Public Accident Claims

The team at Aequitas Legal can find out which business or council is responsible for the area and help you make a claim by providing advice and representation throughout the process. Our aim is to ensure you have everything you might need to make a full recovery from your accident and to get you back on your feet as soon as possible.

About accidents in public

Accidents in public places can be caused by anything, from tripping over a cracked paving slab to slipping on a wet floor. However you have been injured, if it was caused by somebody else’s negligence you are entitled to make a claim for compensation. We have made claims for a number of different public premises and areas, including:

• Supermarket
• Shops and stores
• On the street
• Private properties
• Bar and Club Injuries
• Festivals

Injuries sustained can vary in severity from minor cuts and bruises to serious head or back damage, which can have far-reaching consequences. This can include having to take time off work and attending medical appointments and rehabilitation therapy. That’s why it’s important you make a compensation claim to ease the financial burden that comes with so many injuries.

Who is responsible?

The individual or group responsible for your safety differs from premises to premises, and in some cases, there may be multiple parties responsible when an accident occurs in a public place. Generally speaking, if you are injured on a road or pavement then the local council will be held accountable if they have failed to follow health and safety legislation, while those who own or are in charge of a premise will be responsible should you have an accident there.

At Aequitas Legal, we are skilled in determining exactly who is responsible for your injury so the right insurance company is approached when we help you make a claim.

What to do when you’ve been injured

There are a number of steps you can take to help strengthen your public liability claim. However, you should only consider these options if your injury does not require immediate medical assistance.

1. Take down the details of any witnesses to the accident, including name, telephone number and address.
2. Photograph the area in which you suffered an injury, for example, any cracks in the pavement, potholes in the road or damaged parts of a property. It is useful to include an item in the photograph that helps determine the size of the fault, e.g. a 50 pence piece resting against the hazard.
3. Report the incident to the relevant authority. For public areas, such as roads and pavements, the accident should be reported to the local council. For property, including supermarkets, shops and restaurants, it should be reported to the owner or manager and a record should be made in the accident book.
4. Check to see if there are any CCTV cameras that could have caught the accident and, if so, ask for a copy.

Please note that these steps are to be solely taken as guidance and are not to be considered comprehensive legal advice. For assistance with a personal injury claim, please get in touch with Aequitas Legal.

Making a claim for compensation

Before you make a claim for an accident in a public place, there are three questions you must ask yourself:

• Did your accident take place in the last three years?
• Do you know who is responsible for your injuries?
• Have you notified the business or local council about the accident?

If you are unsure about who is responsible for the land or area where your accident took place, we can undertake a detailed investigation to find out who it belongs to so that you’re able to make a claim.

For more information on making a claim, take a look at our guide to the compensation process.

Why choose Aequitas Legal?

Our solicitors have settled many personal injury claims for those who have suffered as a result of someone else’s negligence. For that reason, we understand exactly what it takes to make a successful claim for compensation. This compensation can help ease the burden of an injury.

From the start to the very end of your claim, you will be assigned your own personal injury solicitor, who will have been specifically chosen for their expertise in your public liability case. This allows a rapport to be built between the two of you and means you can be assured that you will always be kept up to date and will have a solicitor working for you who knows how much this compensation will help.

How we have helped others

To read about how we have helped others who have been in a similar situation to you following an accident in public, please take a look at our case studies.

Start your claim today

“Whether you’re shopping in the supermarket, playing in the park with your children or walking down the street, local businesses and councils have to ensure that the area or premises are safe to use.”

Call us for reliable, accessible and friendly advice:
0161 358 0800