Car park accidents at retailers are surprisingly common in the UK, and do not solely relate to shoppers being hit by cars entering or leaving. Shops owe the same duty of care to their customers in the car park as inside the store. Essentially retail customers should expect to be able to walk safely from their car to the store and back again.
Under the Occupiers Liability Act 1957, shops must take all reasonable steps to protect visitors to its premises from the risk of injury. Most car park accidents stem from poor maintenance of surfaces, which causes visitors to slip, trip and fall. Injuries resulting from slip and trip accidents can be severe, especially for older people who are naturally frail, and for whom an injury such as a fractured hip will require many months of recuperation.
Maintenance Flaws in Shop Car Parks
Shops and retailers must ensure that they have efficient systems of cleaning and inspection for all outdoor areas including car parks to make sure that, as inside the store, potential hazards to visitors are identified and dealt with as quickly as possible. Litter and broken glass may cause an injury, and it is the responsibility of a retailer’s cleaning staff and management to make sure they are cleaned up within a reasonable time frame.
To deal with freezing conditions in winter and prevent visitors slipping on ice, adequate supplies of salt, sand or grit must be available. Shops must therefore take effective measures against all hazards that are reasonably likely to cause injury to customers and employees.
Motor Vehicle Accidents in Car Parks
Car park accidents involving two vehicles colliding, and vehicles colliding with pedestrian shoppers, generate thousands of motor insurance claims every year, though these are directed against the driver responsible, rather than the supermarket where the accident took place. Drivers may fail to look in their mirrors when reversing, may be driving too fast, or may misjudge spaces, gaps and access routes.
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