4 Theatre St, Norwich NR2 1QY
01603 214 220
Accidents in a Public Place
All manner of accidents occur in public places. While the most common are trips, slips and falls, accidents can take place in a variety of different ways.
Owners of property have a legal duty to maintain the safety of lawful visitors to their property and if an accident could have been avoided you might be entitled to damages as a result.
Whether you have tripped on a paving slab or slipped in the supermarket, we can advise you on the merits of your claim and act on your behalf to get the best possible outcome. We will gather witness evidence about the accident circumstances, as well as medical evidence from suitable experts who can comment on the extent and long-term impact of any injuries.
Even if you believe you may have contributed in some way to your accident, you may still be entitled to compensation, provided we can show that someone else was partly to blame. It is important to speak to us as soon as you can to ensure the timely gathering of witness evidence that will help your case.
Examples of accidents in public places:
- Supermarket spillages
- Falls on icy pavements
- Trips on uneven paths or road surfaces
- Falls in a hospital, shop, leisure centre or train station
Most property is covered by public liability insurance. That means most public injury claims are directed towards an insurance company rather than the individual property owner.
Public property such as a footpath or road is usually maintained by the local authority and any accident arising as a result of defects are made against the council. The local authority has a statutory duty to maintain public roads and footpaths. There are cases of individuals successfully suing councils for uneven pavements.
Our expertise
Our Accidents and Injuries team is experienced in seeking compensation for accidents in public places. They will liaise with insurance companies to pursue claims successfully.
Our team is comprised of experienced Personal Injury Specialist Colin Cook, and injury claim specialists Solicitor Sara Westwood.
Telephone: 01603 214 220
Accidents in public places case studies
Crush injury at an MOT testing station
The Claimant suffered quite a nasty crush injury when he was at an MOT testing station. A ramp was lowered onto his feet causing crush injuries. Fortunately, although the Claimant had quite nasty injuries the Claimant was still able to walk. His loss of earnings was quite tricky to work out due to previous accidents and medical history. The medical evidence was difficult due to several pre-existing medical issues and the possibility of needing surgery on his feet. Eventually a not insubstantial amount of compensation was recovered for the Claimant.
Hand injury on a poorly maintained public highway
The Claimant suffered a nasty hand injury when she tripped on a highway which was not maintained property by Norfolk County Council. The Council denied liability, but we backed the case and having started Court proceedings the Council backed down and admitted responsibility. The Claimant had a subtle ongoing problem which meant that her career as a photographer, which she had always enjoyed, would not be possible to continue. She recovered compensation for the losses she suffered as a photographer but was fortunately well skilled and able to carry out other work reducing the value of the case that the Council had to meet. A good settlement was reached which the Claimant was happy with.
How we
can help you
Accidents and injuries can have a wide range of effects, many of which may not be obvious immediately after an accident. As a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), the Brain Injury Group and Headway our team has represented victims in a wide range of cases.
To find out more about our expertise, please call:
01603 214 220Contact one of the team:
Make an enquiry
Get in touch via the form or call our helpful team on
01603 214 220
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Delivering thought-leading expertise and understanding from our expert solicitors and staff.
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85k settlement for employee claimant with no memory of injury
He was tasked by his employer with loading a flat bed lorry in readiness for his deliveries later that day. The Claimant was later found unconscious next to the lorry with clear signs that he had sustained trauma to his head.
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What happens if i make a personal injury claim against my employer
A Claimant must show their employer contributed to or caused the injuries suffered as a result of a workplace accident. An employer may be liable for your injury for reasons including unsafe work systems, lack of personal protective equipment, unfit premises, insufficient training, co-worker negligence or damaged/unsafe work equipment.
