Skip to main content
  • About
  • News & Insights
  • Careers
  • International
Call us Free on 0800 056 4110
Dialog that contains search functionality
Irwin Mitchell Logo
  • Personal
    • Personal
    • Personal Home
    • Personal Injury Claims
      • Personal Injury Claims
      • Personal Injury Claims Home
      • Abuse Claims
      • Accidents In Public Places Claims
      • Criminal Injury Compensation Claims
      • Accident At Work Claims
      • Air, Rail & Maritime Claims
      • Asbestos & Mesothelioma Claims
      • Changing Solicitors During a Personal Injury Claim
      • Group Claims
      • Holiday Accidents & Illness Claims
      • Illness Compensation Claims
      • Industrial Disease Claims
      • Injury Types
      • Military Injury Compensation Claims
      • No Win No Fee Personal Injury Claims
      • Personal Injury Claims In Scotland
      • How To Claim Compensation For Personal Injury
      • Product Liability Claims
      • Road Traffic Accident Claims
      • Serious Injury Claims
      • Who Can Help?
      • Support Services
    • Medical Negligence Claims
      • Medical Negligence Claims
      • Medical Negligence Claims Home
      • Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims
      • Birth Injury Claims
      • Cauda Equina Syndrome Claims
      • Never Event Claims
      • Ambulance & Paramedic Medical Negligence Claims
      • Cosmetic Surgery Claims
      • Private Healthcare Claims
      • Cerebral Palsy Claims
      • Defective Medical Device Claims
      • Dental Negligence Claims
      • Diabetes Misdiagnosis Claims
      • Fatal Medical Negligence Claims & Inquests
      • GP Negligence Claims
      • Hospital Negligence Claims
      • What Is Medical Negligence?
      • Meningitis Misdiagnosis Claims
      • Failure To Prevent Suicide Claims
      • Misdiagnosis Claims
      • Ophthalmic Negligence Claims
      • Pregnancy & Gynaecology Injury Claims
      • Sepsis Negligence Claims
      • Pharmacy And Medication Negligence Claims
      • Shrewsbury & Telford Hospital NHS Trust Maternity Care Claims
      • Stroke Misdiagnosis Claims
      • Surgery Compensation Claims
    • Counselling
      • Counselling
      • Counselling Home
      • Counselling Myths Dispelled
    • Family Law
      • Family Law
      • Family Law Home
      • Divorce Solicitors
      • Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreement Solicitors
      • Child Abduction Solicitors
      • Civil Partnership Solicitors
      • LGBT+ Family Law Solicitors
      • Unmarried Couples' Rights
      • Divorce Financial Settlement Solicitors
      • Child Arrangement Orders
      • Family Mediation
      • Out of Court Divorce Solicitors
      • Separation Agreement Solicitors
      • Adoption & Surrogacy Solicitors
    • Wills, Trusts & Estates
      • Wills, Trusts & Estates
      • Wills, Trusts & Estates Home
      • Estate Planning Solicitors
      • Powers Of Attorney
      • Trusts
      • Will Writing Services
      • Will Disputes & Contentious Probate
    • Conveyancing & Property Solicitors
      • Conveyancing & Property Solicitors
      • Conveyancing & Property Solicitors Home
      • Conveyancing Fees Calculator
      • Buying A Property
      • Selling A Property
      • Remortgage
      • Transfer Of Equity
      • Buy To Let
      • Freehold Purchase (Leasehold Enfranchisement) Solicitors
      • Lease Extension Solicitors
      • Conveyancing Guide
      • Residential Property Disputes
    • Tax
      • Tax
      • Tax Home
      • Business Tax
      • Inheritance Tax
      • International Tax
      • Professional Negligence
      • HMRC Tax Investigations
      • Tax Disputes & Litigation
      • Tax Residence
      • Tax Returns & Compliance
      • UK Resident Non-Doms
      • Wealth Structuring
    • Probate
      • Probate
      • Probate Home
      • International Probate
      • Probate Sale Conveyancing
      • What Is Probate & How Does It Work?
    • Will, Trust & Estate Disputes
      • Will, Trust & Estate Disputes
      • Will, Trust & Estate Disputes Home
      • Trust Disputes
      • Inheritance Act Claims
      • Contesting A Will
      • Contentious Probate
      • Pre-Death Agreements
      • Professional Negligence
      • Challenging A Lifetime Gift
      • Financial Abuse
      • Statutory Will Disputes
      • Defending A Contested Will
    • Employment Solicitors
      • Employment Solicitors
      • Employment Solicitors Home
