Public Liability Claims

This guide will explain when public liability claims could be made after the party in control of a public space acted negligently, causing you to be injured.

In this guide, we will look at who is liable for an accident in a public place and how an injury could occur due to negligence. Furthermore, we will look at how claims of this nature can be valued and give you an idea of what a settlement in a successful claim could be made up of.

Public Interest Lawyers works with a panel of solicitors with solid experience helping claimants like you. A solicitor can manage your compensation claim if you have enough supporting evidence.

Please contact Public Interest Lawyers using the details below to see if you can start to claim compensation:

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What Are Public Liability Claims?
Who Could You Make Public Liability Claims Against?
How Long Does A Public Liability Claim Take?
Evidence For A Public Liability Claim
Examples Of Payouts For Public Liability Claims
No Win No Fee Public Liability Claims

What Are Public Liability Claims?

Under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, those in control of spaces that the public can access have a legal duty of care towards those who use that space. In legislation, the person who has control over a space is called the occupier.

A public liability claim could be valid if:

You were owed a duty of care by the party who controlled the space
They breached this duty
This breach and the subsequent accident caused you to be injured.

Types Of Public Liability Injury Claims

Here are some examples of when public liability claims could be valid:

Slip, trip and fall accidents caused by a lack of appropriate signage warning of hazards
Exposure to hazardous substances could happen if cleaning materials are not sealed up and stored properly
Burn injuries. For example, you could experience a burnt chest from hot food as a result of negligence.

If you have any more questions about the kinds of accidents that could entitle you to make a claim, speak with a member of our team today.

Who Could You Make Public Liability Claims Against?

Below, we have included some examples of when you could make a compensation claim against an organisation or entity.

A gym or leisure centre
A school, college or university
In a shopping facility, such as a shopping centre
Train stations and those responsible for operating them and keeping them safe
Government bodies such as National Highways
A local authority with control over a pavement
A restaurant, cafe or another business that serves food if it made an error that led you to suffer an illness, such as salmonella.

A specialist can give you free legal advice about claiming compensation. Speak with a member of our team today, and if you have a valid claim, you could be connected with a lawyer from our panel.

How Long Does A Public Liability Claim Take?

There are many variables that could impact how long a claim takes so we’re not able to answer this question; however, we can offer guidance on how long you have to begin a claim. Under the Limitation Act 1980, there is generally a three-year time limit to begin public liability compensation claims. This runs from the date of the accident.

There are exceptions to this time limit. For example, if the injured person is under the age of 18, the time limit is suspended, and a litigation friend can claim on their behalf. Once they turn 18, they have 3 years in which to start a personal injury claim themselves if one hasn’t already been made.

If the injured party lacks the mental capacity to start their own claim, then the time limit will be frozen indefinitely. If, at a later point, the injured person recovers their mental capacity, then the time limit will start from the day of recovery. However, when the time limit is frozen, it is possible that a litigation friend could claim on the injured person’s behalf.

For more information on the exceptions that apply to these time limits, speak with a member of our team today.

Evidence For A Public Liability Claim

Evidence is required to support a public liability claim. You’ll need to provide evidence that confirms your injuries and shows how they occurred because a party breached a duty of care they owed you.

Examples of evidence that could support your case may include:

Medical records that confirm your injuries.
Video footage of the incident that caused your injury, such as CCTV footage.
Photographs of the accident scene and any visible injuries you suffered.
The contact details of any witnesses who can provide a statement about the accident that caused your injuries.

A personal injury solicitor could assist with gathering evidence if one is supporting your claim. You can contact our team of advisors for free today for more information about gathering evidence or other steps of the claiming process. They could also potentially connect you with a solicitor on our panel if they deem you to have a strong case.

Examples Of Payouts For Public Liability Claims

In a successful personal injury claim, you’ll be awarded general damages. This head of claim takes into account the pain, suffering and loss of amenity that your injuries have caused you.

You can use the table below to give you an idea of the potential value of your general damages payment. The table contents are based on Judicial College Guidelines (16th edition). These are used to help assign a value to general damages.

Injury And Severity	Payout Guidelines	Description
Multiple Serious Injuries And Special Damages	Up to £750,000+	If you're eligible to make a public liability claim for multiple serious injuries, then you may receive a payout covering all of these plus any relevant special damages, such as loss of earnings.
Very Severe Brain Injury	£344,150 to £493,000	There will be few, if any, signs of meaningful response to their surroundings from the injured party and full-time nursing care will be required.
Moderate Brain Injury (i)	£183,190 to £267,340	Effects of the brain injury will usually include a personality change, severe intellectual deficit and a significant risk of epilepsy.
Amputation Of One Arm (i)	Not less than £167,380	An arm has been amputated at the shoulder.
Total Or Effective Loss Of One Hand	£117,360 to £133,810	A hand was crushed and later surgically amputated. Or the fingers and most of the palm were traumatically amputated.
Amputation / Loss Of One Foot	£102,470 to £133,810	In terms of compensation, this amputation is treated similarly to a below-knee amputation due to the loss of a useful ankle joint.
Severe Knee Injury (iii)	£31,960 to £53,030	Pain, discomfort and limitation of movement will likely be symptoms of a knee injury covered by this bracket. Remedial surgery may be needed in the long term.
Less Serious Leg Injury (i)	£21,920 to £33,880	This bracket covers either fractures that lead to an incomplete recovery or serious soft tissue injuries.
Severe Toe Injury	£16,770 to £25,710	Severe crush injuries that may necessitate amputation or other injuries such as a bursting wound may be covered by this bracket.
Moderate Thumb Injuries	Up to £11,720	Relatively straightforward fractures or lacerations to one or multiple toes may be covered by this bracket.

These figures should only be used as a guide, and the actual amount you receive might vary.

Can You Claim A Special Damage Payout?

You could also receive a special damages payment. This head of claim can compensate you for the financial impact that your injuries have resulted in.

For example, this could include:

Medical costs
Travel and parking costs
Care expenses
Reimbursement for loss of earnings if your injuries stopped you from working
A payment to cover the cost of adapting your home or purchasing mobility equipment, if your injuries caused a disability

For an assessment of the value of your particular claim, speak with a member of our team today. You could be connected with a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel.

No Win No Fee Public Liability Claims

Feel free to reach out to our team of advisors today to see if you meet the criteria to make a public injury liability claim. If you do have a valid claim, you could be put in touch with a legal representative.

If you use our services, a solicitor could handle your claim on a No Win No Fee basis; specifically, under a kind of No Win No Fee agreement called a Conditional Fee Agreement. This generally means that:

You won’t have to pay your lawyer before work begins on your claim, as it’s ongoing or in the case it’s not a success
If your case is a success, then your lawyer will take a success fee from your award
You won’t have to pay your lawyer for the services they have provided if you dont receive compensation.

The Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013 caps the success fee that your lawyer can take. Contact us today to see if you are eligible to claim for a public place accident.

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