- Reviews Of Our Service
- Can I Make A Claim For An Accident In A Public Place?
- Compensation Payouts In Public Liability Claims
- Can I Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis?
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Skip to content This guide explains how to make allergic reaction compensation claims. Get free legal advice and find out if you are eligible to claim.
We've been featured in:
Public liability claims can be brought in the event that you sustain injuries after an accident in a public place as a result of someone else’s negligent actions. Legally, the individual or business responsible for managing a public premises has an obligation to ensure that it is reasonably safe for visitors using their premises. They can do this through regular maintenance, performing risk assessments and signposting hazard risks. If they fail to take steps to ensure your reasonable safety, they could be liable for the injuries you sustain.
Accidents in a public place can be detrimental, sometimes even leading to permanent disability or brain damage in the most serious incidents. No matter whether you sustained a minor or serious injury, you could seek public liability compensation that is inclusive of all of the harm caused. You could be compensated not only for your physical injuries, but the psychiatric impact as well as any out-of-pocket expenses such as lost earnings. With our specialist solicitors here at Legal Expert, you would have endless support and guidance through the process; making it as seamless as possible for you.
Continue reading to learn more about how to claim for a public place accident.
Get in touch with our advisory team today for more information about public liability claims.
4.8 (466 reviews) Speak to Legal Expert today for clear guidance and No Win No Fee support.
In order to have a strong case to claim compensation for a public place accident, you will need to prove that you meet the personal injury claims criteria. You will need to prove that:
All three criteria need to apply to have an eligible claim for third-party negligence. If you’d like to discuss the criteria for public liability claims in more depth, please carry on reading or you can connect with advisors for free, impartial and no-obligation help.
4.8 (466 reviews) 
If you are awarded compensation in your public liability claim, it can be made up of two parts (or heads of loss) called general and special damages.
General damages reimburse the claimant for the physical pain they endured. As well as any psychological harm caused to them in the accident. A negative impact on their quality of life in general, as well as any permanent injury can also be applied a monetary value.
Those responsible for assessing general damages might use medical reports to learn about the severity of the injuries as well as the overall prognosis. They may then consult with publications that offer award guidance like the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). We have put together an example of entries from this publication below to give you an idea. Please note they are strictly guideline amounts and the first amount is not from the JCG:
| Injury | Severity | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Cases of more than one serious injury and Special Damages award. | Serious | Up to £1 million plus. |
| Head/Brain | (a) Very Severe | £344,150 up to £493,000 |
| Neck | (a) Severe (i) | In region of £181,020 |
| Chest | (b) Serious | £80,240 up to £122,850 |
| Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | (a) Severe | £73,050 up to £122,850 |
| Severe Leg | (ii) Very Serious | £66,920 up to £109,290 |
| Back | (a) Severe (iii) | £47,320 up to £85,100 |
| Pelvis/Hips | (b) Moderate (i) | £32,450 up to £47,810 |
| Foot | (e) Serious | £30,500 up to £47,840 |
| Hand | (f) Severe Finger Fracture | Up to £44,840 |
Importantly, all personal injury claims have factors that set them apart. Therefore, to obtain a more accurate estimate of compensation owed to you, call our team to learn more about how our solicitors calculate general damages.
In addition to these amounts, you could qualify to claim special damages. Under this head of loss, the person can claim back the financial costs of dealing with injury. Evidence will always be required such as:
Speak to our team about assembling evidence for special damages. It could significantly boost the compensation you might receive.
If your claim is eligible, one of our solicitors can provide their services under a type of No Win No Fee contract called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). These contracts offer a host of benefits to the person seeking personal injury compensation, such as:
By using a CFA, you could access outstanding legal representation for your public liability claim with no fees until the outcome of the claim is known. If you’re interested in seeing whether our solicitors could help you, you can:
4.8 (466 reviews) Below, you can find answers to some frequently asked questions on public liability claims:
Anyone who operates a space accessible to the general public also needs to carry public liability insurance. This is typically up to the value of £1 million and is intended to compensate anyone who may be injured on the premises or while lawfully using their services. However, this can increase to up to £5 million, depending on the nature of the business.
You could have grounds to launch a claim after a no-fault injury on private premises if you still meet the three criteria we discussed above. Some of the places we looked at in our list can be privately run or require membership to access. However, as such, they are still ‘open’ to certain members of the public and health and safety obligations apply.
If you’re not sure whether the area you were injured counts as a public space, speak to our team for guidance.
The exact definition of “public place” stated in Section 9 of The Public Order Act 1936 describes a public place as any highway or premises that the public has (or is permitted to have) access to, whether by way of payment or otherwise. This can therefore include:
If you were injured in a public place and want to receive a compensation payout for your suffering, you must obtain evidence to support your claim.
Establishing third party liability is one of the most important stages of the public liability claims process. The more evidence you are able to provide, the more likely your claim will be successful.
The list below provides examples of evidence that may support your public injury claim:
A time limit of three years applies for public liability claims as detailed by the Limitation Act 1980. There are circumstances under which this may alter:
Both of these groups have the option for a claim to commence immediately if the courts allocate a litigation friend. This is usually a parent or concerned party who can perform all the tasks of the public liability claim for them.
Public liability for accidents in public spaces is governed by the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, which sets out a common duty of care requiring those who control premises to keep lawful visitors reasonably safe. In some cases, particularly pavement or road defects, the Highways Act 1980 applies, placing a duty on highway authorities to maintain safe conditions. Councils can rely on the Section 58 defence if they can show reasonable care was taken through regular inspections and timely repairs.
When an accident occurs on a public pavement, it’s typically brought against the local council under the Highways Act 1980. Councils can defend the case if they prove they had an appropriate inspection and maintenance system in place. By contrast, accidents in shops, gyms or restaurants are handled under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, which places responsibility on the occupier or business owner to ensure the safety of visitors.
Section 58 of the Highways Act 1980 allows a highway authority to defend a claim by showing that it took all reasonable steps to make the area safe. If inspection schedules, maintenance logs, and repair records demonstrate that the authority acted responsibly, compensation may be denied. However, if gaps in inspection or delayed repairs are proven, the defence can fail.
If an accident occurs in a private location that allows public access, such as a gym, members’ club, or privately managed car park, the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 still applies. The occupier must take reasonable steps to keep visitors safe. If this duty is breached and you’re injured, you may still be eligible to claim compensation.
Liability depends on who had control over the area where the accident happened. In some cases, a landlord, tenant, or maintenance contractor may each bear some responsibility. Examining tenancy agreements and maintenance records can help determine who owed the duty of care and who should respond to the claim.
We can obtain relevant inspection and maintenance logs from the local council as part of the legal disclosure process or through a Freedom of Information request. For CCTV, make a written request directly to the business or property owner as soon as possible, since footage is often deleted after a short retention period.
If the business responsible for your injury is uninsured or has since closed, it may still be possible to make a claim. Your solicitor can trace any existing insurer using policy records or pursue a claim against another responsible party, such as a landlord or managing agent. The key is identifying who had control of the space and a duty to ensure safety.