If you’ve been injured in an accident in a public place then you may be able to make a compensation claim. The public place in question could be anything from a supermarket, gym or restaurant to any open space that the public can access.

Accidents in public places claims are based on the fact that the accident in question happened because someone or organisation was negligent. If you slip on a wet patch in a shop, for example, it could be because the owners of the shop failed in their duty of care to clean up a spill and ensure that the environment was safe.

We’ve processed thousands of successful claims for accidents in public places and we understand how upsetting it can be to get injured in this way.

Compensation can never truly make up for the pain and distress, but it could aid your rehabilitation, mark the fact that you’ve been injured through negligence and ensure that you aren’t left out of pocket.

If you’ve had an accident in a public place that wasn’t your fault then contact the team at Truth Legal today. If we think you could be eligible for compensation we’ll do everything we can to make it happen.

How Much Compensation Can I Claim for an Accident in a Public Place?

The compensation you can claim for an accident in a public place could range from a few thousand pounds for minor injuries up to hundreds of thousands for injuries which are life-changing and permanent in nature.

When we handle a claim for personal injury compensation of this kind we use our experience to estimate the amount we think you’re likely to receive on the basis of your injuries and the impact they have had.

Any compensation for an accident in a public place is made up of two amounts – general damages and special damages:

General Damages

The general damages awarded for a successful accident claim n a public place is based on the nature of your injuries and how serious they are. The amount will be intended to reflect the following:

• The pain and suffering you’ve been through, both physically and psychologically
• Exactly how you have been injured and how serious those injuries are
• The degree to which you are expected to recover from your injuries
• How your injuries might stop you pursuing hobbies or interests as you used to, or fully participating in family life

The figure for general damages is reached with the help of the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), a publication which sets out guide ranges for specific injuries. Examples of amounts taken from the JCG include the following:

• Severe back injury from fractured discs to damage to the spinal cord and nerve roots, leading to very serious consequences – £47,320 – £196,450
• A moderate ankle injury with some ongoing pain and disability – £16,770 – £32,450
• A wrist injury which causes a degree of permanent pain and stiffness – £15,370 – £29,900
• Serious jaw fracture with permanent consequences – £21,920 – £37,210

Special Damages

The special damages awarded if a claim following an accident in a public place is successful are meant to ensure that your injuries don’t leave you financially worse off than you would be if the accident hadn’t happened. This is done by compensating for any earnings or pension provision lost due to your injuries, and for any expenses directly linked to those injuries.

Expenses you can claim compensation for include the following:

• Money spent on medical treatment for your injuries, now and in the future
• Money spent on any care needed because of your injuries, now and in the future
• An amount based on any time family members or friends spend caring for you free of charge
• Money spent adapting your home or vehicles because of your injuries
• Money spent on specialized equipment needed because of your injuries such as mobility aids
• Money spent on travelling to and from any medical appointments needed because of your injuries
• Money spent on any counselling or therapy needed because of your injuries

Can I Claim Against the Council for an Accident in a Public Place?

Yes, you can claim against the council for an accident in a public place if they were responsible for meeting health and safety requirements in that public place.

This would mean that they had a duty of care toward you in that public place, and if they failed to meet this duty of care and you were injured as a result, then you may be able to claim compensation from them.

Examples of claims against the council for injuries could include the following:

• Suffering a slip, trip or fall in a council-run location – i.e. a trip over a loose or defective paving stone or slip on an unmarked wet floor
• An injury caused by unsafe play equipment or a hazard like a loose fence panel in a council-run playground
• An injury caused to a driver or cyclist by a pothole which the council knew of and should have repaired

Contact the team at Truth Legal if you’ve had an accident in a public place and we’ll be able to explain whether it sounds like it was caused by negligence on the part of the council. If it was then we’ll explain how the process of making a claim for compensation works, and what you can claim for.

The Claims Process for Accidents in Public Places

We know that taking legal action and making a compensation claim might be the last thing on your mind when you’re recovering from an injury.

We believe that everyone has the right to justice after being treated negligently, however, and so we work with clients to take the stress and worry out of the claims process by breaking it down into single smaller steps.

