Accidents in a public place compensation claims
Accidents do happen. Every year people are injured by accidents through no fault of their own in public places. This can be, for instance, when shopping at the local supermarket, walking along the pavement, visiting a restaurant, being at school or college or enjoying a holiday.
The fault is not always obvious so let our experience guide you. Our expert personal injury solicitors are highly trained and experienced in applying the sometimes complex laws governing accidents in public places so that we can help people like you.
What is the definition of a public place?
One of the biggest misconceptions is that a privately owned space or property is not considered a public place. This is not true, by definition any space that can be access by the public, either by paying or not paying, is considered a public space. Therefore the rules that are put in place for safety of the public do apply in these instances. Below are some examples of a public place:
- Shops, bars and restaurants
- Cinemas, theatres and music venues
- Parks, roads and paths
- Museums, and tourist attractions
- Sports venues that include gyms and running tracks
Those affected by public space accidents may suffer financial loss, loss of earnings and the need to pay for on-going treatment and care. They may also suffer on-going pain and disability, as well as psychological issues caused by pain and stress.
Our specialist accidents solicitors may be able to help you recover the financial losses incurred, costs for on-going care and rehabilitation and compensation for the stress and trauma caused by your accident.
How much does an accident in a public place compensation amount to?
This really depends on your circumstances and the severity of your injury. This can vary between individuals, but be rest assured that our specialist team is experienced in ensuring that you and your family receive the maximum compensation you are entitled to.
Compensation will include an award for the:
- pain, injury or illness;
- lost earnings or if it has affected your ability to carry on working in the role you were working in;
- incurred expenditure you would not otherwise have incurred to replace or repair damaged property;
- medical bills; or
- adaptions made to your home
We will investigate whether you have a legitimate claim free of charge, and without obligation. If we believe you have a claim, we can act on your behalf on a no win, no fee basis.
How long does accident in a public place claim take?
There are a number of factors that affect an accident in a public place claim. These make it difficult to give an exact timescale and are affected by:
- The availability to collect evidence;
- Where the entity responsible admits liability; and
- The nature of your injury and illness.
It’s important to consider all these factors as our specialist solicitors need to evaluate the true impact of your injury when calculating your compensation.
The fault is not always obvious so let our experience guide you. Our expert personal injury solicitors are highly trained and experienced in applying the sometimes complex laws governing accidents in public places so that we can help people like you.
Key Contact
Carlos is a Senior Associate in the Serious Injury Team. He joined Hugh James in 2012. With over two decades of pursing personal injury claims, Carlos is a highly experienced solicitor specialising in cases where clients have suffered life changing and catastrophic injuries, particularly loss of limb and polytrauma.
Carlos adopts a holistic approach ensuring rehabilitation is prioritised together with interim payments in the early stages of the claim.
With an empathetic and client- focused approach, Carlos strives to provide clear and straight forward legal guidance to clients while being mindful of the physical, emotional and financial challenges his clients face.
Your questions answered
During your free, no-obligation consultation our specialist solicitors will discuss whether you are entitled to make a claim. If negligence is established, we will discuss the various options with you, including the no win, no fee element of your personal injury claim. You will be provided with a step-by-step breakdown of how we will proceed with your accident compensation claim without obligation to proceed.
We provide free advice and guidance when investigating your claim without obligation. During a free consultation, carried out in person or via telephone, we will discuss your claim with you and the various funding options available. In the vast majority of cases, our claims are funded on a no win, no fee basis, also known as Conditional Fee Agreements (CFAs). This means that if your case is unsuccessful you will not have to pay anything. We will only take on your case if, after assessing your claim, we decide that there is a reasonable chance of success.
Only a small percentage of personal injury claims will actually proceed to trial though we do prepare every case in depth to make sure we are ready should it go to court. The personal injury procedural system is geared towards encouraging parties to be open with each other so that any claims for compensation can be settled without the need for going to court, which can save both time and cost. A lot of people are naturally nervous and uncomfortable about going to court. We understand this and will advise you every step of the way, should your case reach a trial.
There are strict time limits in personal injury claims. The usual rule is that a potential claimant has three years from the date of an accident within which to bring a claim for compensation. The court does have the discretion to override the three year period, but it is not regularly exercised. Although there is a three year period within which to bring court proceedings, it is important that you seek legal advice as soon as possible should you believe you might have a claim.
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