Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

Original poster

FELL over in shops,..... any advice?

48 replies

elasticbandstand · 21/04/2007 17:39

There was a slippery mess on the floor, shampoo, or something, a kitchen towel on it, but nothing else,, no yellow sign, my dd was in it,,, i went to stop her falling and fell flat on my backside. very shocked and upset.
however eventually someone came over, helped me up, and kept apologising. but nothign else.... obviously they should have had a yellow sign but surely the should have done more than that. went to se them a week later but need to see manager.
still in pain.
anyone any idea where i stand,

OP posts:
happybiggirl · 21/04/2007 18:03

Message withdrawn

LIZS · 21/04/2007 18:04

Don't know the circumstances but it could be that someone had just gone away to get the sign and a mop and clean it up. Not sure what the official procedure would be in that case. Yes it should go in the accident book and you have a year or more to lodge a claim but the lack of urgency in getting medical attention, including presumably not even a first aider in the store, suggests that it wasn't serious and you would need such medical details to support any claim.

jampot · 21/04/2007 18:05

they should put it in the accident book definitely. There should have been a warning sign up too but as they had covered it it is possible they have taken steps to contain the hazard. Also you did see it as your dd was playing in it. I dont think you'd get very far to be honest and its not worth the hassle im my opinion. A lot of people think that because theres an accident then someone is automatically to blame and of course where there's blame there;s a claim. In reality you have to prove that the store owner was negligent and covering the mess up shows that they took steps to prevent an accident - hence no blame no claim.

WigWamBam · 21/04/2007 18:05

If she were "permanently injured and so unable to carry out her normal life" she would have seen the doctor at the time, not a week later.

The fact that she could have broken a hip really is immaterial - she didn't.

Suing would be a huge overreaction, imo.

RedLorryYellowLorry · 21/04/2007 18:06

Go to the doctor or a&e and get yourself checked. They usually have leaflets for injury claims that they ahnd out. Dh broke his finger at work this week and the doctor in a&e gave his a leaflet for a company dealing with accidents at work and compensation. Dh won't claim though s he'll probably end up losing his contract.

jampot · 21/04/2007 18:06

you actually have 3 years to make a claim by the way - i used to work in personal injury

LIZS · 21/04/2007 18:06

Your RL "friends" have seen too many "no win, no fee" commercials ! You'd also have to quntify your losses due to the injury - income , childcare etc.

zippitippitoes · 21/04/2007 18:07

if you are desperate to pursue it ring your house insurers and get them to advise you

but personally i would think you are wasting your energy

jampot · 21/04/2007 18:07

i agree that too many no win no fee ads are on.

hercules1 · 21/04/2007 18:08

I agree wigwambam. PErsonally I wouldnt do anything.

littlemissbossy · 21/04/2007 18:08

TBH and I speak from experience 1. because I fell somewhere, I healed up and didn't sue and 2. my brother works in insurance - if you didn't immediately go to A&E or at the least to your GP at the first opportunity you will have to fight to get any compensation. Insurance companies are becoming increasing wise to peoples attitude towards suing at every opportunity. You will be sent for medical reports to prove that you are in pain. Obviously, if you are genuinely in a lot of pain then you need to go to A&E, write a letter to the store manager stating that you have had to seek medical attention and you want the matter noting in their accident book. If you continue to suffer from pain, then, you can go see a solicitor - but run to them now and you'll get nothing. I'm not been judgemental BTW just honest so I HTH.

blondehelen · 21/04/2007 18:08

wouldn't advise going to a and e, a week old accident is hardly an emergency

lulumama · 21/04/2007 18:09

how much do you think you can get for a hurt wrist? is it worth the aggro for a few hundred pounds , if that...

if it is a small business , then you should definite;y think twice before legal action...they won;t have big reserves for payouts

littlemissbossy · 21/04/2007 18:09

exactly bh

Original poster
elasticbandstand · 21/04/2007 18:11

i was in such shock i just left the shop.
anyway so far some good advise.. thanks.
still feelign sorry for myself though

OP posts:
jampot · 21/04/2007 18:12

i had an accident at work when i was pregant with dd (14.5 years ago). I slipped on some oil in the car park at work and fell on to my hands and knees (at 34 weeks that was no mean feat)I dislocated my sacro ileac joint which still gives me grief to this day. I didnt sue although in hindsight i possibly should have done. I also had a car accident a couple of years ago and did sue because my neck was in pain.

Original poster
elasticbandstand · 21/04/2007 18:15

horrible for you jam
... dislocation..

OP posts:
RedLorryYellowLorry · 21/04/2007 18:17

Oh didn't read it happened a week ago - sorry I agree no a&e. Teaches me to stick me oar in without reading the thread.

hatwoman · 21/04/2007 18:20

there is a down-side to suing you know. it's things like the fact my children aren't allowed out to play in the snow at school because the head is afraid of People Who Sue. If you want satisfaction get a written apology and an undertaking that they have taken steps to ensure this doesn;t happen again. wouldn;t most reasonable people think this enough? imo anything else is a waste of a lot of energy, including yours, that could be put to far better use. and it also has a negative impact on our (which includes your) society.

hatwoman · 21/04/2007 18:21

that was to op btw. cases like jampots - where there's a serious injury - are (imho)different.

swanseadaddy · 22/04/2007 20:39

about a year ago i slipped in tesco cafe on spilt food, i really hurt an already damaged ankle (was waiting for ankle fusion) the staff were very good and looked after me until i was able to walk.went to gp next day as swelling was bad and had to have a week in bed taking very strong painkillers. dealt with tesco ho who basically said that unless i could prove they did not clean floors every 2 hours as per their rules then tough. didnt get anything and as injury short term no solicitor was interested. i lost approx £1,000 income.

tatt · 22/04/2007 20:47

See your doctor to make sure there is no permanent injury. Assuming there isn't and its just bruising write them a polite letter saying you really think they should have taken better care, you hope they will do so in future and it would have been nice if someone had taken your details, phoned to check you had recovered and maybe offered you an ice pack or a tube of arnica.

Original poster
elasticbandstand · 23/04/2007 11:15

thanks,
will do

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page