Last updated 23/04/2026. A public park accident compensation claim refers to any public liability claim taken after sustaining injuries in a park due to your reasonable safety not being protected. Public parks are typically under the control of the area local authority, meaning any claim is usually made against them. Public park accident compensation may be sought for physical injuries and financial harm resulting from slips and falls caused by broken paths, accidents involving faulty play equipment, or broken benches and picnic tables. These claims can be made on a 100% No Win No Fee basis, protecting you from paying anything upfront and only owing a fee if the claim is won, in the majority of cases.
All of us at Public Interest Lawyers understand the challenges in pursuing a claim of any variety, but that challenge takes on new significance when it is your child that has been hurt. Parks are supposed to be safe, well-managed spaces for exercise, spending time with your family and enjoying being outdoors. So when something goes wrong, it can be deeply frustrating and upsetting. Our advice team can provide further guidance on your next steps and tell you within minutes if you have a valid claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I Make A Public Park Accident Compensation Claim?
- Can I Claim If My Child Had An Accident In A Park?
- Public Park Accident And Injury Examples
- How Much Compensation Can I Get For Being Injured In A Public Park?
- How Can I Prove Liability After A Public Park Injury?
- How Long Will I Have To Start A Public Park Compensation Claim?
- Why Make Park Accident Claims With Public Interest Lawyers?
- No Win No Fee Claims Park Accidents With Public Interest Lawyers
- More Information
Can I Make A Public Park Accident Compensation Claim?
Yes, you can make a public park accident compensation claim if your injuries were caused by someone else. But first, you need to establish negligence. This term can have a lot of different meanings, but in a legal setting, it means that:
- You were owed a duty of care (Someone else was responsible for your health and safety)
- They breached this duty of care
- You got hurt as a result of this breach
When you’re out in a public park, you’re owed a duty of care by a few different parties. These are set out by some important pieces of legislation, including:
- The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957: This states that when you’re in a public space, the person in control of that space owes you a duty of care. To fulfil this, they need to ensure your reasonable safety while visiting.
- The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974: Section 3 of this legislation states that in spaces run by councils, they need to ensure that the public, as non-employees, are not exposed to health and safety risks.
- The Highways Act 1980: Councils have a duty to maintain paths and pavements that they are responsible for, including some in public parks.
This means that if you or your child were injured by faulty play equipment, a defective path, or a similar risk that the person in control of that space was aware of, you could potentially make a claim.
Contact our team today to start your free consultation and find out if you could be entitled to compensation. Or, keep reading to find out if you could make a claim on behalf of your child.
Can I Claim If My Child Had An Accident In A Park?
Yes, you can make a claim if your child was injured in a park. To do this, you need to act as their litigation friend. A litigation friend is an adult who makes a claim on behalf of someone who cannot claim for themselves, either because they are:
- A child under the age of 18
- Lacking the required mental capacity to make their own claim
When you act as a litigation friend, you have a duty to handle the claims process and to act in your child’s best interests. For example, this means you need to do your best to keep them informed about the process and pay any costs ordered by the court.
If you’re interested in making a public park accident compensation claim on behalf of your child, contact our team of advisors today.
Public Park Accident And Injury Examples
Unfortunately, public park accidents can happen to anyone. There are countless ways that you could be injured in a park, but it’s important to remember that negligence needs to occur in order to make a claim. For example, negligence in a public park could look like:
- The council are aware that a swingset in a park is broken, but they do not signpost this error or make any effort to have it repaired. This causes it to collapse while your child is using it, resulting in serious head injuries and major bruising.
- Despite being aware of a dangerously uneven paving slab, the council does not mark the defect or attempt to have it repaired. This causes you to slip and fall, resulting in a concussion and a broken arm.
- Despite being reported as broken, the council allows a defective picnic bench to remain in use. When you sit on it, the wood splinters in two and pierces your leg, damaging the nerves and resulting in a partial amputation.
We are here to help. If you or your child has been injured in a park, our advisors can offer you a free consultation. This can help to give you an idea of whether or not you could be entitled to public park accident compensation, with no obligations and no strings attached.
How Much Compensation Can I Get For Being Injured In A Public Park?
One of the most common questions we get regarding the public park accident claims process is, “How much compensation could I get?” Naturally, you’d want to know how much you could get from a successful claim, especially when many injuries can bring unforeseen financial consequences.
Because of this, personal injury compensation is split into two heads. The first heading that we’re going to talk about is called general damages, and this covers your injuries, their severity, and the effect that they have on your quality of life.
Often, solicitors and other professionals will use the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to help them calculate this head of your claim. This is because the JCG outlines guideline brackets of compensation for different injuries, illnesses, and conditions.
