Tesco is the fourth largest grocery retailer in the world and the second largest measured on profits. In the UK, it is the largest with a market share of around 30%.

Tesco was founded in the interwar years by Jack Cohen and has developed into other retail markets. It overtook Sainsbury’s as the largest supermarket chain, some years ago and continues to build on its brand.

If you have been a customer of Tesco's and have suffered an accident whilst shopping there, you may be entitled to compensation. Even if you are an employee you may get compensation if you have been injured.

There are millions of shopping trips to Tesco per annum and only a small percentage of visitors may be unfortunate enough to sustain injury whilst engaged in the weekly shop. Not all of those accidents will lead to compensation, some may not result in a claim and others may not have the foundation for a claim, but if you have been injured in the last three years and do not believe your injuries to have been caused by your own fault but think Tesco is to blame, you should seek legal advice at the earliest opportunity.

What sort of accidents can lead to a claim?

The most common type of accident in supermarkets like Tesco is slipping accidents. These can be on spillages of food or on wet floors for example. In one case, a girl of 5 slipped on the floor and caused a nasty laceration to the back of her ear. She was left with some scarring and received a little over £2000 (at today’s rates)

Other common accidents can be caused by tripping over obstacles left on the floor like boxes and in car parks on broken or uneven flooring.

Tesco owes a duty of care to its visitors and if it can be shown to have failed in that duty then a claim for compensation may well lie. If someone has slipped for example and can show that Tesco did not have a reasonable system of cleaning or that system has failed, then a claim for injury could lie against the supermarket.

Employees too can pursue claims. Employees use machinery and are also involved in the heavy lifting that is common in a retail environment. Obviously the vast majority of employees start and finish their working day without incident, but in a supermarket the size of Tesco, staffs do have accidents and if they can show that their employer is responsible then compensation may follow.

In a case in 2008, a part time employee of Tesco received £12000 for back injuries that were caused by having to lift packs of bottles. She had had pre existing back problems that were exacerbated by her employment.

Compensation can follow if you can show that the supermarket has not provided you with a safe environment. Compensation can vary from a few hundred pounds for the minor cuts and sprains to thousands for fractures and back problems.

if you have been involved in an accident at Tesco or indeed in any shop or supermarket and consider that it has been caused as a result of some failings on the part of the shop, you should report the accident to the supermarket staff, complete and accident report in the store if possible and seek medical advice.

First4Lawyers retain an expert panel of solicitors able to advise you fully on the merits of your claim on a no win no fee basis.