Accidents in public places

Accidents in public places

An accident in a public place can happen anywhere from a street to a supermarket. Local authorities and businesses have a duty to keep you safe. However, if you have suffered an injury as a result of another’s failure to keep you safe, you could be entitled to compensation.

Free Initial Discussion

For a no-obligation discussion, call our specialist Personal Injury Solicitors on 01642 247656, email us at info@watsonwoodhouse.co.uk or use our contact form, and we will call you back.

What type of accident can I claim for?

We have thousands of clients claim compensation from accidents in public places including:

• Slips, trips and falls
• Accidents on the street or in areas owned or managed by Local Authorities
• Accidents in supermarkets, shops and shopping centres
• Accidents while taking part in sporting activities (such as football, karate and in the gym)
• Accidents involving children
• Animal Injury Claims/ Dog Bite and Attack Claims
• Incidents in Beauty Treatment Compensation Claims

Who is the claim made against?

If you have been involved in an accident or incident in a public place and you have suffered an injury but you are unsure who is at fault, our specialist personal injury team can help you claim compensation.

Some claims can be made against a Local Authority that owns or has responsibility for the area in which the accident or incident took place.

Other claims may be made against a business or organisation, such as a shop, supermarket or gym.

If you have been involved in an accident at work or you believe your employer is responsible for your injuries, you may be able to pursue a claim against your employer.

If you aren’t sure who is responsible for your injuries, contact us today to speak to our experienced personal injury team. We can help investigate who is responsible for your injuries and discuss the next steps in making a claim.

How long do you have to make a personal injury claim?

It is important that you don’t wait too long before starting your personal injury claim. This is because there are strict deadlines as to when claims must be made. This is legally known as the ‘limitation date’. Details of the various limitations are contained within the ‘Limitation Act 1980’. Most personal injury claims must be made within three years of the accident or incident. However, if a child has been involved in an accident and suffered an injury, the limitation date is different:

• Children’s Claims
  • If you are bringing a claim on behalf of a child (i.e. someone who is under the age of 18), the three year limitation period does not run until they have turned 18.
  • However, you may bring a claim on behalf of a child before they turn 18 with the help of a ‘litigation friend’.
  • When a child reaches the age of 18 years of age, they can pursue a personal injury claim on their own and must issue their claim with the Court before turning 21.

This does not mean that you must settle your claim before the limitation date. Essentially, you must ensure that your claim is filed with the Court before the expiry of the limitation. Once your claim has been properly issued against all Defendants, it is unlikely that you will need to take any further steps in relation to limitation.

If you do not issue your claim in advance of the limitation date, it is likely that the Defendant will argue that your claim has been issued out of time. A Judge may also throw your case out of Court as you have failed to comply with the laws of limitation and you will be ‘statute barred’. This means you will not be allowed to take any further legal action in relation to that particular personal injury claim.

You may be able to make a personal injury claim after the limitation has passed. However, you can only usually do this in exceptional circumstances. Even then, there is no guarantee that you will be able to bring your claim after the limitation has passed.

We recommend you seek advice as soon as possible to ensure that action can be taken in advance of any limitation deadline. Personal injury claim time limits and limitation dates can be complex. However, our highly experienced lawyers can assess the limitation date and advise you on your next steps.

What should I do if I have been involved in an ‘Accident in a Public Place’?

We understand that being injured in an accident or incident in a public place can be distressing and you may not be sure what to do. However, it is important that you gather as much information as you can at this stage as it can help strengthen your case. Where possible, we would recommend you take the following steps:

• Did anyone witness the accident or incident? If so, collect their personal details. as we may wish to contact them to discuss the accident circumstances.
• If you are aware of any recordings or footage that may have captured the accident or incident taking place such as CCTV footage, doorbell footage, dash cam or body worn camera footage, request that the footage is retained and ask for a copy.
• Take photographs of where the accident took place. Make sure you photograph the hazard, faulty equipment or machinery that caused the accident or incident.
• Take photographs of your injuries.
• Report the accident or incident and your injuries.
• If you need medical assistance, keep a record of any treatment you receive.

We understand how difficult it can be to work out who is responsible for an accident or incident that happened in a public place. Our dedicated personal injury team offer you a free, no-obligation consultation.

Contact Us

Our specialist personal injury lawyers at Watson Woodhouse Solicitors are available for a free, no-obligation consultation so we can answer any further questions you have.

For more information about how Watson Woodhouse Solicitors can help you start a personal injury claim,  call our specialist Personal Injury Solicitors on 01642 247656, email us at info@watsonwoodhouse.co.uk or use our contact form, and we will call you back.