Supermarket accident compensation calculator
Slipped on a spillage, tripped over stock, or hit by a falling item in a supermarket or shop? Estimate what your claim could be worth in compensation (UK £) or settlement (US $), using published Judicial College bracket figures.
Supermarket Accident Compensation Calculator
Estimate your total payout range in under a minute
Last updated · By Mustafa Bilgic · Figures reviewed against the Judicial College Guidelines
What a supermarket accident claim is made of
A supermarket injury claim is a type of public liability claim: you recover compensation because the store failed to keep its premises reasonably safe. Like any personal-injury claim, the value has two parts — the injury value (general damages) and your financial losses (special damages) — but you first have to show the store was at fault.
The store's duty
Under the Occupiers' Liability Act 1957, a supermarket must take reasonable care that customers are reasonably safe. That means a system for spotting and clearing spillages, keeping aisles free of obstructions, stacking shelves safely, and warning of hazards it cannot remove at once. A claim succeeds where that system failed — for example, a spillage left for an unreasonable time with no warning cone.
General and special damages
Once liability is shown, valuation follows the usual structure. General damages for the injury come from the Judicial College Guidelines (US: typical settlement ranges). Special damages cover your losses — lost earnings, treatment, care and travel — plus future losses for serious injuries.
Supermarket accident compensation amounts by injury
Indicative general-damages ranges for injuries commonly seen in supermarket and shop accidents. Special damages (lost earnings, treatment, travel) are added on top. UK figures are bracket-style estimates based on the Judicial College Guidelines; US figures are typical settlement ranges.
| Injury type | UK — Minor (£) | UK — Moderate (£) | UK — Severe (£) | US — typical ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wrist / hand | 3,800 – 12,800 | 12,800 – 29,400 | 29,400 – 79,000 | 10k – 90k |
| Back injury | 2,500 – 12,500 | 12,500 – 38,800 | 38,800 – 160,000 | 15k – 175k |
| Broken bone / fracture | 2,800 – 12,000 | 12,000 – 45,000 | 45,000 – 135,000 | 12k – 150k |
| Knee / leg | 2,800 – 14,500 | 14,500 – 47,800 | 47,800 – 159,000 | 15k – 180k |
| Head / brain | 2,690 – 14,400 | 45,000 – 219,000 | 219,000 – 493,000 | 25k – 500k+ |
| General soft tissue | 1,500 – 5,000 | 5,000 – 12,500 | 12,500 – 38,000 | 3k – 40k |
* UK whiplash minor/moderate up to 2 years is the fixed statutory tariff (£275–£4,830). All other figures are bracket-style estimates and rounded. Last updated .
How to use this supermarket accident calculator
- Pick the main injury — if you have several, choose the most serious.
- Choose the severity that matches your prognosis and recovery time.
- Add your financial losses: lost earnings, treatment, care and travel.
- Toggle UK £ or US $ and read the estimated total range.
The estimate is a starting point, not a quote. Related: public liability claims, slip and fall claims, and contributory negligence explained.
Frequently asked questions
How much compensation will I get for a supermarket accident?
It depends on the injury and your losses. A soft-tissue injury or sprain that recovers within a year sits at the lower end of its bracket; a fracture, head injury or permanent injury reaches much higher. A moderate wrist fracture is roughly £6,000–£12,000 under the Judicial College Guidelines, plus lost earnings and treatment. In the US, shop-injury settlements vary widely by state and severity. Enter your details above for a realistic range.
Can I claim if I slipped on a wet floor in a shop?
Often, yes. Supermarkets must take reasonable care to keep floors safe under the Occupiers' Liability Act 1957. If you slipped on a spillage that was left unmarked, or on a floor that staff knew (or should have known) was hazardous and did not deal with in a reasonable time, you may have a claim. A reduction for contributory negligence can apply if, say, you ignored a clearly displayed warning sign.
What evidence do I need for a supermarket claim?
The strongest evidence is contemporaneous: photos of the hazard, an entry in the store's accident book, the names of any witnesses, the CCTV reference, and a prompt medical record. Ask staff to log the incident before you leave. Supermarkets clean up spillages quickly, so evidence captured at the time is often decisive.
Who do I claim against — the store or the staff?
You claim against the supermarket or shop operator (and its public-liability insurer), not an individual member of staff. The business is responsible for the safe condition of its premises and for its employees' actions. Large retailers handle these claims through their insurers as a matter of routine.
How long do I have to claim for a shop injury?
In England & Wales the general limit is three years from the date of injury, with different rules for children and people who lack capacity. In the US each state sets its own statute of limitations, commonly two to three years. Report it promptly and act early while evidence is fresh. See claim time limits.
Related calculators & guides
Public liability
Injuries in public places and who is responsible for keeping them safe.
Public liability →Contributory negligence
How being partly at fault reduces a payout, and by how much.
Read the guide →How payouts are calculated
General vs special damages and the maths behind every estimate.
Read the guide →