      • Employment Contract Solicitors
      • Employment Disputes
      • Dismissal & Redundancy Solicitors
      • Employment Discrimination Solicitors
      • Employment Lawyers for Legal Expenses Insurance
      • Harassment & Bullying At Work Solicitors
      • Parental & Family Friendly Employment Rights
      • Professional Discipline Solicitors
      • Recruitment & Promotion
      • Senior Executive Employment Lawyers
      • Settlement Agreements
      • Whistleblowing Solicitors
    • Elderly Legal Services
    • Protecting Your Rights
      • Protecting Your Rights
      • Protecting Your Rights Home
      • Actions Against The Police
      • Inquests
      • Environmental & Planning Law
      • Assessment & Treatment Unit Solicitors
      • Data Protection Breach Claims
      • Education Law
      • Healthcare & Social Services
      • Human Rights
      • Judicial Review
      • Mental Capacity
      • Professional Regulation & Discipline
      • Dispute Resolution
      • Legal Aid
    • Immigration Solicitors
      • Immigration Solicitors
      • Immigration Solicitors Home
      • British Citizenship & Naturalisation Solicitors
      • EU & EEA Immigration Solicitors
      • Indefinite Leave To Remain Solicitors
      • Spouse Visa Solicitors
      • Innovator Visa
      • Permanent Residence Solicitors
      • Business Immigration Solicitors
    • Crime & Investigations
      • Crime & Investigations
      • Crime & Investigations Home
      • Crime
      • Fraud & Financial Crime
      • Court Martial Solicitors
      • Motoring Offences Legal Advice
      • Regulatory Investigations & Enforcement
    • Insolvency
      • Insolvency
      • Insolvency Home
      • Business Restructuring & Insolvency
      • Debt Consultancy
      • Insolvency Disputes & Litigation
    • Court Of Protection
      • Court Of Protection
      • Court Of Protection Home
      • Court Of Protection Deputyship
      • Personal Injury Trusts
      • Court Of Protection Problems & Disputes
      • Healthcare and Social Services
      • Court of Protection Frequently Asked Questions
      • Powers Of Attorney Disputes
      • Statutory Wills Solicitors
  • Wealth Management
    • Wealth Management
    • Wealth Management Home
    • Asset Management For Personal Injury
    • Charity & Philanthropy
    • Estate Planning
    • Ethical & Sustainable Investing
    • Financial Planning
    • Intergenerational Wealth Management
    • Investment Management
    • Retirement Financial Planning
    • Family Offices
    • Succession Planning
    • Tax Planning
  • Business
    • Business
    • Business Home
    • Sectors
      • Sectors
      • Sectors Home
      • Agriculture & Rural Business
      • Retail, Leisure & Hospitality
      • Education
      • Financial & Professional Services
      • Landed Estates
      • Manufacturing
      • Real Estate
      • Sport
      • Technology & Communications
    • Banking & Finance
      • Banking & Finance
      • Banking & Finance Home
      • Corporate Banking
      • Leveraged & Acquisition Finance
      • Real Estate Finance
      • Receivables Finance & Asset Based Lending
    • Environmental, Social & Governance
      • Environmental, Social & Governance
      • Environmental, Social & Governance Home
      • Cyber Security
      • Environment
      • Net Zero
      • Social
      • Diversity & Inclusion
      • Governance
      • International
      • ESG Legal Advisory Services
      • Legislation Library
      • Manufacturing Sector
      • Real Estate
      • Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Sector
      • Sports Sector
    • Business Crime
      • Business Crime
      • Business Crime Home
      • Anti-Bribery & Corruption
      • Asset Tracing & Recovery
      • Cartels & Illegal Price Fixing
      • Cybercrime
      • Dawn Raids
      • Deferred Prosecution Agreements
      • Extradition
      • INTERPOL Red Notices
      • Mutual Legal Assistance
      • Private Prosecution
      • Proceeds Of Crime Act
      • Unexplained Wealth Orders
      • Fraud Lawyers
      • Insider Trading & Market Abuse
      • Corporate Internal Investigations
    • Business Immigration
      • Business Immigration
      • Business Immigration Home
      • Business Visitor Visa
      • Global Business Mobility Visas
      • Innovator Visa
      • Prevention Of Illegal Working
      • Skilled Worker Visas
      • Sole Representative Of An Overseas Business
