Injured by Supermarket Employee pushing trolleys in car park

[Kerchow]

Hey guys, While I was out at my local supermarket a week ago the trolley collector was struggling to keep control of a MASSIVE line of trolleys. He'd hit one car and as I walked towards him the trolleys vveered out of control and he yelled for help. They hit another car but not before I'd managed to slow them somewhat but bent my wrist back in the process and sprained it.

 

The trolley pusher told me "this wouldn't happen if people collected trolleys more often"! and walked off. I thought ... or if you didnt take so many at once!!!

 

My wife told me he'd also hit our car when i got back inand sure enough some new grazes (nothing major) had appeared. All in all lucky though as my 4 year old was with me and a few moments later and he could have been hit by the trolleys.

 

I reported it (so they could tell this guy / retrain his poor attitude), and it went in the accident book, but theyve been pretty useless at dealing with it. The person i complained too told me to call back another day as he didnt know how to deal with it.

 

So I rang HQ and they said they'd deal with it. Several days later I got a phone call from the manager at store who said it was being investigated and theyd call back....they never did.

 

So a week later I call the store (time customer services answered the phone but didnt say anything and i could hear them arguing over who should answer it before hanging up on me!) and then I get through to the manager on the second call only to be told another manager should have called me. they said they'd be chasing them, but the outcome was that any action was at this managers discretion.

 

So my car (and two others) were hit, I got injured and any action is at their "discretion"?! I have half a mind to sue them now they're being that bl**y useless!

 

I know there is cctv footage and I've asked the landlord for how long the tapes are kept so i can get proof if needed.

 

What am i entitled to / likely to be offered and what should i not accept (ie not sign any waivers) if they do offer anything? I'm certain that an injury caused by their staff is worth more than a discretionary gesture by the manager?! A formal apology would be nice

 

Should i seek legal advice?

 

I hate the sue britain culture, but i also hate the lack of customer service and respect and responsibility that is around these days.

 

Sorry to rant.

 

Any guidance gladly taken!

 

ps...i didnt see a doctor...the wrist hurt on and off for the week while i took ibuprofen. It was annoying as i'd been off work with stress for 7 weeks and was due to go back to work in a couple of days so this really took the high i'd been feeling away.

[raydetinu]

Telephone calls are no good, you need to email or write a letter, that they will have to respond and you have a time line and record.

Did you take pictures of the damage to the cars including yours?

did you get the employees name or the person you have spoken, all good when confirming your point.

When you contact them again, be clear what you want to happen, so they have something to respond to.

[MDK]

Sometime ago, I was injured in a supermarket car park, nothing really major, did see a doctor who didn't prescribe anything. They initially offered a £20 voucher which I refused. Lots of fobbing off later I eventually said I would be prepared to go to court but would accept £500 instead... which they gave me I was very happy with that amount for my very minor injury. I didn't consult any legal people.

[Kerchow]

Telephone calls are no good, you need to email or write a letter, that they will have to respond and you have a time line and record.

Did you take pictures of the damage to the cars including yours?

did you get the employees name or the person you have spoken, all good when confirming your point.

When you contact them again, be clear what you want to happen, so they have something to respond to.

 

I got the names of the guy who hit me and the car, the useless deputy manager, the slightly less useless manager and the person at the HQ. I have recorded dates i spoke to people and time of event.

 

No photos of damage as yet as other cars were leaving, but there will be cctv.

 

Just annoyed that any action will be at the discretion of the store manager despite me being injured and cars damaged and annoyed i have to chase them all the time.

 

Half a mind to call an ambulance chaser

[Kerchow]

Do you all think its better to contact the ambulance chasers now (I never thought i would but they have got me so mad at the lack of action and common courtesy) or to email threatening that that is my course of action?

 

At the moment i have to wait again until a manager is back at the store, which will be a week and a half after the accident.

[renegadeimp]

Name and shame the supermarket. I can tell you then how many trolleys they are allowed to collect at a time per their own policies. I've seen it too many times where the employee thinks they are cool and smart by pushing a LOT of trolleys ( sometimes 20+) with complete disregard to their surroundings. Even ASDA, with their trolley machine, only collect approx 2 rows of 15 and even then they are all strapped together.

[renegadeimp]

Just annoyed that any action will be at the discretion of the store manager

 

Don;t know where you heard this, but the HSE, regional managers and CEO of the supermarket have more power than the store manager. If its proven he didnt do anything despite proof, its highly likely he will be demoted or moved to another location.

[Kerchow]

It was the store manager I spoke to today (or deputy) who told me that it was at the store managers discretion

 

Shop was ASDA

[raydetinu]

Email head office, attn. of health and safety officer, that should get things moving and mention lack of action etc.

Would not involve any other party at the mo. keep it on a personal level.

[renegadeimp]

It was the store manager I spoke to today (or deputy) who told me that it was at the store managers discretion

 

Shop was ASDA

 

Asda are COMPLETELY wrong here. If the HSE got involved, head office would have a formal investigation, where if it was found that the store manager was concealing H+S violations, they would be dismissed and/or demoted. I've seen it a few times across a few supermarkets while i used to do contracting work.

[Kerchow]

Just rang HQ customer services again. Told me that it is the responsibility of the store manager to discuss with me and they cannot help until i've spoken with him. THey gave me the claims teams postal address if i wish to take it further.

 

Will wait and see what he says and if its no cop, I will be getting the cctv footage off the landlord and write directly to the CEO, cc HSE officer with the complaint.

[renegadeimp]

STOP RINGING. Get it in writing, direct to the CEO. I'm sure he will change his tune when he gets claims from the motorists who had their cas damaged. Plus, if the store manager wont do anything, then get the HSE involved yourself. What if there was a small child going past the trolleys? The employee couldnt stop it for the cars, he had to shout for help due to his inability to perform his job properly, so he DEFINITELY has no clue what to do.

[stu007]

Hi

 

Please do as advised and stop ringing them up because unless you have recorded the call they can deny anything said during your calls.

 

You need to put all this in writing direct to the CEO (always keep a copy of your letter and ensure you get proof of posting).

 

On the CCTV these will be of use:

[Kerchow]

Thanks for the advice guys. I will put it in writing to CEO email address tonight

[renegadeimp]

Just to advise again, from now on, get EVERYTHING in writing, should you need to make a claim and/or legal action. IF you absolutely have to ring them or take a call from them, then only do so if you have the ability to record the call in full.

[renegadeimp]

Regarding my comment about HSE intervention, please make sure you exhaust all official avenues first. ASDA are VERY reluctant to have HSE involved with anything, as they dont want the negative publicity and loss of business. The HSE will investigate every little detail, and show up any failings in policy. It usually results in the entire staff getting retrained.

[Ganymede]

If you want to isntruct a solicitor the injury element of your claim will have to be worth over £1,000.00 otherwise it is a small claim no firm will touch it.

 

Did you injury fully heal after one week? If so it won't meet the £1,000.00 threshold.