I need help/direction on a personal matter!!

[darcyvuqua]

Sorry for yet another post but on the 16th of January that after a visit to a chemist I slipped on a wet floor and bent and dislodged a screw 10 days after having surgery I did tell a few grapes via a PM.

I been chasing this up lately as at time I did not have the energy all I was really after was an apology that never came and still has not!

However I just received a phone call saying that the situation had not been dealt with correctly and that they were a big firm that has insurance to deal with this sort of thing!

Does that mean that they are accepting liability? I do not want a cash settlement all I wanted was an apology but that has still not happened and feel angry over it!!

I mean surely they do not want this to esculate and neither do I but having not had an apology I feel as if they don't care!


What would you guys do?

[Bigmallly]

Whether they are accepting liability or not doesn't matter. If they did not have some kind of sign or warning that the floor was wet then in mind they are liable. Whether or not you pursue a claim is entirely a personal matter.

[darcyvuqua]

Whether they are accepting liability or not doesn't matter. If they did not have some kind of sign or warning that the floor was wet then in mind they are liable. Whether or not you pursue a claim is entirely a personal matter.

I am not the sort of person that would usually chase this up but there initial response to this situation has really infuriated me!

[rustylady]

Who have you chased it up with Darcy, and who did you get the phone call from?

[darcyvuqua]

Who have you chased it up with Darcy, and who did you get the phone call from?

I had a call from a lady in head office I won't say her name or position!

But she has said that everything the branch did was not acceptable and the preceedures but in place were not followed correctly she was very nice but still no sorry!

I'm possible facing surgery to remove the screw!

It's just the way the branch in question has been underhand about the whole thing when asked!

[sparrow100]

Personally I'd set out what happened in the chemists, detail all the phone calls and outline the consequences of the fall in writing, send it to the branch with a copy to the head office and see what happens.

[Alison]

Am guessing that the lady you spoke to was being told to be very careful about what words she used to you in case it were to be used in court against her at a later date. Seems a shame when an initial apology would have gone so far

[rustylady]

I had a call from a lady in head office I won't say her name or position!

But she has said that everything the branch did was not acceptable and the preceedures but in place were not followed correctly she was very nice but still no sorry!

I'm possible facing surgery to remove the screw!

It's just the way the branch in question has been underhand about the whole thing when asked!

By saying what she did she has, in my opinion, admitted that the company is liable for your injury. Has she suggested any further action?

[Bigmallly]

But she has said that everything the branch did was not acceptable and the procedures but in place were not followed correctly she was very nice but still no sorry!

I would imagine they are expecting a claim to be put in.

[sparrow100]

Just to add: when I worked in retail donkeys years ago I was firmly told if there was an accident with a member of the public I was allowed to express sympathy but not allowed under any circumstances to apologise as that is an admission of liability. I don't think that still holds true, but it might be the standpoint in our increasingly litigious society that they are coming from.

[darcyvuqua]

By saying what she has she has, in my opinion, admitted that the company is liable for your injury. Has she suggested any further action?

She just echoed throughout the the call that they were a big company that has insurance!

She asked me what I'm planning to do just before the call ended I'm still unsure and made her aware of that she has now become my point of contact!

She also confirmed that the branch had in fact submitted a incident report on the day my accident happened so at least it's logged.

I'm so confused as to what to do I don't want to be part of the claim nation but also don't want to be completely mugged off!

[WendyC]

You have plenty of time to decide what to do, three years I think. Why not wait and see what happens this week at the hospital. If the fall has caused problems then it might help you decide what to do. I know what you mean about an apology but I think if they apologise, it may be seen as admitting liability. OH who is the expert in this is still at work so can't ask opinion.
Incidentally one of the most dangerous items in a supermarket are fallen grapes, as the are so slippery, that's why they often have rubber mats in front of them. Except in your supermarket it was a Falling Grape!

[WilliamD]

I think the lady in HQ has phoned you because they've had an incident report come in from one of their branches and they're trying to find out whether you're going to take any action. It's good at least that they're being quite helpful rather than trying to fob you off, however irksome the lack of an apology is. It's entirely up to you what you do next: if you instruct a solicitor it sounds like you may get compensation as well as an apology. You've an admirable stance in not wanting to jump on the compensation gravy train, but if you do end up incurring costs for remedial treatment - any costs at all - the company concerned should pay them, not you.

[darcyvuqua]

I think the lady in HQ has phoned you because they've had an incident report come in from one of their branches and they're trying to find out whether you're going to take any action. It's good at least that they're being quite helpful rather than trying to fob you off, however irksome the lack of an apology is. It's entirely up to you what you do next: if you instruct a solicitor it sounds like you may get compensation as well as an apology. You've an admirable stance in not wanting to jump on the compensation gravy train, but if you do end up incurring costs for remedial treatment - any costs at all - the company concerned should pay them, not you.

I filled out my contact details on line to chase this up and gave all relevant info then they contacted me.

It's shocking that a company/individual can not say sorry in this day and age due to a liability case.

The thing that infuriated me was on entry into said store it was wet outside and my crutch slipped from under me!
I said what's going on if you can't safely change a prescription in a chemist while on crutches?

The response was the floor is always slippy when it's been raining!
^^surely if that's the case why was there nothing put in place to remedy this?

No slippy when wet sign and the door mat was in the middle of the floor "really"

I'm a 32 year old man who just had a foot op I could not imagine the outcome if it was a 70 year old with a hip replacement!

All the above were spoken about over the phone I did make her aware that a full decision of what was to follow would be thought about after my appointment on Friday!

[PyreneesPlot]

It may be worth checking your household insurance to see if they offer accident cover. I used mine when I was knocked off my bicycle by a car driver. If needed.