anything like that.

makeourfuture · 20/06/2017 08:08

Lawyer.

Namechangearoo · 20/06/2017 08:28

All the people saying "it's common sense that the area around a flower display might be wet"... Well, yeah - that's why the supermarket should have had a mat there rather than just leaving the water to pool on the hard floor! Hmm

I would take it up with the supermarket too, OP, and I hope you're wrong about your wrist and you don't spend your holiday in plaster.

LiveLongAndProspero · 20/06/2017 09:16

My friends mum slipped on a wet floor in a large well known supermarket, she banged her head on the floor quite hard, she didn't complain but they did log the accident, six months after the fall she kept getting headache's had a scan and turned out she had an inoperable brain tumour, she died shortly after diagnosis so sad she was only 50

Not sure what point you are making here, but the fall did not cause the brain tumour. If anything, the tumour is likely to have caused the fall, but in reality they are just two completely unlinked things that happened.

SoupDragon · 20/06/2017 09:24

All the people saying "it's common sense that the area around a flower display might be wet"... Well, yeah - that's why the supermarket should have had a mat there rather than just leaving the water to pool on the hard floor!

This! THe OP even said she heard the staff say they should put a mat there now!

This was not caused by the flip flops. There are not many forms of ordinary footwear that would prevent you slipping on water and flip flops are probably better than some sandals in that respect.

The accident could have been easily prevented by the store having a mat by the flowers.

SoupDragon · 20/06/2017 09:26

If your wrist was broken surely you would know in less than twenty four hours after the event

Not necessarily, especially with a scaphoid fracture like the OP mentions.

MatildaTheCat · 20/06/2017 09:31

Why should someone not claim if they suffer a painful injury due to no fault of their own? An avoidable injury?

I, and all other swimmers I know, wear flip flops at the pool to avoid slipping. They would be far safer than a non grip sandal for example.

Supermarkets have procedures for slips and trips type claims. If your wrist is damaged consult a proper solicitor who deals with personal injury and instigate a claim. I'm sure they will settle without fuss.

mypussyiscalledCaramel · 20/06/2017 09:34

I slipped on a puddle of water by a flower display, whilst wearing trainers. It had also been raining outside. The flowers were directly in front of the entrance and the mats by the doors were no use for drying my shoes.
I ended up on my hands and knees.
When I had recovered sufficiently enough to get up I went over to customer services and explained that I wasn't going to claim anything other than that it might be a good idea to move the flowers or put better mats down because if an elderly person were to fall it would be more of an issue.
I got two bunches of flowers out of itSmile
My knee had a huge bruise on it and has not been the same since.
They did move the flowers and also put better mats down.

hackmum · 20/06/2017 09:35

OP, years ago my mother-in-law broke her hip after slipping and falling on a piece of green vegetable in a supermarket. She won substantial damages from them. So I think you have a pretty good case.

makeourfuture · 20/06/2017 09:36

This is not the appropriate forum to seek this sort of advice. Solicitors exist for this.

Seek their advice.

IHateUncleJamie · 20/06/2017 09:42

OP I use crutches and even with non-slip ferrules, on certain flooring they do still slip if wet. You are perfectly entitled to wear flip flops in a supermarket so I don't know why people are saying otherwise. If you'd gone in barefoot, fair enough.

I would definitely claim, especially if it turns out you've broken a bone. The store should have had a mat down at the very least. If you have broken your wrist then ask the hospital for something in writing to confirm this, and get onto the store's head office asap after your x ray. 💐

FuckMyUterus · 20/06/2017 09:43

witsender yes, you can. Any trauma can cause damage to cells, be it smoking, an illness or physical trauma. If the damage to the cells is significant enough it can encourage malformed cells to multiply which is what cancer is.

SuperBeagle · 20/06/2017 09:46

It's not as easy to just "make a claim" as people think.

There's a whole rigmarole of things that have to be proven/disproven. It's not as simple as "I slipped on water in your shop, so you're in the wrong".

Migraleve · 20/06/2017 09:49

You are saying you are not a 'claim' person. But yo are asking about suing the supermarket Confused

If i were in your situation I would do 3 things. In this order.

  1. Feel like an absolute twat for not being more careful. I thought everybody knew that around shop flavours there may be water.
  1. Find out what the actual damage is. This should have been priority. I'm slightly bemused at you making this big post about what happened, but not going to have it checked out.
  1. Carry on with my life.
MyheartbelongstoG · 20/06/2017 09:55

More than likely a customer took flowers out and a few drops landed on the floor. Surely that can't be the supermarkets fault.

I wouldn't bother with a claim, accidents happen.

Blossomdeary · 20/06/2017 09:56

There is such a thing as "contributory negligence" that can negate a claim. In your case it might be the flip-flops. But it is worth pursuing: certainly in terms of getting the supermarkets to routinely put in safety measures around the flowers.

Original poster
tactum · 20/06/2017 09:58

Migraleve thanks for that, yo! Flavours??! Maybe take a bit more time looking at your posts? And if you read my latest post you will see I am NOT particularly interested in sueing the supermarket!!

My overriding emotion is not and SHOULD NOT be 'feeling like a twat'. I am gutted, upset and completely pissed off. And by the way, it is broken. so there you go....all my own fault presumeably?? Hmm

OP posts:
Rachie1986 · 20/06/2017 10:01

How is your arm OP?

tiggytape · 20/06/2017 10:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pinkblink · 20/06/2017 10:04

The supermarket should have a sign...

Please note the water the flowers are in... IS WET!

A customer could have splashed a load out pulling the flowers out, they could also drip for a couple of aisles around the shop, you wouldn't have mats the whole way around the shop just in case.

It's awful that you fell and hopefully it's not as bad as you're expecting but I don't think it's the shops fault

Migraleve · 20/06/2017 10:06

tactum it was a minor error, an autocorrect ffs.

Interesting that you are quick to point out my error but can't accept your own.

Migraleve · 20/06/2017 10:07

*And by the way, it is broken. so there you go....all my own fault I'm sorry it is broken, but please don't presume to know what I think.

I wouldn't say it's your own fault, it is what is called an ACCIDENT.

MissBax · 20/06/2017 10:09

Not read the whole thread, but know that if you've waited 48 hours between the slip and going to hospital, this could definitely affect any possible claim you make.
They could argue any damage done was exacerbated or caused by something else in those 48 hours!

engineersthumb · 20/06/2017 10:13

I don't think you can blame the store. It's personal responsibility to look where you are walking. Why is it always someone else's responsibility to keep you safe? If they had a sign would you have seen it, given that you did not see the water? Glad to heae you are not taking action. Hope it heels up quickly.

HouseworkIsASin10 · 20/06/2017 10:15

I wear flip flops all the time. Much safer than heels.

Flip flops are a trip hazard, NOT a slip hazard. I have tripped a few times, but never slipped.

So YANBU.