Can I claim for a leg ligament injury? I recently sustained a leg ligament injury after slipping on a puddle of milk in my local supermarket. Since the injury I have been unable to walk without the assistance of a crutch and have been unable to enjoy many of the outdoor pursuits in which I would usually take part. Am I eligible to claim for compensation?
You may be eligible to claim for a leg ligament injury if you can prove that someone other than yourself was at fault for your accident. Supermarkets have a duty of care toward their customers and may be subject to claims for compensation if they are found to have failed in that duty. In order to be able to pursue a claim for compensation you must be able to prove that the supermarket is responsible for you having slipped on the puddle of milk.
In order to prove that the supermarket was at fault for your injury you must first gather evidence, although as this may understandably be difficult after suffering a leg ligament injury, it is best to enlist the help of a qualified injury claims solicitor.
Perhaps the most crucial piece of evidence you must obtain for your claim for a leg ligament injury to be successful is a record of your injuries – this can be done by having them examined by either your local GP or at the nearest hospital’s Accident and Emergency room. Ideally this would have been done immediately after you sustained the injury.
As the accident happened in a supermarket, CCTV footage of the incident may be available. This, and if possible any photographic evidence of your injury of the scene of the accident, should be pursued as soon as possible. It is likely that after the accident you made an entry in the supermarket’s Accident Report Book. This may also be able to serve as evidence.
It is important to note that just because you slipped in the supermarket does not mean that the supermarket is automatically responsible for your leg ligament injury. If for example, the milk on which you slipped was spilled by a customer who had been in the aisle a short time before you it may not have been possible for the supermarket’s staff to clean it up in time. If this is the case, there may not be any scope to pursue a claim.
Leg ligament injuries can often take a long time to heal and it is important that that you receive an appropriate level of care. For this reason it is best to let an injury claims solicitor assist you with the claims process. If you do suffer a large loss of amenity – the inability to perform everyday duties and take part in activities – it may be possible for you to be compensated for it. To find out whether or not this is possible, you should speak with a qualified solicitor about your claim for a leg ligament injury as soon as possible.