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Public Liability (PL) Claim

No matter how careful we are in our day to day lives, unfortunately accidents can still happen when we’re simply out and about. Fortunately, public liability insurance is there to help cover a claim where someone has been injured through no fault of their own when in a public place.

If you have been involved in an accident in a public place you may be entitled to compensation. At Metcalfe David Eyres you will always be represented by a solicitor who will ensure that you receive as much compensation as possible. If you have been seriously injured and cannot work due to your injuries, we will do everything we can to ensure that you are provided with the support and advice you need, on issues such as loss of earnings and rehabilitation treatment.

Every accident is different but at Metcalfe David Eyres our experienced team of specialists take time to understand your situation, clearly explain the implications and are sympathetic and supportive of what you want to achieve.

What is a public liability accident?

A public liability accident is any accident which happens in a public place. This can be whilst walking along the pavement of your street or the inside of your supermarket whilst you’re doing your weekly “big shop”. Businesses have to take all reasonable care for the safety of anyone visiting their premises but if they don’t, a compensation claim can be made. They have a “duty of care” to you.

Types of public liability accident

There are many types of accident that can happen in a public place, with the first on our list here probably the most common:

• Tripping accident due to a damaged pavement, which could be a raised area or a hole in the street or road
• Injuries from objects, for example, falling from above or caused by sharp objects that should have been covered and made safe
• Slipping on a wet floors in a shop or supermarkets or tripping over mats in the entrances of these
• Accidents in parks and playgrounds due to defective play equipment
• Holiday sickness claims where illness is suffered due to poor hygiene standards in or around a hotel

The person with the responsibility of where I was injured does not have public liability insurance – can I still make a personal injury claim?

Yes. Unfortunately, public liability insurance is not a compulsory requirement in the UK, so there is always a chance that the person responsible for the area where you suffered your injury is not insured. If this is the case, a successful claim can still be made, however instead of compensation being paid by an insurer, any damages would be recovered directly from the person who is liable.

What to do when you have public liability accident

There are a number of important things that you should remember to do if you are involved in a slip/trip accident or any other type of public liability accident:

• Seek medical attention as soon as possible including if it wasn’t required at the actual time (symptoms can sometimes take a number of days to develop)
• Report the accident to whoever has responsibility for the area where the accident happened, such as the local Council for slip/trip on the pavement, a member of staff if you have an accident in a supermarket, etc. You must ensure that it is written in the relevant accident book
• Make a note of exactly what happened, such as where the accident took place with photographs if possible of what caused the injuries, names of any witnesses, etc.
• Keep a note of all expenses incurred, keeping receipts for these, such as travelling expenses, medical expenses, etc.

How long do I have to make a public liability accident claim?

Claims for public liability accidents can be made within 3 years of the incident taking place. Ideally, claims should be made sooner rather than later, while any attempt to claim after the 3 year period may well not be successful.

Your compensation is our priority

All that matters to us is winning you the maximum possible compensation. All insurers can be interested in is keeping the total payout low. That’s why if you’re involved in a public liability accident you should obtain independent legal advice from Metcalfe David Eyres Sheffield or Chesterfield.

Call us now on 0114 249 3222 or 01246 555387 or send us an enquiry by filling out the form for the first step to the public liability compensation that you deserve.