Property owners and occupiers have a legal duty to keep all public premises safe for visitors. If you were injured in a public place due…
Had an accident in Costa Coffee?
If you’ve suffered an injury in Costa Coffee which wasn’t your fault, you could be eligible to make a personal injury compensation claim.
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Costa Coffee Accident Claims
If you’ve been injured in a Costa Coffee shop or fallen ill after consuming unsafe food or drinks, you may be entitled to make a Costa Coffee accident claim.
Like all public businesses, Costa Coffee has a legal duty to keep customers, visitors and members of staff reasonably safe from harm. Claims can arise from slips, trips and falls, burns from hot drinks, defective furniture, manual handling injuries and other incidents resulting from negligence.
Compensation for a Costa Coffee injury can cover pain and suffering, loss of earnings, medical costs, and other impacts on your life.
To find out if you have a valid claim against Costa Coffee and receive expert legal advice, call 0800 470 0474 today for a free case assessment or use our online claim form to request a call back any day of the week.
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Table of Contents
Am I eligible to make a Costa Coffee accident claim?
Yes. You may be able to make a Costa Coffee compensation claim if you were injured inside the coffee shop, and the following can be proven:
- You were owed a legal duty of care.
- This duty was breached through a negligent act or omission.
- This breach directly caused your accident and injury.
- You are within the legal time limit for starting a claim.
A specialist personal injury solicitor can assess your case during a free consultation over the phone, with no obligation to proceed.
Does Costa Coffee have a duty of care towards customers?
Yes. Under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, Costa Coffee owes customers and visitors a legal duty of care. This means they must take reasonable steps to ensure the premises are reasonably safe to use, including:
- Keeping floors clean and free from spillages and other slip hazards
- Ensuring walkways are properly lit and free from trip hazards
- Providing clear warning signs when a known hazard is present
- Ensuring hot foods and drinks are handled and served safely
- Properly cleaning and maintaining furniture and fixtures
If this duty is breached and you suffer avoidable harm as a result, you may be able to make a coffee shop accident claim for compensation.
Does Costa Coffee have a duty of care towards employees?
Yes. All employers, including coffee shops in the UK, owe their employees a legal duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and other specific workplace legislation.
The responsibilities of Costa Coffee towards employees include:
- Carrying out regular risk assessments
- Providing a safe working environment
- Managing risks such as slips, burns and manual handling injuries
- Offering proper training and supervision
- Supplying personal protective equipment (PPE) when needed
- Maintaining safe equipment and machinery
If you are injured while doing your job due to a breach of duty, you may be able to make an accident at work claim against your employer.
Could I lose my job if I claim for a Costa Coffee accident at work?
Your employer should not dismiss or treat you unfairly simply for making a legitimate claim for an injury caused by unsafe working conditions. If they retaliate, you may have grounds for a separate employment-related claim.
What are the most common Costa Coffee accidents and injuries?
If a Costa Coffee shop fails to comply with health and safety laws, both employees and customers are at risk of accidents and injuries, such as:
- Slips, trips or falls causing sprains, strains, broken bones or head injuries
- Burn injuries and scalds from hot coffee, tea or handling hot equipment
- Serious allergic reactions due to cross-contamination or poor labelling of products
- Food poisoning caused by consuming food or drinks that were inadequately stored or prepared
- Cuts and lacerations from broken glass or defective furniture
- Being hit by falling objects, such as signs, displays or poorly stacked shelves
- Employee accidents caused by manual handling or faulty equipment
If you suffered an injury due to negligence, the coffee shop may be liable for compensation. This could include inadequate training, failing to signpost a wet floor, defective equipment, failing to repair a broken chair and any other breach of duty.
What should I do after an accident in Costa Coffee?
After an accident at Costa Coffee, you should immediately report it to staff, take photos of the accident scene, speak to witnesses, and seek medical attention.
The steps you should take to protect your health and legal rights to compensation include:
- Report the accident immediately to a manager or staff member and ensure it is recorded in the accident book.
- Take photos and videos of the accident scene and the hazard, from various angles, and include any visible injuries and damage to your items.
- Ask for the names and contact details of witnesses who can later provide evidence if liability is denied.
- Seek immediate medical attention to have your injuries documented, even if they seem minor.
- Keep records of expenses as well as your symptoms and the impact on your work and daily life.
- Contact a solicitor with expertise in occupiers’ liability claims or workplace accident claims for a free case assessment and legal advice.
If you are eligible, your solicitor will prepare your case and send a letter of claim to the defendant. Most claims are settled through negotiations with insurers, but court proceedings may be needed if liability is denied or you can’t agree on a settlement.
What evidence do I need to support a Costa Coffee injury claim?
To support a Costa Coffee accident compensation claim, you need evidence to prove that the store was negligent and that this directly resulted in your injury. You also need proof of how the accident has affected your life.
The most important types of evidence your solicitor will aim to collect include:
- Medical records from a GP or A&E confirming your injury
- A signed copy of the accident report from the coffee shop’s accident book
- Photos of the hazard that caused your injuries and the injuries themselves
- CCTV footage showing how the accident occurred, if available
- Witness statements from anyone who saw the incident
- A copy of your employment contract showing your training and job duties, if relevant
- Inspection and maintenance records proving a breach of health and safety duties
- Records proving financial losses, such as receipts for prescriptions and payslips
The stronger the evidence, the easier it may be to negotiate a fair compensation amount.
How much compensation could I get for a Costa Coffee accident claim?
The amount of compensation awarded for an accident in Costa Coffee depends on the severity of the injury and its impact on your life. A short-lived case of food poisoning will be worth less than a severe back injury with long-term consequences.
A claim will typically include two types of damages:
- General damages are awarded for subjective losses, such as physical pain, psychological injury, loss of amenity, scarring and disability.
- Special damages are awarded for related financial losses, such as medical treatments, rehabilitation, loss of earnings during recovery and travel expenses.
Our personal injury compensation calculator is based on the Judicial College Guidelines, and it can provide you with a compensation estimate based on the type and severity of your injury.
What is the time limit to make a Costa Coffee accident claim?
There is a general 3-year time limit for making a personal injury claim, starting from the date of the accident. If an injury develops over time or is not immediately obvious, the 3 years may begin from the date of knowledge.
That said, a few exceptions may apply:
- For children, the 3-year limitation period does not apply until their 18th birthday, giving them until the age of 21 to start a claim.
- If the claimant lacks mental capacity, the time limit is suspended, and the 3 years only begin to run if they recover capacity.
Starting your claim at the earliest opportunity helps ensure that evidence remains available and essential details about the accident are not forgotten.
Can I make a no win no fee claim against Costa Coffee?
Yes. If you have a fair chance of securing compensation, the solicitors we work with may represent you under a conditional fee agreement.
Making a claim under this agreement means that:
- You do not pay any legal fees upfront or during the claims process.
- You do not pay your solicitor a fee if your claim is unsuccessful.
- If you win the claim, a capped success fee will be deducted from your compensation.
To find out if you can make a Costa Coffee injury claim on a no win no fee basis, call 0800 470 0474 today for a free consultation with a legal adviser. Or, if you prefer, enter your details into our online claim form, and we will give you a call back.
