Public Place Injury Claim Lawyers

About claims for accidents in public places

Accidents in public places can happen in all manner of locations, including public parks, the street, shops, restaurants, and any other place that permits access to the public, whether on a paid or unpaid basis.

There is a common misconception that the only spaces considered to be ‘public’ are those owned by the local council; this is not the case, privately owned businesses, venues, and lands that allow public access are also governed by the same rules.

Some examples of public spaces include but are not limited to:

• Parks
• Roads and pavements
• Sports stadiums and venues
• Gyms and health spas
• Theatres, cinemas, and music venues
• Pubs, bars, and nightclubs
• Restaurants and cafes
• Shops, supermarkets, and shopping centres
• Galleries, museums, and tourist attraction

The location of your accident will determine who is liable for your injuries.

The local authority, which is usually the local council, has a duty of care to ensure that its public spaces, pavements, walkways, and steps are adequately maintained and are kept in a safe state of repair.  Failure to make the necessary repairs within the pre-determined timescales means that they could be held liable for any resultant injuries.

Similarly, businesses have a duty of care to ensure that you are safe whenever you enter their premises or use their facilities, so again, any failure to fulfil this duty of care could mean that they could be held liable for any injuries sustained on their premises, assuming negligence can be proven.

PSR Solicitors has helped hundreds of clients secure the compensation and care they deserve following accidents including:

• Pavement trips
• Accidents in shops
• Falls on icy steps
• Slips in shopping centres
• Animal attacks at petting zoos
• Accidents in restaurants

If you are looking to claim compensation for a personal injury after an accident in public, such as on a pavement, in a park or playground and you want free advice from a fully qualified solicitor then please contact us now.

Using one of our specialist No Win No Fee Solicitors ensures that you have a better chance of winning your claim and receiving all of the compensation and help that you are entitled to all on a No Win No Fee basis.

This means that you won't have any legal costs to pay if your claim is unsuccessful so No Win No Fee = No Risk To You.

Who is responsible for accidents in public places?

The majority of accidents in public places occur because the local authority, business, or property owner responsible for the premises failed in their duty to make the area safe for members of the general public.

Private businesses and public bodies have a legal duty to ensure that they have taken reasonable steps to ensure the safety of anyone permitted to access their premises or land. Any accident, causing injury, that occurs as a result of their failure to meet this obligation entitles the victim to make a compensation claim against those responsible.

The local highway authority, which in most cases is the council, is responsible for inspecting and maintaining all public highways within their designated area. While it is not reasonable to expect the council to be able to rectify every issue immediately, there are certain pre-determined timescales for repairing reported issues and failure to meet these targets means that they may be held liable for any related injuries.

Your claim would be against the relevant local authority if your injury were caused by:

• Damaged or poorly laid paving slabs
• Inadequate or faulty street lighting
• Untreated icy roads and pavements
• Loose kerbstones
• Potholes

It is not just local authorities that have a responsibility for ensuring the safety of their spaces and premises, businesses also have to take appropriate steps to ensure their premises are safe for visitors. These steps include mopping wet floors as soon as possible, marking hazards with appropriate signage and keeping shopping aisles free from obstructions, amongst others.

Often referred to as occupiers’ liability claims, we could help you claim the compensation you deserve if your accident occurred:

• At a tourist attraction
• At a health spa or gym
• In a shopping centre
• In a bar or restaurant
• At a school, college, or university
• At a theatre or cinema

For a free evaluation of your accident in a public place compensation claim, call PSR Solicitors today or send your details through the enquiry form and we’ll call you back.