You can find some examples of these brackets in the table below, but please note that these aren’t guaranteed brackets. It’s also important to note that the first figure in this table is not from the JCG.
| Injury | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Multiple severe injuries and special damages, which might include lost earnings or the cost of childcare | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Very Severe Brain Damage | £372,570 to £533,720 |
| Severe Back Injuries (ii) | £97,980 to £116,820 |
| Severe Leg Injuries (iii) Serious | £51,790 to £72,440 |
| Chest Injuries (c) | £38,210 to £66,920 |
| Severe Pelvis And Hip Injuries (iii) | £51,750 to £69,360 |
| Less Severe Arm Injury | £25,370 to £51,750 |
| Moderate (i) Neck Injuries | £33,020 to £50,850 |
| Serious Shoulder Injuries | £16,870 to £25,370 |
| Moderate Hand Injury | £7,520 to £17,540 |
Public Park Accident Special Damages
The second head of compensation that you could get from a public park injury claim is called special damages. This heading helps you recoup any financial losses resulting from your injuries.
For example, this might include the cost of:
- Current and future lost earnings, bonuses, or pension contributions
- Childcare
- Prescriptions
- Medical treatment
- Mobility aids, like a cane or a wheelchair
- Physical therapy
- Counselling
- Travel to and from appointments
It’s important to keep in mind that you’ll need evidence to prove that your injuries caused these losses. Keeping relevant invoices, bills, and receipts can help you with this. Keep reading to learn more about proving a public park accident compensation claim, or contact our team if you’re ready to get started.
How Can I Prove Liability After A Public Park Injury?
One of the most important steps in the claims process is gathering evidence to strengthen your case. This is also one of the factors that will affect how much compensation you get, because the amount you receive will depend on the severity of your injuries.
You can prove a public park claim with evidence such as:
- Medical records, including scans and X-rays of your injuries
- Photographs of any visible injuries, like cuts or bruises
- CCTV footage of the accident, if the park was fitted with a CCTV system
- Photographs of the accident site, such as a broken bench or an uneven paving slab
- The contact details of anyone who witnessed the accident, which allows their statements to be taken later
If this all seems complex or daunting, don’t worry; you don’t need to do it alone. We partner with a panel of expert public liability solicitors, and they can focus on proving your claim while you focus on your recovery.
How Long Will I Have To Start A Public Park Compensation Claim?
Usually, you have 3 years to start a public park accident compensation claim. This time limit applies to all personal injury claims and is set out by the Limitation Act 1980.
However, this time limit does not apply to those who can’t make their own claims, either because they are under 18 or because they lack the required mental capacity. In both of these cases, a litigation friend can handle the claim on their behalf, but they need to be aware of the exceptions to the time limit.
For those under the age of 18, a litigation friend can make a claim at any point until they turn 18. If a claim hasn’t already been made, they’ll have three years from their birthday to make one themselves.
The time limit is not enforced for those lacking the mental capacity needed to claim unless they recover. This isn’t always possible, so a litigation friend can make a claim on their behalf at any point.
Don’t wait to start your claim; contact our team of expert advisors today to find out if you are within the time limit, or keep reading to find out how our solicitors can help.
Why Make Park Accident Claims With Public Interest Lawyers?
By choosing to make park accident claims with Public Interest Lawyers, you’re going to be working with a specialist public liability solicitor who has both the years of experience and proven success in the field to give your claim the best possible chance. We pride ourselves on providing a range of tailored services that put your specific needs first.
Here are just some of the ways Public Interest Lawyers can help you and the services we offer:
- Get you or your child to the right medical specialists for all necessary treatment after the accident.
- Organising a professional site photographer to get photographs of the broken pavement, play equipment or damaged tree.
- Assisting you with gathering other evidence, such as medical records, and interviewing potential witnesses.
- Determining an accurate compensation figure that takes into account both the injuries sustained and any financial harm that you have experienced.
- Corresponding with the council and keeping you informed of how the claim is progressing.
- Negotiating a settlement on your behalf.
You can learn more about how our experts can help you after an accident in a public park by reaching out to our advisors today.
No Win No Fee Claims Park Accidents With Public Interest Lawyers
We pride ourselves on offering eligible claimants clear, easy-to-understand No Win No Fee terms for their public park accident claim. Our solicitors offer their services under a type of contract called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This agreement will protect you from having to pay any solicitor services upfront or during the actual claim, making this one of the most financially sound methods of seeking compensation. As the CFA is a No Win No Fee contract, there’s no service fee payable if the claim is not won.
If you do win the case however, your solicitor will take a success fee from your compensation. Legally, solicitors can charge a maximum rate of 25% as a success fee so you really are in the strongest position possible when claiming under a CFA.
Contact Public Interest Lawyers
Are you ready to get started, or do you have more concerns? Whatever it is you need, we are here to help. Get in touch with a member of our team today by:
- Calling us on 0800 073 8803
- Using the live chat feature
- Contact us online
More Information
To learn more about making a claim for an injury in a public place:
- Find out how to claim for an accident in a pub
- Get help making an accident at school claim
Or, to find more helpful resources:
- First aid basics from the NHS
- Find a local public park via GOV.UK
- Learn how to request CCTV footage of yourself
Thank you for reading our guide on how to make a public park accident compensation claim.