Claims for Accidents in Public Places

When can I make a public injury claim?

Public places can often get very busy, and crowded areas can become hazardous if they are not well organised.

Businesses, councils and public bodies all have a duty of care towards members of the public, which means they should be taking reasonable measures to ensure your safety.

But unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.

We’ve supported clients who were injured in spaces that were not properly maintained, such as:

• Beaches
• Concert venues
• Gyms and leisure centres
• Parks
• Restaurants
• Supermarkets

If you’ve been injured in a public place and it wasn’t your fault, you may have grounds to make a public accident compensation claim.

We offer a free initial consultation where we’ll listen to the details of your situation and let you know if you’re likely to have a strong case. Get in touch with us to find out more.

Who will pay my public injury compensation?

Who your public injury claim is made against will depend on the circumstances surrounding your accident. But in most successful cases, compensation is paid through the insurer of the business or organisation responsible for your injuries.

For instance, if you suffered a slip, trip or fall in a supermarket, your claim would be brought against the company and any compensation you receive would be covered by their public liability insurance. This is a type of insurance that is set up specifically to cover the cost of personal injury claims.

In the UK, it is a requirement for all businesses and organisations to have public liability insurance in place. So you won’t be leaving anyone out of pocket by making a claim for compensation.

How can First4Lawyers help?

Our personal injury solicitors have years of experience in handling public liability claims. They will work with you to establish what happened and who was at fault, before building a case on your behalf.

We’ve already helped thousands of people in situations similar to yours. One example is our client Anita, who was awarded £2,500 after slipping on a temporary bridge that should not have been open to the public.

After the accident, Anita was left unable to work due to severe neck, back and shoulder pain. But her solicitor was able to find a physician who helped Anita with exercises to reduce her pain, meaning she could return to work within six months.

We supported Anita on a No Win No Fee basis, and we could do the same for you. That means there will be nothing to pay us upfront and no fees to cover if your claim is unsuccessful.

Public accident claim FAQs

How much compensation could I get for a public injury?

If your public accident claim is successful, the amount of compensation you receive will depend on the severity of your injuries and how they’ve affected your life. But most settlements will be split into what’s known as general and special damages.

General damages will consider the pain and suffering related to your injuries. This could include the physical and psychological impact of the accident. For an estimate of how much you could receive in general damages, try our free compensation calculator.

The second part of your compensation, known as special damages, will cover any financial losses you’ve suffered as a result of your injuries. This could be lost earnings if you’ve had to take time off work or the cost of further medical treatment.

Is there a time limit for making a public injury claim?

There is usually a three-year time limit on making a public injury claim. This will start from the day your accident took place.

Although three years may sound like a long time, it’s always a good idea to seek legal advice as early as possible. This will give you the best chance of remembering the details of the accident clearly, and it could also make finding certain pieces of evidence more straightforward.

If you’re claiming on behalf of a child, the time limits will be slightly different. In these cases, you’ll have until the child is 18 to bring a claim. If you decide not to make a claim during this time, the child will have three years from their 18th birthday to start the claims process themselves.

You can find out more about the time limits surrounding these types of claims in our free personal injury time limits guide.

I think I could have a claim – what should I do?

Your wellbeing should come first, so we would always suggest getting the medical help you need before doing anything else. Even if you don’t think your injuries are serious enough to be seen by a doctor, it’s best to be on the safe side.

After this, you could consider making a public accident claim. Our friendly advisors are here to discuss what happened with you and answer any questions you may have about the claims process.

Our goal is to give you the information you need to make a decision that you’re happy with. We’ll never pressure you into making a claim, and you’ll always have the option to call us back at a later time.

To find out more, give us a call on the number at the top of the screen, request a callback or start your claim online.