These steps are as follows:

• Seek medical attention immediately following any accident in a public place. You’ll get the treatment you need and create an official record of your injuries.
• Report your accident to whoever is responsible for safety in the particular public place. This could be the management of a place such as a bar, shop or gym, who may have an accident book in which to log details of your accident.
• If the safety in the public place where your accident happened was the responsibility of the council, then email them with a detailed account of your accident as soon as possible.
• Gather as much evidence as you can by doing things like taking photographs of the public place where your accident happened and details – such as a pothole – which contributed to your injuries
• Take the contact details of anyone who was a witness to your accident
• Contact Truth Legal for a free, no obligation consultation, during which you can explain how your accident happened and we’ll decide whether you have a strong case for compensation.
• If you have then we’ll take a more detailed statement from you, setting out when and how your accident happened, the extent and nature of your injuries and the impact those injuries have had on your life.
• You’ll be given a medical evaluation with an independent expert chosen by us, in order to pin down the full extent of your injuries and what the prognosis for any recovery is.
• With your permission we’ll also access your medical records to record any treatment you’ve needed since your accident in a public place
• Once the evidence relating to your accident has been pulled together (see below for a full list of the kind of evidence needed for a successful claim) we’ll contact the party responsible for safety in the public place in question and inform them of your compensation claim. We’ll present the evidence for negligence, and our case for compensation.
• In the majority of cases the other party admits liability at this stage, thanks in part to our track record of success and the strength of the claim we present to them. We always aim to settle compensation claims as quickly as possible, using our negotiation skills to reach a settlement without having to take the claim to court.
• If liability is admitted we’ll negotiate a settlement on your behalf. We know exactly what each of our claimants is entitled to claim for and how their injuries should be reflected in the amount awarded, and we never settle for anything less than 100% of the compensation you deserve.
• In some cases liability is admitted but the complexity of the injuries means it takes longer to calculate and agree on a fair compensation amount. If this happens we will apply for interim payments on your behalf, to cover medical bills and other costs until the full compensation is awarded. Any interim payments made will then be deducted from the final compensation amount.
• In a small number of cases the claim will have to be settled in court. If this happens we will present your case in the strongest possible terms, fighting by your side to get any compensation you are entitled to.

Do I Need a Solicitor for a Public Place Accident Claim?

While you don’t have any legal obligation to use legal representation in your public accident compensation claim, handling your own claim would be extremely risky.

The law in this area is complex, and personal injury solicitors are equipped with the expertise needed to prove negligence, value the true worth of your claim, and negotiate for a fair settlement.

Our experience will enable us to pin-point exactly who was responsible for maintaining safety in the public place in which your accident happened, and we’re used to dealing with large organisations such as councils, government departments and the insurers employed by businesses. We know what kind of evidence to pull together to make a claim successful and our negotiation skills mean that we can usually settle claims at speed without needing to go to court.

We do all of this in an empathetic and supportive manner. We never lose sight of the person at the centre of any compensation claim, and that’s why you’ll always have access to one-to-one support and advice.

We communicate clearly in plain language and not legal jargon, and we handle the stress of building and processing a claim so that you have the space and time to concentrate on recovering from your injuries. We also work on a no win no fee basis which means that you don’t have to pay anything for the work we do unless we win your claim for you, and even then the success fee will never be more than 25% of the compensation awarded.

If you lose your claim then all costs are covered by insurance we take out on your behalf, meaning you can pursue justice and a fair compensation settlement without ever worrying that you’ll be left out of pocket. No hidden fees, no charges in the small print and no spiralling costs – just first rate, compassionate legal help from a team of experts with a track record that speaks for itself.

Time Limits for Making a Public Place Injury Claim

There is a legal time limit for making a public place injury claim, of 3 years from the date on which the accident happened. Once this time has elapsed, you will no longer be entitled to make a claim.

The rare possible exceptions to this 3 year rule include the following:

• You were ‘mentally incapacitated’ during the 3 years and so unable to pursue your claim. The three year time limit will then run from the date upon which you regain capacity.
• If you are bringing a claim as a result of someone’s death caused by an accident in a public place, you have 3 years from the date of death, subject to the death being within the 3 year period.
• You were under 18 when the public place injury happened. In this case the 3 years will run from your 18th birthday to your 21st.

Despite having 3 years to make a claim we would always recommend starting the process as soon as possible after an accident happens, while the events are still fresh in your mind and the minds of any witnesses.

