Public Liability Injuries
What is a public liability claim?
Public liability compensation covers an extensive range of locations where accidents can happen. Every situation is different, and anyone who frequents shopping centres or other popular public places could encounter minor, major or possibly tragic accidents or incidents. Accidents and incidents are bound to occur on occasion, and if injuries are serious you may be able to claim damages for covering lost earnings, medical expenses, rehabilitation, pain and suffering and lost quality of life. Shopping precinct public liability claims include slip, trip and fall accidents, escalator and shopping trolley accidents, injuries caused by obstructions or faulty doors, food poisoning and many other situations where injury claims for compensation are justified Common claim scenarios include:
- Injuries while at the supermarket;
- Injury in a shopping or tourist precinct;
- Injuries occurring in a car park;
- Injuries in rental accommodation;
- Schoolyard and sporting injuries.
Public liability is a complex area of law with each case scenario requiring careful analysis, so you should speak to your lawyer regarding the injury facts and circumstances. To make things easier all-round, Taylor & Scott Lawyers offer a free case assessment and the famous no-win no-fee policy. Put into context, this means that Taylor & Scott will back your case all the way if there is a reasonable chance of a successful claim, without you having to pay a cent until the case is won and compensation has been paid.
How can compensation lawyers help with a public liability claim in 2020?
A successful public liability claim is made by establishing fault in the person or organisation overseeing facilities where the accident occurred. Damages are dependent on the extent of injury plus ongoing effects, and building a strong claim is the best way to achieve optimum claim damages. Taylor & Scott Lawyers have been winning cases for clients since 1905, and being well known as public liability lawyers, we are rightly placed to guide your claim process from start to successful finish. Public Liability damages cover economic and non-economic loss, and can include:- Loss of income (past, present and future);
- Medical expenses and hospital costs;
- Ongoing care and nursing arrangements;
- Payment for pain and suffering
- Damages for care gratuitously provided to you and for your inability to provide services to others as a result of the injury
Examples of successful claims
- A pedestrian walking along the footpath when a piece of timber falls onto them from a building site;
- A pedestrian walking on a footpath when struck in the face by a gate not properly secured;
- A member of a club suffering injury due to the failure of the club to adequately light an area;
- A member of a club suffering injury when the club fails to put markings on clear sheets of glass and the club patron walks into that glass;
- Patrons of clubs, restaurants and hotels being injured by dangerously sharp chairs upon which they are seated.
- At Taylor & Scott, we have acted in numerous public liability claims. The most common that everyone knows about are slip and fall claims in shopping centres, car parks and other public places. Food poisoning and theme/leisure park accidents are included as well, but there are many other public liability claims.
What to do if I am injured at the supermarket?
A supermarket operator may be liable if they fail to ensure the floors are routinely inspected and cleaned, or if they fail to erect warning signs of any danger. You should report the incident to the supermarket management and seek advice from your lawyer. In most cases, the supermarket owner will have a public liability insurance policy in place, along with professional indemnity insurance or other relevant business insurance to cover accidents and injuries.Who do I talk to first if I am injured in rental accommodation?
If a rental accommodation owner doesn’t take reasonable steps to remove slip or trip hazards, and a tenant or visitor is injured, the owner may be held liable. However, if the slip or trip hazards present an obvious risk and the tenant or visitor ignored the risk, the owner of the premises may not be held liable.What information do I need in a public liability claim?
Firstly, seek medical attention for your injuries, and if possible, immediately report the incident to the relevant authority/council, store owner, centre management or another person responsible for health and safety in the vicinity of the accident or incident. If possible, take photos of the area where you were injured and obtain contact details for any available witness. Contact Taylor & Scott Lawyers as soon as possible for a case assessment and preliminary advice regarding your rights and responsibilities.How can I make a public liability claim if I have ongoing injuries?
For a successful public liability claim, you will first need to prove that your injury was caused by the negligence of another person or organisation. Negligence requires the following elements:- Your injury was the result of a person/company at fault by breaching their duty of care;
- The person or company owed you a duty of care;
- Your injuries are directly linked to the breach of a duty of care.
A public liability compensation claim should be commenced within 3 years from the date the incident occurred, although there are exceptions where the time limits can be extended with leave of a court. Compensation lawyers help to strengthen public liability claims, and the professional legal services from Taylor & Scott Lawyers will show you the way forward.