      • UK Visa Sponsor License
    • Commercial
      • Commercial
      • Commercial Home
      • Commercial Contracts
      • Competition Law
      • GDPR & Data Protection
      • Information Technology
      • Sourcing
      • Notary Public Solicitors
    • Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution
      • Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution
      • Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution Home
      • Banking & Finance Litigation
      • Business Interruption Insurance Lawyers
      • Contract Disputes
      • Defamation & Reputation Management
      • International & Cross-Border Disputes
      • Commercial Debt Recovery
      • Litigation Funding
      • Professional Negligence
    • Corporate
      • Corporate
      • Corporate Home
      • Corporate Advisory
      • Equity Capital Markets
      • Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
      • Private Equity
      • Search Funds and Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Lawyers
    • Costs Team
    • Employment Law
      • Employment Law
      • Employment Law Home
      • Business Immigration
      • Employment Contracts, Policies & Procedures
      • Disciplinary & Grievance
      • Employee & Industrial Relations
      • Employment Lawyers for Legal Expenses Insurance
      • Employment Litigation & Resolution Lawyers
      • Equality, Diversity & Discrimination
      • Flexible Working Arrangements
      • Health & Safety
      • HR Advice Service - IMhrplus
      • Managing Sickness Absence
      • Pensions
      • Recruitment
      • Restrictive Covenants
      • Restructuring & Redundancy
      • Self Employment, Contractors & Agency Workers
      • Employment Seminars, Training & Updates
      • TUPE
    • In-House Counsel
    • Intellectual Property and Media
      • Intellectual Property and Media
      • Intellectual Property and Media Home
      • Defamation & Reputation Management
      • Copyright Lawyers
      • Design Rights Lawyers
      • Image Rights Lawyers
      • Online Marketplace Seller Account Or Listing Suspensions
      • Stopping IP Infringement By Sellers On Online Marketplaces
      • Patent Lawyers
      • Trade Mark Lawyers
      • Trade Secrets Lawyers
    • Legal Helpline
    • Licensing
      • Licensing
      • Licensing Home
      • Betting & Gaming Licensing
      • Event Licences
      • Alcohol Licensing
    • Pensions
      • Pensions
      • Pensions Home
      • Employment
      • Managing Death Benefit Trusts
    • Regulatory & Compliance
      • Regulatory & Compliance
      • Regulatory & Compliance Home
      • Road Transport & Operator Compliance
      • GDPR & Data Protection
      • Regulatory Investigations
      • Account Freezing Orders
      • Anti-Money Laundering
      • Companies House Prosecutions
      • Environment & Safety Regulatory Compliance
      • Financial Services Regulation
    • Real Estate
      • Real Estate
      • Real Estate Home
      • Corporate Occupiers
      • Real Estate Development and Regeneration
      • Construction & Engineering
      • Environmental
      • Real Estate Finance
      • Real Estate Investment
      • Later Living & Care
      • Planning
      • Property Litigation & Real Estate Disputes
      • Real Estate Tax
      • Residential Development
      • Strategic Land
      • Structured Real Estate
    • Restructuring & Insolvency
      • Restructuring & Insolvency
      • Restructuring & Insolvency Home
      • Corporate Insolvency
      • Partnership Insolvency
      • Directors' Duties
      • Restructuring Plans
      • Debt Recovery (up to £100,000) – Pricing
      • Restructuring
    • Tax
      • Tax
      • Tax Home
      • Corporate Tax
      • Real Estate Tax
      • Tax Investigations
  • People
    • People
    • People Home
    • Search By Name
    • Search By Location
    • Search By Expertise
    • Business Management
  • Offices
    • Offices
    • Offices Home
    • Birmingham
    • Brighton
    • Bristol
    • Cambridge
    • Cardiff
    • Chichester
    • Edinburgh
    • Gatwick
    • Glasgow
    • Leeds
    • Liverpool
    • London
    • Manchester
    • Middlesbrough
    • Newbury
    • Newcastle
    • North Yorkshire
    • Nottingham
    • Reading
    • Sheffield
    • Southampton
  • Contact
  • About
  • News & Insights
  • Careers
  • International
Irwin Mitchell Logo
Dialog with Irwin Mitchell phone number
Call us on 0800 056 4110

