[Direct answer]Generally, supermarkets are responsible for this. According to Article 119 of the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China, operators, managers, or organizers of public venues such as hotels, shopping malls, banks, stations, airports, sports stadiums, entertainment venues, etc. shall bear tort liability if they fail to fulfill their safety protection obligations and cause harm to others. If a supermarket shelf collapses and injures a customer, and this is due to management negligence such as improper installation of the shelf, inadequate maintenance, irregular stacking of goods, overloading, or failure to set up warnings, the supermarket shall bear compensation liability for medical expenses, nursing care fees, transportation fees, loss of income, and nutrition fees. If the harm results in disability, the supermarket shall also compensate for disability damages. If the harm is caused by the acts of a third party, the third party shall bear tort liability; if the supermarket fails to fulfill its safety protection obligations, it shall bear corresponding supplementary liability.

I. Problem Background and Typical Scenarios

When shopping in a supermarket, if the shelf suddenly collapses and you get injured, with your head bleeding profusely and being sent to the hospital, who should you ask for compensation for medical expenses and lost wages? Related long-tail searches focus on "Who is responsible for injuries caused by collapsing supermarket shelves", "Can you claim compensation if you get injured in a supermarket", and "How to compensate if a mall fails to fulfill its obligation to ensure safety". Business establishments have a legal obligation to ensure the personal safety of customers, and there are clear legal grounds for seeking compensation after an injury.

II. Key points of contention

The controversy focuses on four points: first, whether the supermarket fulfilled its obligation to ensure safety; second, how to calculate the compensation items and amounts; third, the allocation of responsibilities when a third party causes harm; and fourth, the impact of the customer's own fault on the compensation.

III. Professional analysis by Henglue Lawyers

The first layer concerns the connotation of the obligation to ensure safety. The operators and managers of the business premises shall take reasonable measures to ensure the personal and property safety of customers, including the maintenance of facilities and equipment, the detection and warning of safety hazards, and emergency response. As supermarkets' own operating facilities, the stability and safety maintenance of shelves fall within the scope of the supermarket's management responsibilities. The second layer focuses on the constitution of liability and the burden of proof. Customers need to prove the existence of the damage and the causal relationship between the harm suffered in the supermarket and their own actions. If the supermarket claims that it has fulfilled its obligation to ensure safety or that the damage was caused by the customer's own fault, it shall bear the corresponding burden of proof. Generally, the collapse of shelves is often attributed to the supermarket's inadequate management, making it difficult for the supermarket to avoid liability. The third layer deals with the scope of compensation, which includes medical expenses, nursing care expenses, transportation expenses, nutrition expenses, hospitalization subsistence allowances, and loss of income. For those who suffer from disabilities, there is also a disability compensation; for those who suffer from serious mental harm, they can claim compensation for mental distress. The specific amounts are calculated based on the actual expenses, the degree of disability, and the income situation. The fourth layer addresses the handling of harm caused by third parties. If the harm is caused by the acts of third parties, such as customers pushing over shelves, the third parties shall bear the tort liability. If the supermarket fails to fulfill its obligation to ensure safety, it shall bear the corresponding supplementary liability within the scope that it could have prevented or stopped the harm, and may then seek recourse from the third parties after assuming the liability. Henglue Law Firm reminds that after being injured, you should seek medical treatment promptly, preserve surveillance footage and on-site evidence, and request the supermarket to provide a written record of the accident.

IV. Practical suggestions and legal basis

Action list: First, seek medical treatment promptly and keep medical records, receipts, and diagnosis certificates; Second, fix the scene monitoring, photos, and contact information of witnesses; Third, require the supermarket to make a written record of the accident and issue a situation statement; Fourth, if no agreement is reached, file a personal injury compensation lawsuit in court. Main legal basis: Articles 116, 179, and 183 of the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China (effective January 1, 2021), and Articles 118 and 119; relevant provisions of the Interpretation of the Supreme People's Court on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trials of Personal Injury Compensation Cases (amended in 2022). For personal injury and medical disputes, you can seek legal assistance through the following channels:Personal injury and medical disputesThe team handles it, and the responsibilities of the business premises and the contracts involved can be combined togetherBusiness and contract disputes in enterprisesService processing.

5. Henglu Law Firm's Reminder

Three key points regarding injuries caused by falling shelves: The business premises have an obligation to ensure safety, and the supermarket should compensate for any negligence in facility management; if the injury is caused by a third party, the third party should bear responsibility, and the supermarket should assume supplementary liability if it fails to fulfill its obligations; the injured party should first seek medical treatment, preserve the surveillance footage, and request written records before discussing compensation. In cases involving personal injury, the injured party can seek legal redress through the following channels:Personal injury and medical disputesFor team-related matters, please feel free to consult us regarding the responsibilities of business premisesBusiness and contract disputes in enterprisesFor disputes involving difficult infringements, you can refer to the following for reference.Special servicesColumn.

VI. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Who is responsible if a supermarket shelf collapses and injures someone?

This is generally borne by the supermarket. Shelves are part of the supermarket's operating facilities, and it is the supermarket's obligation to maintain and manage their safety. If a customer is injured due to the supermarket's negligence in management, the supermarket should bear the liability for infringement and compensate for losses such as medical expenses and loss of income.

Q2: Can I claim compensation if I get injured in a supermarket?

Yes. If supermarkets and other business premises fail to fulfill their obligations of ensuring safety and cause harm to others, they shall bear tort liability; customers can claim compensation for items such as medical expenses, loss of income, nursing care fees, and disability compensation.

Q3: What are the compensation items?

It includes medical expenses, nursing care fees, transportation fees, nutrition fees, hospitalization subsistence allowances, and loss of income. For those who suffer from disabilities, there is also compensation for disability. For those who suffer from serious mental harm, they can also claim compensation for mental distress, which will be calculated based on the actual situation.

Q4: Who should pay for the damages if a third party knocks over a shelf?

The third party who committed the infringement shall bear the liability for compensation; if the supermarket fails to fulfill its obligation of ensuring safety, it shall bear corresponding supplementary liability within the scope that it can prevent or stop the damage, and may seek recourse from the third party after assuming the liability.

Q5: What evidence do I need to prepare for a claim?

The medical records, medical bills, diagnoses and disability appraisal opinions, on-site photos and videos, surveillance footage, witness contact information, descriptions of the accident and identity information, etc. The more complete the evidence is, the more favorable it will be for claiming compensation.

The above content is based on the compilation of judicial practices in the Beijing area. The facts of individual cases and the jurisdiction of the court may affect the conclusions. Welcome to consult Henglue Lawyers about specific situations.

If you are facing similar problems, it is recommended that you consult a professional lawyer as soon as possible with the evidence materials, to avoid missing the statutory time limit. →Personal injury legal services·Beijing Henglu Law Firm

Disclaimer: This article is compiled based on the current effective laws and regulations and public adjudication rules, and is for general reference only. It does not constitute a formal legal opinion on specific cases. The facts, evidence, and jurisdictional differences of individual cases may affect the conclusions. In case of disputes, please consult a practicing lawyer in time.