Accidents in Public Claims
Accidents in Public
Have you been involved in a accident in a public place that wasn’t your fault?
No one ever predicts that they are to be involved in an accident and sustain a sudden injury.
Often, these unexpected injuries not only cause long-term damage and pain but prevent a victim from enjoying, or merely ‘getting on with’, everyday life.
If you have been injured in an accident in a public place within the last 3 years that wasn’t your fault then contact us at DIYPI personal injury. We will get you back on the road to recovery as quickly as possible.
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Making a accident in public claim
People who have suffered as a result of an accident in a public place, at home or abroad, are often unaware that they can claim compensation for their injuries, predominantly because there is uncertainty of who you can actually claim against.
If you have found yourself reading this guide, then you or someone you know has probably had an accident in a public space and you are trying to gain more insight on where to go from here.
As defined by Law Insider, a public place is a place to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access. This includes, but is by no means limited to, streets, gyms, schools, hospitals, apartments, office buildings, transport facilities, and shops.
Where businesses or local authorities have not conducted thorough and regular risk assessments nor mitigated for present dangers within a premises, they have therefore abandoned their duty of care to protect the welfare of the general public.
It is very easy in such situations to blame yourself and move on with your life following a public accident, however owners of public premises are legally required to keep the public (and employees) safe under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
The most common types of injuries come from slips, trips and falls, falling objects and broken glass, if you’ve been injured and it wasn’t your own fault, contact us to make a no-win-no-fee claim.
Did you know?
Public Liability Statistics. In the year ending 31 March 2020, there were 72,587 public liability claims registered with the Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU).
Public liability insurance covers situations where a member of the public (e.g., customer, passer-by, etc.) claims your business has caused personal injury or property damage.
It’s frequently available with £1M, £2M, £5M and £10M of cover.
Did you know if a business unintentionally causes bodily injury or property damage to a third party, public liability can cover:
- Legal costs
- Compensation payments
- Medical bills
- Repair costs
Accidents in Public
The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 174 outlines the duty of those who has, to any extent, control of premises to take measures as it is reasonable for a person in their position to ensure that the premises is or are safe and without risk to health.
This responsibility is relevant to not just private bodies, but public bodies such as the local council.
Most common incidents include:
- Supermarket or shopping accidents: Cleaning up spillages and signposting a wet floor as soon as possible.
- Slip, trip, and falling accidents where public spaces are not clear of obstacles and the lack of adequate lighting to avoid accidents. This includes the negligence to clear pathways in snowy or icy conditions, as well as falls caused by debris left over from building work.
- Pavement accidents, often as a result of poorly maintained pavements, paths and roads. This includes broken tarmac, uneven paving stones, and raised tripping hazards. These claims are often made against the appropriate local public authority.
- Sporting injuries, where gym equipment has malfunctioned, a lack of safety gear provided, or dangerous ground conditions.
- Injuries whilst on holiday, including injuries on public transport, injuries sustained during a day excursion, injury caused by poor hotel hygiene or food poisoning, or injuries caused by a defective rental vehicle.
Physical effects of a Public accident
Accidents in public can cause serious injuries. Some people walk away with only minor bruises, whilst other people have severe injuries that have lasting physical effects for the rest of their lives. The injuries sustained are generally musculoskeletal injuries.
When these injuries occur as a result of someone else’s negligence, victims have a right to seek compensation.
Psychological Stress
In addition to a serious physical injury, some factory workers suffer from psychological stress too.
During the healing process – the duration of which fluctuates from person to person, depending on injuries and personal circumstances – some people notice signs of increased stress. One such condition often cited being Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (or PTSD).
Elsewhere, anxiety, depression, anguish, fearfulness, issues with sleep and reoccurring nightmares about the crash can play out.
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Our qualified team are equipped with everything that it takes to handle your claim journey, from beginning to end.
After 18 years, we are well placed to make sure that you’re in receipt of a comprehensive litigation package, designed to protect both you and your family.
Times change, and with it so does the nuances of the legal sector. We grant you access to solicitors who will ultimately guide you towards the most advantageous outcome to your case.
Frequently asked Questions
Who are you claiming against in relation to public liability?
In principle, it is the authority responsible for the injury, however in reality, the claim will be made against their insurer.
Public liability insurance will cover an organisation for negligence claims made against them from members of the public.
What's the time limit for making a claim in a public place?
There is a time limit for claiming compensation for your public injury.
In most cases, victims of public injury claims must claim within three years of the accident, however there are exceptions for certain situations.
Examples often relate to a lack of capacity to claim against a negligent body because of the injuries you sustained. Furthermore, if you were under the age of 18 when the accident occurred and your parent or guardian did not claim on your behalf, but you wish to, you can claim until your 21st birthday.
What is general damages?
Negligence within public premises can cause physical, mental, and financial damages, all of which you can claim for.
General damages include being compensated for your loss of amenity from your injury as well as the pain and suffering caused to you because of the incident.
What is special damages?
You can also be awarded compensation for losses incurred through lack of earnings, including future potential earning, as well as expenses incurred through travel, equipment, and prescription.
It is important to keep a record of the necessary spending sustained due to the injury to claim for these more nuanced damages.
How DIYPI can help with a public liability accident claim.......
With access to the top personal injury lawyers in the country our experienced team will find the right lawyer for your case and work hard to gain you the full amount of compensation you deserve.
Our friendly team treat each claim with the upmost care and attention to ensure that we secure you the most fair and reasonable financial outcome possible. With a free claims assessment and No Win No Fee* policy, you’ve got nothing to lose.
Putting it simply, an organisation owed you a duty of care, this duty was breached, and as a result caused you injury or harm.
It is your right to gain fair compensation for these damages. No one should have to experience injury through the fault of a negligent authority. Compensation may not fix the damages, but it may alleviate suffering and future worries that you may have.
*What is 'No Win No Fee'?*
A No Win No Fee agreement, also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) in the legal world, is an arrangement between a claimant and solicitor. In simple terms a ‘No Win No Fee’ arrangement means that you will not pay a fee if your claim is unsuccessful.
*No Win No Fee * typically customers pay 25% of the amount recovered to our solicitors, although this will be subject to your individual circumstances and the actual fee may be more or less than this.
If you cancel the claim after the cooling-off period of 14 days you may be charged a cancellation fee by the solicitor.