We're here 24/7, 365 days a year.

Two people walking past a wet floor sign
  • Home
  • Personal
  • Personal Injury Claims
  • Accidents In Public Places Claims

Accidents In Public Places Claims

Trustpilot

Services in: Accidents In Public Places Claims

    • Claims Against The Council
    • Children's Accident Claims
    • Beauty Treatment Compensation Claims
    • Sports Injury Claims
    • Gym Injury Compensation
    • Tattoo Compensation Claims
    • Supermarket Accident Claims
    • Slips, Trips, and Falls Claims
    • Animal Injury Claims

When you’re out and about, whether in the park, the street, or another public place, you should be able to go about your day without the risk of injury.

Businesses have a duty to make sure that you’re reasonably safe whenever you enter their premises. Public bodies, such as councils and local authorities, must make sure public highways are properly maintained.

If you’ve had an accident in a public place, our personal injury solicitors could help you to make a public liability claim for compensation.

We offer a free initial consultation where we can talk about your case and discuss how we could help you. To arrange a free initial consultation about your accident in public places claim, call us free or contact us online.

We’ve helped thousands of clients get the compensation they deserve following accidents including:

  • Accidents in supermarkets
  • Sports injuries (including football, gym accidents and horse riding injuries)
  • Dog bites
  • Children’s accidents (including school injuries)
  • Accidents in areas owned or managed by local councils.

By making a claim for your accident in a public place, you could secure compensation to help you access the rehabilitation and support you need to make the best possible recovery.

Your public liability claim could be made on a no win no fee basis, which means that if your claim is unsuccessful, you won’t have to pay any legal fees.

Why choose Irwin Mitchell to handle your public liability claim?

Our personal injury solicitors have a proven track record in claims of this nature. We’ve secured our clients more than £1.5 billion in compensation. We cut the legal jargon and give you tailored advice that’s clear and considered.

Our many decades of winning claims for accidents in public places means that we’re able to build a strong case based on your unique circumstances. This gives you the best chance of being awarded compensation.

We recognise the value and importance of rehabilitation after sustaining an injury. Our in-house team of Support and Rehabilitation Co-ordinators are clinical specialists who can evaluate and help find the support you need. We’ve strong connections with charities and support groups across the country, including Day One Trauma Support, so we can get you help and rehabilitation that’s close by.

When you’re suddenly awarded a large sum in compensation, it can feel overwhelming, and you may be unsure of how to manage this money. The financial experts in our Asset Management team will be on hand to advise you on making sure your compensation pays for your needs and lasts for as long as you need it.

Our offices can be found across the UK, so you can visit us at a convenient location for a confidential talk with your solicitor. If you’re unable to come to an office, we can arrange to come to see you at home or in hospital. If you’d prefer to speak via phone or video call, we can arrange these too.

