It’s a situation many shoppers have faced at least once: you reach for an item, it slips, and suddenly something breaks. Store staff approach, tensions rise – and the question comes quickly: do you have to pay for it?
Under Azerbaijani law, the answer is not always as simple as “yes” or “no.”
What the law generally says
According to Azerbaijan’s Civil Code, causing material damage to someone else’s property can create an obligation to compensate for that damage. In legal terms, this is known as a tort – meaning the person who caused the damage may be required to cover the loss.
Lawyer Asim Abbasov explains that the law gives the injured party the right to demand compensation, while the person who caused the damage is generally expected to reimburse the full value.
But that’s only the starting point.
Why context matters
In real life, responsibility depends heavily on how the damage occurred.
If a customer acts negligently – for example, by mishandling fragile goods or ignoring visible warnings – a store may have legal grounds to demand payment.
However, if the damage happens because of poor shelf placement, overcrowded aisles, unstable displays, or inadequate safety measures, the situation becomes less clear-cut. In such cases, responsibility may lie with the store rather than the customer.
What shoppers should know
The law does not automatically assume the customer is at fault simply because an item was broken. Each case depends on:
whether the damage was truly accidental,
whether the store ensured safe conditions for shoppers,
and whether the customer acted reasonably.
In disputes, stores cannot rely solely on internal rules or verbal demands – legal responsibility must be justified, not presumed.
The bottom line
Yes, a customer may be required to pay for a damaged item – but only if the circumstances support that obligation under the law. Accidental damage alone does not automatically mean the shopper is liable.
Knowing this can help consumers protect their rights and avoid unnecessary conflict at the checkout counter.
