Public Liability Claims

Public Liability Claims

Occupiers of land and premises — whether private businesses, local authorities or public bodies — owe a legal duty of care to anyone who enters their property. When that duty is breached and someone is injured as a result, they may have a valid public liability claim for personal injury compensation.

At Curtis Legal, we specialise in public liability claims on behalf of clients and their families across England and Wales. We act on a no win, no fee basis, so there is no financial risk to you in pursuing a public liability claim.

Call us free on 0800 214 216 for a confidential, no-obligation conversation about your public liability claim.

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What Is a Public Liability Claim?

A public liability claim arises where you have been injured on premises owned or controlled by another party, and that party failed to take reasonable steps to keep you safe. Public liability claims can arise from a wide range of circumstances, including:

• Slips on wet floors in supermarkets, shops or restaurants
• Trips on uneven pavements, potholes or defective flooring
• Falls caused by inadequate lighting or signage
• Injuries in car parks, shopping centres or leisure facilities
• Accidents in schools, hospitals or other public buildings
• Falls on defective staircases or escalators
• Injuries caused by falling objects in public places
• Dog attack injuries

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Who Can Be Held Responsible in a Public Liability Claim?

A wide range of parties can be held liable in public liability claims, depending on who owned or controlled the premises where the accident occurred:

• Supermarkets, shops and retailers
• Restaurants, cafes and bars
• Local councils and highway authorities
• Leisure centres, gyms and sports facilities
• Hotels and holiday parks
• Schools and universities
• Hospitals and care homes
• Private landlords and property management companies

The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 places a duty on occupiers to take reasonable care to ensure that visitors are reasonably safe. Where that duty has been breached and you have been injured, there may be strong grounds for a public liability claim.

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What You Should Do After an Accident in a Public Place

If you have been injured in a public place or on private premises, these steps will help protect your public liability claim:

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What We Need to Prove in a Public Liability Claim

To bring a successful personal injury claim for a public liability accident, we will need to establish three things:

Duty of care. The occupier of the premises owed you a duty to take reasonable care for your safety. This is established by the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 and the circumstances of your visit.

Breach of duty. The occupier failed to take reasonable steps to make the premises safe. This is established through photographs, accident records, maintenance logs, witness evidence and — where necessary — expert evidence.

Causation. The breach of duty directly caused or materially contributed to your injuries. Medical evidence is essential to establish the nature, extent and cause of your injuries.

The time limit for bringing a public liability claim is generally three years from the date of the accident. Where a child was injured, the three-year period runs from their 18th birthday.

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Public Liability Claims — Compensation Outcomes

Every public liability claim is different, and the amount of compensation awarded will depend on the nature and severity of your injuries, the impact on your daily life, and any financial losses you have suffered. Compensation in public liability claims typically covers:

• General damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity
• Loss of earnings — past and future
• Medical treatment and rehabilitation costs
• Care and assistance costs
• Travel expenses to medical appointments

We will always give you a realistic assessment of what your public liability claim may be worth once we have reviewed the facts of your case.

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Our No Win, No Fee Promise

We act exclusively on a conditional fee agreement — commonly known as no win, no fee. This means:

• There are no upfront costs to pay
• If your public liability claim is unsuccessful, you pay nothing — we absorb all the costs incurred
• If your claim succeeds, we recover our base costs from the other side, and under the terms of the agreement we are entitled to a success fee. This is capped at 25% of the damages awarded, and certain elements of your compensation are ring-fenced so you receive 100% of those amounts
• We guarantee that in the event of a successful outcome, you will receive at least 75% of the total compensation awarded

There is no financial risk to you at any stage of your public liability claim.

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What Our Clients Say

“The service I received was excellent. The person who dealt with the case was very helpful and I would have no hesitation in recommending your services.”

“Excellent service throughout. The person who dealt with my matter was excellent and very helpful. I was very happy with the time it took and the outcome. There was no fuss and no trouble and not much work to be done by me as Curtis Legal did all the work on my behalf.”

“The service that I received was excellent with good solid advice. The person dealing with the matter was great support and very helpful. I would definitely use your service again but I hope I don’t have to.”

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Frequently Asked Questions About Public Liability Claims

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Speak to Simon Jenkins and the Team Today

If you have been injured in a public place or on private premises, do not wait. Time limits apply to public liability claims and early action preserves the best evidence.

Call us free on 0800 214 216 for a confidential conversation with no obligation. Alternatively, email [email protected] or complete our online enquiry form and we will call you back the same day.