What should you do if you’ve been injured in an accident in a public place?
After seeking medical treatment and an assessment of your injuries it makes sense to get some impartial advice from a solicitor specialising in this area of personal injury law. Scott Rees & Co has a team of experienced solicitors - between them they have had decades of experience in handling public liability compensation claims. You can be confident that a thorough assessment of the circumstances surrounding your accident will be investigated to gauge the likelihood of being able to make a successful claim for compensation.
Accidents in public places leading to personal injury often happen in the following places:
- Council or publicly owned thoroughfares or property - injuries can be caused by uneven pavements, potholes or poorly signed road works
- Shops, supermarkets and retail outlets, often caused by spillages, falling objects and poorly maintained access ways
- Events such as sports, music, amusements and fairs due to poor maintenance, lack of planning and crowd management problems
- Railways, trams or the underground system and on premises or land owned or used by operators
Common injuries can include fractures, strains and scarring. In extreme circumstances an accident can lead to death or permanent disablement.
Public bodies and landowners have a duty of care to maintain their land or property to a reasonable and safe standard for users. If an accident has been caused by negligence leaving you injured and possibly incapacitated, then it is only right that you make a claim for compensation.
In addition injuries can be caused as a result of negligence by individuals:
- Injuries sustained at privately owned addresses or land
- Attacks by uncontrolled pets – especially dangerous dogs, which often feature in the press
Home owners are often covered by their household insurance policy against this type of event; and responsible animal owners will have an insurance policy to cover them. In these cases it may be possible to gain recompense for injuries and losses sustained in these circumstances.
It will help your case if you or a friend gathers the following information as soon as possible after an accident:
- The exact location or address where the accident occurred
- Photographs of the area, using a ruler in the picture to show for example the depth of a pothole.
- The name and contact details of anybody who witnessed the accident taking place.
- The name and contact details of anybody who can vouch for the length of time a defect had been present
- Try to report the accident to a manager if the accident was took place at a business or on premises so that it is recorded in the accident book
Our experience at Scott Rees will help to ensure that you gain just recompense for accidents which have caused injury and any losses incurred resulting from public liability compensation claims.
Call 0800 INJURY (0800 46 58 79) or use our quick enquiry form to start your claim.
UK solicitor specialising in public liability and owner’s liability personal injury claims.