Evidence Needed for Your Public Place Accident Claim

The more evidence we can present to the party responsible for your accident in a public place, the more likely they are to admit liability. This evidence could include the following:

• A detailed statement from you
• A detailed medical evaluation from an independent expert
• Any other relevant medical records, particularly those relating to treatment right after your accident and any required since
• The official reports produced by any emergency services called out to attend the accident
• Statements from any witnesses to the accident
• Any photographic evidence of the circumstances of the accident, including dashcam footage where relevant
• Any CCTV footage available from cameras covering the location of the accident
• Any evidence indicating that the other party should have known of the risk of an accident – i.e. previous entries in an accident book, reports or complaints sent to the council
• Your own personal diary of the recovery process, setting out the impact the injuries have had on all aspects of your life
• Evidence of earnings lost because of your injuries, such as payslips from before and after the accident and bank statements
• Paperwork relating to expenses directly linked to your injuries – i.e. bills and receipts
• A note made of any care provided by friends or family

What Constitutes an Accident in a Public Place?

The legal definition of a public place is any place the public can access, so what constitutes an accident in a public place can be extremely wide ranging. Public places where an accident happens might include any of the following:

• A supermarket, shop or shopping mall
• A pavement or footpath
• An open space such as a playground or park
• A pub, club or bar
• A car park
• A restaurant or café
• A sporting arena
• An entertainment or performing arts venue
• A gymnasium

There will always be a party with responsibility for the safety of people able to access a public place, such as the management of a shop or bar or the local council. This party should take reasonable steps to maintain safe conditions in the space, and if they fail to do so in a way which causes you to be injured then they may have been negligent.

If you contact Truth Legal with details of your accident in a public place we’ll be able to explain who would have been responsible for keeping that public place safe and whether they appear to have failed in their duty of care. The kind of accidents in public places we have claimed for include the following:

• A slip on liquid spilled in a bar or pub and not cordoned off
• Someone falling over debris left on the floor of a supermarket
• Someone tripping and falling over an unmarked step in a bar or club
• Someone having hot food or drink spilled on them while eating out
• Someone injuring themselves falling over a pothole
• Someone being injured by faulty gym equipment

What immediate actions should I take after an accident in a public place?

The immediate actions you should take following an accident in a public place include:

• Seeking medical attention and treatment
• Reporting the accident to the body responsible for the public place
• If you can, you should take photographs of the scene of the accident
• Take down the contact details of anyone who witnessed the accident

Get in touch with the personal injury experts at Truth Legal for a free, no obligation consultation

How do I prove the council’s negligence caused my accident?

You prove that the council’s negligence caused your accident by working with Truth Legal to gather evidence such as the following:

• The physical environment of the public space wasn’t safe
• The circumstances of your accident show that it was caused by negligence – i.e. photographs showing risk factors such as uneven walkways, loose railings and damaged stairs
• Evidence pointing to any previous incidents which show the council should have been aware of the risk of an accident. This might include reports on an accident black spot or an unsafe playground for example.
• Evidence of the risk having been directly pointed out to the council – i.e. the pothole which caused your accident had already been reported

Can I claim compensation if I was partly at fault?

Yes, you can claim compensation for accidents in public places if you were partly at fault, as long as the other party was primarily to blame through negligence. If you were found to be 20% responsible for the accident then any compensation awarded would be reduced by 20%.

How long do public accident claims usually take?

We always try to process claims as quickly as possible and simple public accident claims – those with only minor injuries – can take just a few months to process. More complex claims requiring further medical evaluation could take over a year to process.

Another factor which could increase the time taken to settle a claim is if the other party denies liability or offers insufficient compensation, and the claim has to be settled in court. Throughout the process the personal injury solicitors at Truth Legal will keep you fully informed of how long the process is likely to take.

Choosing your legal representatives when making a claim is an important decision.

You need to be sure that your lawyers have the skills and experience to achieve the best possible result for you, and are people whom you can trust.

Truth Legal’s specialist personal injury lawyers have extensive experience and proven success with all kinds of personal injury claim. And we are committed to providing a top-quality legal service; our excellent ratings on TrustPilot and reviewsolicitors show how successfully we deliver on this promise for our clients.

When you instruct us, we provide:

• A free initial consultation – to discuss your circumstances.
• Specialist technical knowledge and experience – so you can rest assured that your case is in the best hands.
• Practical advice – tailored to your situation.
• Strong representation – fighting for the compensation and outcome you deserve.
• Support and compassion – friendly, knowledgeable professionals on your side through a difficult time.