A public liability claim seeks compensation for a personal injury on property open to the public. The property owner has a duty of care to anyone accessing the area and must keep the property safe for all users.
You will have a public liability claim if you have suffered a personal injury and it is not your fault. You make a public liability claim for the costs and damages arising from your avoidable injury.
A No Win No Fee solicitor will take your public liability compensation claim against the owners of the property and their insurance company.
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What is a public liability claim?
A public liability claim is for a personal injury from an accident on property used by the public. The personal injury claim can be against the owner of a place such as a bar, shop, restaurant, hotel or nightclub and can be for an injury like a bad cut, breaking a limb or damage to your eyesight.
The owner must have public liability insurance coverage if the property is open to the public. You make a public liability claim against the property owner and their insurance company.
Your personal injury solicitor seeks to recover damages through a claims process. If you have been injured, and your life impacted by an accident that was someone else’s fault, a claim for compensation seeks financial redress for your injuries and financial losses.
If you have been involved in a personal injury accident and it was not your fault, The Personal Injury Team No Win No Fee solicitors will file your compensation claim and get you the money you deserve.
Common types of public liability claims
Common types of public liability claims are for injuries seen every day on public property. A personal injury that is not your fault will impact your life, and you can make a public liability claim for compensation.
Injuries may be slips, trips and falls in shopping centres or cuts from sharp objects in bars or cafes, but if they happen in public places, then public liability claims will follow.
Common types of public liability claims are for:
You make a public liability claim when injured in an accident on public property.
Slipping on a wet floor
Slipping on a wet floor can easily happen if the property owner does not keep the public areas safe for visitors.
It could be a spillage in the supermarket that is not cleaned up or marked as being unsafe. You can slip on a floor wet from the rain, and that the owner has not dried it in time.
Corridors, entrances, and floors open to the public must be kept dry and safe for users. You can make a public liability claim if you injure yourself by slipping on a wet floor.
Accidents in public playgrounds
Accidents in public playgrounds, like tripping on an uneven surface or falling off a faulty swing, form many personal injury claims.
Children need to be protected when playing in public. A broken bone or deep cut can leave a mark on your child. Scarring, pain, and long-term injury result when accidents happen in public playgrounds
A personal injury claim will get you compensation for the costs involved.
Tripping over tree roots
Tripping over tree roots is another common public liability claim. If the roots of a tree stick out on public property and form trip hazards, it is the responsibility of the landowner to take action.
It is easy for a child or elderly person to trip over an exposed tree root and injury themselves. It could be a tree root in a public park, on a footpath or in hotel gardens, but if you trip over them, you will have a personal injury claim.
A No Win No Fee solicitor will make your public liability claim for compensation.
Falling objects causing injury
Falling objects causing injury, such as a shelf coming off the wall or builders’ rubble from scaffolding, cause damage and harm. Any unsecured object that falls on you in a public place can injure you or a loved one.
It could be your car is damaged by the rubble, or you get hit in the head by the shelf. If an object is at a height, like a picture on the wall, but not secured, it may fall, causing an injury.
An injury from any falling object is not your fault, and you can make a public liability claim for compensation.
Tripping over rubbish
Tripping over rubbish happens every day and causes many different types of injuries. A broken arm from falling over a rubbish bag or a deep cut from tripping on loose bins is not unusual.
The property owner is responsible for ensuring all rubbish is stored properly and is not a hazard in a public place.
You can make a public liability compensation claim when you trip over rubbish, and it is not your fault.
Cuts from sharp objects
Cuts from sharp objects include broken glass on a tabletop, nails sticking out from a seat, or unattended tools and knives.
Glass in public areas must be reinforced to withstand reasonable pressure, including tabletops, windows and doors. Deep cuts requiring stitches will cause scarring and may even put your life in danger.
You can claim compensation in a public liability injury claim for damages.
Uneven footpath falls
Uneven footpath falls are when you trip on a broken paving stone or poorly laid path. It could be the public path outside your home or the one in the outdoor dining area of a restaurant.
People fall on uneven footpaths in the park or around the school playground. The property owner must keep the footpath safe and do regular maintenance to keep it level.
Wherever the personal injury happens in public, you can bring a compensation claim against the property owner.
Falling down stairs
Falling down stairs can only result in serious injury and, in some cases, death. Stairs not kept safe are a significant hazard and a danger to the public.
Uneven and broken stairs must be repaired. The property owner must keep them clear of rubbish and other tripping hazards. Wet stairs are slippery and a danger to the public.
Personal injury claims for falling down stairs are seen every day, and you can claim compensation if one happens to you.
Trips on school property
Trips on school property put your child in danger or can injure you when at a parent-teacher meeting or seeing a Christmas play.
School property must be kept safe and secure for all visitors. There is no excuse for a poorly maintained school path or internal corridor.
You can make a public liability compensation claim when a trip on school property injures you or your child.
If an accident happens on public property and it is not your fault, you can make a public liability claim against those responsible.
Who is responsible for a public liability claim?
The owner of a public place where you had the injury is responsible for a public liability claim. If you are injured in a public place, and it was not your fault, you can make a public liability against the owner.
The person responsible for a public liability claim could be the pub landlord, the hotel owner or the individual who runs the cafe where the accident happened.
Public liability is also the responsibility of the local authority that owns the town park, the footpaths and the roads in your area.
Personal injury can happen anywhere, and public liability claims are for compensation for the damages caused.
Slips, trips and falls in public liability claims
Slips, trips and falls in public liability claims are for injuries caused by wet surfaces, potholes, and uneven paths. They can happen in the local pub, the town park, or walking down the street.