No Win No Fee*
Offices across country
Largest PI team
Rehab

Call us for a free initial consultation

0800 056 4110

Or we can call you back at a time of your choice

Phone lines are open 24/7, 365 days a year

Contact us today

For a free initial consultation

Prefer not to call?

Use our form

This data will only be used by Irwin Mitchell for processing your query and for no other purpose.

Sion Kingston headshot
Sion Kingston Partner Meet The Team

More information on accidents in public places claims

Accidents in public places can take a variety of forms and can cause several different injuries. Our specialist personal injury solicitors have helped clients who’ve been injured in a wide range of situations, including:

  • Slipping on wet floors (where no hazard signs were present)
  • Tripping over potholes/raised paving slabs
  • Falling over wires (which should have been cleared)
  • Being hit by falling objects
  • Falling from an unstable or poorly constructed platform
  • Electric shocks
  • Slipping on an icy surface.

In the UK, you normally have three years from the date the accident took place to make a claim for compensation.

The exceptions to the three-year time limit are:

  • Children under the age of 18 years
  • People without the mental capacity to make their own claim.

If your accident took place abroad, the time limits differ in different countries.

It’s always advisable that you start your claim as soon as possible after the accident. This is because the details will be clearer in your mind and in the minds of any witnesses. Evidence will also be fresher and easier for us to collect, which will strengthen your claim.

The majority of our personal injury claims are made through a no win no fee agreement. If you make a no win no fee claim, there’s no financial risk to you if it’s unsuccessful. If you’re awarded compensation, most of our fees will be paid by your opponent.

You’ll need an After The Event (ATE) insurance policy to make a no win no fee claim. This protects you from having to pay any legal fees. Your solicitor will take out ATE insurance for you before we contact your opponent.

We’ll make sure you’re fully aware of all available funding options before we start working for you.

To begin your public liability claim, contact us for a free initial consultation. During this, you can speak to our experts about what happened, and we’ll be able to advise you on whether you could make a claim. We’ll also discuss the funding options available to you.

There’s no obligation to go any further than your initial consultation. But if you decide to pursue your claim with us, we’ll start by gathering evidence that can support it. Evidence we can use in a public liability claim includes:

  • Witness statements
  • CCTV footage, if available
  • Independent expert witnesses.

We’ll then take your claim to the responsible party and tell them we intend to sue for compensation. If they accept that they were at fault, your claim will be settled after a full investigation into the long-term effects of your injuries.

If they accept responsibility, we’ll work to get you interim payments, which will be deducted from your final settlement amount. Interim payments can help to pay for ongoing treatment and loss of earnings while your claim is ongoing.

However, if they dispute your case or how much compensation we advise is reasonable, , we’ll begin court proceedings on your behalf.

We’ll try to avoid going to court, which makes the process faster and less stressful for you. But if we need to initiate proceedings, we’ll be with you every step of the way. Even when trial dates have been set, your claim may still be settled out of court.

Our personal injury solicitors are based across the country, so wherever you are, we’re on hand to help. We’ll always take the time to get to know you and will make sure we understand what happened in your accident and the effect it has had on your life.

Our lawyers are highly ranked in leading legal guides the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.

View our Accidents in Public Places team.

Karen, client

I was so relieved and so pleased that Irwin Mitchell decided to take on my case.”

Karen, client

Client Story – Karen's Story

Accidents in Public Places

Karen O’Brien was heading to an exhibition in London when she endured a traumatising ordeal in Waterloo station. As she tried to pass through the ticket barriers, the gates malfunctioned and snapped back too early, trapping her in between.

Eventually she was freed by station staff, but the injuries she sustained aggravated a respiratory condition Karen already struggled with. The incident also had a lasting psychological impact, leaving her with entrapment phobia.

We secured a four figure settlement for Karen and helped organise Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to help her manage her phobia and move on with her life.

Find out more about Karen's story here. 



