
Claiming for an Accident in a Public Place
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Having an accident in a public place can be a traumatic experience. If you have experienced an injury or harm due to an accident in a public place, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. Whether it occurred in a park, on a pavement, at a shopping centre, or any other public setting, understanding your rights and taking appropriate action is crucial.
Of course, sometimes an accident really is just an accident, however there are those that are caused as a result of someone else’s negligence. If you are thinking about claiming for an accident in a public place, you should be aware of your rights. At Beacon Law, our personal injury solicitors can provide the guidance and assistance you need throughout the claims process.
Common types of accidents in a public place
Accidents in public places can encompass a wide range of scenarios, each potentially leading to a claim for compensation. Here are some common types of accidents that often result in public places claims:
- Slip and Fall Accidents: These occur when a person slips, trips, or falls due to hazardous conditions such as wet floors, uneven surfaces, loose carpets, or debris left unattended.
- Trip Hazards: Uneven pavements, potholes, protruding objects, or damaged walkways neglected by local authorities can cause individuals to trip and injure themselves.
- Public Transportation Incidents: Accidents on buses, trains, subways, or other forms of public transportation can lead to injuries due to collisions, sudden stops, or faulty equipment.
- Playground Accidents: Children can sustain injuries from defective equipment, poorly maintained playground surfaces, or inadequate supervision in public parks or playgrounds.
- Retail Store Accidents: Customers can be injured in retail stores due to hazards like spilled liquids, cluttered aisles, falling merchandise, or malfunctioning equipment.
- Sports and Recreational Accidents: Injuries can occur in public sports facilities, gyms, or recreational areas due to defective equipment, lack of supervision, or unsafe playing conditions.
- Dog Bites: Attacks by unrestrained or poorly controlled dogs in public areas such as parks, sidewalks, or residential areas can cause serious injuries and result in liability claims.
- Public Events or Festivals: Crowded events or festivals can pose risks of accidents such as crowd crushes, slips, falls, or injuries caused by negligent event organisers or security personnel.
These are just a few examples of the types of accidents that can occur in public places and lead to claims for compensation. Regardless of the specific circumstances, if you’ve been injured in a public are and someone else was responsible for your accident, you may have grounds for a claim to seek compensation for your injuries and losses.
What should I do following an accident in a public place?
Seek Medical Attention: Your health and safety should be your top priority. If you’re injured, seek medical help immediately, even if your injuries seem minor. Some injuries may not be immediately apparent, so it’s crucial to get evaluated by a healthcare professional.
Report the Accident: Inform the manager, property owner, or relevant authority about the accident as soon as possible. Make sure to document the details of the incident, including the date, time, and location, as well as any contributing factors such as poor lighting, slippery floors, or obstacles.
Document Your Injuries: Keep detailed records of your injuries, including medical reports, treatment plans, prescriptions, and any related expenses. This documentation will help establish the extent of your injuries and the medical care you’ve received.
Consult with a Personal Injury Lawyer: Consider consulting with a personal injury lawyer who specialises in public injury cases. They can provide expert guidance on your rights and legal options, and help you navigate the claims process to ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
What is the accident in a public place claim process?
During your initial consultation, our specialist solicitors will provide you with legal advice about public accident claims and will inform you about the relevant limitation rules.
Our personal injury lawyers will then ask you for details about your accident and the initial injuries that were suffered as a result. This will help our injury lawyers to assess the likelihood of your claim being successful.
During these initial stages of your claim for compensation, it is vital that you gather the relevant evidence to support your claim. Relevant evidence may include CCTV footage of the incident, medical records, photographs of your injuries, and witness statements.
Your personal injury solicitor may also ask that you undergo an official medical examination in order to receive medical reports about the injuries that you have sustained. These medical reports will provide vital medical evidence of the nature and extent of the injuries. Even if you have received other medical care prior to starting your claim, a more thorough medical assessment may still be needed to produce detailed, accurate, and reliable medical reports.
If we think that your claim would be likely to succeed, we will offer to proceed with your claim on a conditional fee agreement, otherwise known as a no win, no fee basis. This means that if your claim is unsuccessful, you will not be required to pay any legal fees.
What are the time limits for an accident in a public place?
Before claiming for an accident in a public place, it is important to note that there are strict time limits on personal injury claims. From the date of the accident that caused the injuries, the injured party will have 3 years to commence proceedings for claiming compensation.
It must be noted, however, that there are some exceptions to this rule:
For example, if the claimant was under the age of 18 at the time of the incident, they have until their 21st birthday to make a compensation claim. In the meantime, provided that the claimant is still under the age of 18, a litigation friend such as a parent, guardian, or close family member could claim compensation on their behalf.
Another exception to the 3 year time limit occurs when the claimant who has suffered an injury does not have the mental capacity to begin their compensation claim. Rather than being limited to making a claim within 3 years from the date of the incident, the claimant is entitled to begin their compensation claim at any moment in time once they regain the mental capacity to do so.
What amount of compensation could I receive?
The amount of compensation awarded will aim to put the claimant in the position they were in before the accident took place. The amount of compensation awarded will depend on the type of injuries suffered, as well as the severity of these injuries.
General damages that could be awarded will also depend on the impact that the accident has had on the claimant’s daily life, whether any long term care is needed, and whether any structural adaptations need to be made to the claimant’s home in order to assist their new way of living.
Special damages will also be awarded to compensate for any further financial loss that the claimant has suffered as a result of their original injury. This could include compensation for loss of earnings due to the time spent off work, loss of future earnings if the claimant has been left unable to work, the cost of medical treatment, travel costs, and the cost of ongoing care if this is needed.
We advise that you keep evidence of all financial losses suffered as a result of your injuries. This could include receipts and invoices from medical treatment and evidence of any loss of earnings.
Due to the differing nature of injuries, it may be difficult for our personal injury solicitors to provide you with an exact estimation of the amount of compensation you could be awarded. Undergoing a medical assessment will provide a more accurate report on the injuries that have been sustained and will help when calculating the amount of compensation that you could be awarded alongside judicial college guidelines.
How can Beacon Law assist you?
Whilst claiming for an accident in a public place, Beacon Law can be your source of support and will help you recover the amount of compensation that you deserve. We understand that the process of injury cases can be difficult, so we will be there to guide you every step of the way.
After suffering injuries, we believe that you should have access to the best possible medical care and support available, and we endeavour to provide this to our clients. Due to our association with medical professionals, we are able to provide you with private treatment to assist you in your recovery.
We value each client that we have the pleasure of working with, listen carefully to our clients’ wishes, and will aim to complete your claim in a timely manner so that you can receive the compensation that you deserve as soon as possible. If you have developed an injury due to an accident that was not your fault, please get in touch today.
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