Many slips, trips and falls in public liability claims see broken bones, cuts needing stitches, wrenched backs and twisted ankles. You may need time in hospital, days off work and even long-term care after a slip, trip and fall accident.
If the property owner fails to keep the floors dry and you slip, you have a personal injury claim. When the local authority does not repair the roads or footpaths, your injury is their responsibility.
In every public liability case, you can claim damages for your personal injury against the public liability insurance of the guilty party.
What happens if the guilty party does not have public liability insurance?
If the guilty party does not have public liability insurance, they must pay your compensation damages and costs in full, out of their own pocket.
If they own a business, the business may pay the damages awarded. When it is a private individual, then they are responsible for paying the award.
If you make a public liability claim against, say, a hotel without public liability insurance, the owners must pay your compensation claim. If they do not, the business may need to close and assets sold to find the money.
Public liability insurance is not mandatory in the UK, but when the business or public authority is insured, it makes a public liability claim easier to prosecute.
Regardless, of whether they do or do not have public liability insurance, you should always use a No Win No Fee solicitor for your personal injury claim for damages.
How much in damages can I claim in a personal injury claim?
In a personal injury claim, you can claim damages ranging from a few thousand pounds to more than £10 million. How much compensation you can claim depends on the injuries suffered and financial effect of those injuries on your life.
If someone else is responsible for your personal injury, you can claim compensation from their insurance company.
Sample compensation amounts in a personal injury claim are as follows. Please note these are figures for the injuries only. Financial losses would apply in addition:
(The figures given here are for General Damages amounts only. You will also receive compensation for any financial losses you suffer due to the personal injury. Figures taken from Judicial College Guidelines 16th Edition and are accurate as of April 2023.)
There is not one fixed amount in personal injury claims. The circumstances differ from person to person and claim to claim, and the amount of compensation awarded will be tailored to the circumstances of your claim.
A No Win No Fee personal injury solicitor can give you an idea of what to expect from their experience in compensation claims.
What can you claim for compensation in a personal injury claim?
In a personal injury claim, you claim compensation for two types of damages: General Damages and Special Damages.
The amount of compensation awarded is the total of these two types of damages.
General Damages
General damages is the claim you make for what is known as PSLA, or the Pain, Suffering and Loss of Amenity you experience directly from the personal injury.
Pain is that suffered as a direct result of the injury or any treatment for it.
Suffering is the discomfort in your life as a result of the injury
Loss of Amenity is the disruption to your daily life, such as difficulty or restriction in walking, sitting, playing sports, and sleeping.
Special Damages
Special damages cover your past and future financial losses. These could include loss of earnings, care costs, medical treatment or specialist rehabilitation, aids, adaptations and any other out-of-pocket expenses you have or will suffer due to the personal injury.
Loss of earnings is for income lost directly from being off work and any reduction in income expected from not being able to return to your current type of employment.
Care costs include the care needed to recover from the personal injury and any long-term care and treatment costs, whether provided by friends and family or professionally.
Out-of-pocket expenses are for your medical appointments, travel and accommodation and any other costs incurred after the injury.
Compensation is awarded to cover all losses, including loss of life, medical expenses and long-term care needs arising from the injury in a personal injury accident.
You will need records such as payslips, all day-to-day receipts, and any other paperwork showing your losses from the personal injury.
A No Win No Fee solicitor handles your personal injury claim and gets you the compensation you deserve.
How to make a claim for personal injury compensation
To make a claim for personal injury compensation, there are usually a few standard steps to follow. We will guide you through the entire process from first contact through to the conclusion of your claim.
How long do I have to make a personal injury claim?
You have three years to make a personal injury claim for compensation. The three years usually begin from when you suffered the personal injury.
Personal injury compensation claims must generally be brought and court proceedings issued within three years of the injury.
For children, the time limit only begins when they turn 18. Parents or guardians can start a personal injury claim for children under the age of 18.
If a loved one has passed away, the family can start a personal injury compensation claim within three years of the date of death.
There is no time limit for personal injury claims for those who lack mental capacity.
A No Win No Fee personal injury solicitor
A No Win No Fee personal injury solicitor should be your only choice when making a personal injury claim. A No Win No Fee personal injury solicitor fights your case and does not take a fee if you do not win.
A No Win No Fee solicitor only charges you for winning the case, and you can agree to all the terms before the claim begins. The insurance company will pay some of the legal fees, and a No Win No Fee personal injury solicitor will agree with you on how much of the shortfall will come from your compensation.
It is usually a percentage of up to a maximum of 25%, although the deduction may be nothing in larger cases.
You should be cautious about instructing a solicitor who does not have experience with personal injury cases and who will not agree to take your case on a No Win No Fee basis, as you could end up with a large bill if your claim fails.
An experienced No Win No Fee solicitor handles your personal injury claim and secures you the compensation you deserve.
Find out how much you can claim for today
Find out how much you can claim for today by using our online assessment tool. It will give you a good idea of what you can claim for and what compensation to expect in a personal injury claim.
Compensation amounts are guidelines on what to expect from your personal injury claim. Our personal injury solicitors can advise you using their expertise and experience and can quickly tell you if you have a valid claim and what to do next.
Our team of No Win No Fee personal injury solicitors can take your case and ensure you are awarded the compensation you deserve. We have the experience to handle your claim for personal injury compensation and see it through to a successful conclusion, whether the claim is worth £1,500 or more than £10,000,000.
When you suffer a personal injury, the effects on your life can be devastating. If the personal injury is not your fault, it can make the situation feel even worse.
Take our online assessment today to get an idea of claim amounts and what you could be due for the pain, suffering and impact on your life.
Contact your Personal Injury Team today for immediate expert advice tailored to you.