Karen's Story


“The incident has had a huge impact on my life - I have developed a phobia of being trapped and also have regular nightmares and flashbacks. I’m extremely relieved that I can start to put the incident behind me thanks to the settlement.” - Karen, client

Louise Scott


"Hopefully, lessons can be learned from this event and the subsequent report, so nobody else will have to go through the same thing as Karen.” - Louise Binks, Solicitor

Read More Client Stories

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as a public place?

A public place is any space that the general public can access, whether on a paid or unpaid basis. It’s a common misconception that privately owned properties aren’t public places, but this isn’t the case. The same rules apply when it comes to your safety.

Some examples of public places include:

  • Shops
  • Bars and restaurants
  • Cinema, theatres and music venues
  • Parks
  • Roads and paths
  • Museums, and tourist attractions
  • Gyms and sports venues.

We urge you to contact us if you’ve been in an accident in a public place, as our lawyers could help you get the compensation you deserve. For more information, get in touch with us.

How much compensation could I clam for an accident in a public place?

We’ll need to know more about the circumstances surrounding your accident before we can value your claim.

How much compensation you could be entitled to for an accident in a public place will include :

  • The injuries you sustained
  • Expenses you’ve incurred through the accident
  • Medical and treatment expenses
  • Loss of earnings you’ve had or will have
  • Your care needs, both now and in future
  • Any changes you’ll need making to your home
  • Any specialist aids or equipment you’ll need.

Once we’ve learned more about your accident during your initial consultation, we’ll be able to advise how much compensation you could claim for.

Who’s responsible for accidents in public places?

Accidents in public places normally happen because the business, property owner or public body responsible for the premises failed in their duty to make the area reasonably safe for the public.

Organisations have a legal duty to ensure they’ve reasonable measures in place to protect your safety. When they fail in this duty and an accident occurs, you may be able to claim compensation.

If you’re not sure which organisation was responsible for the place where your injury happened, our lawyers can help you find out.

Local authorities are responsible for inspecting and maintaining all public highways. Because of this duty, they must make sure all roads and pavements are reasonably safe. Your claim is likely to be against the relevant local authority if your injury was caused by:

  • Broken/uneven paving slabs
  • Potholes
  • Poor lighting (such as faulty lampposts)
  • Icy roads/pavements (due to lack of signs or grit).

Businesses and tenants are often responsible for accidents in public places. They must take all reasonable steps to make sure that their premise is safe for visitors. Often known as occupiers’ liability claims, we could help if your injury happened:

  • In a supermarket
  • At a shopping centre
  • At a sports centre/gym
  • At a school/college
  • In restaurants/cafes.

To find out more about making a claim for an accident that happened in a public place, contact us free today.

Read More FAQs

Related Information - Accidents In Public Places Claims

Personal Injury Claims – If you've been in an accident that wasn't your fault, we're here for you.
Personal Injury Claims Guide - Answers to some frequently asked questions concerning personal injury claims.
Workplace Accidents - If you've been in an accident at work you could be entitled to compensation.
Rehabilitation - We could help you access the health care and support you need to make the best recovery you can.

Scottish Flag All Scottish cases will be handled by the Scottish law firm with which we are associated, Irwin Mitchell Scotland LLP. The law relating to funding is different in Scotland and you will receive separate advice about what that means as well as a separate funding agreement.

 

About Irwin Mitchell

Founded in Sheffield in 1912, Irwin Mitchell has always been a bit different. Our advisers really get to know the people and business that we help.

It's what we call 'expert hand, human touch'.

We have offices around the UK so wherever you are, our experts can help.

Contact Us

Give us a ring to speak to a member of our team in the strictest confidence. Or you can fill out our contact form and we'll ring you back.

0800 056 4110

Our phone lines are open 24/7, 365 days a year

Get a call back

Fill in your details below and we'll be in touch as soon as possible

1000 characters remaining

This data will only be used by Irwin Mitchell for processing your query and for no other purpose.

  • Contact
  • 0800 056 4110
  • Contact Irwin Mitchell
  • Social Media
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • About Irwin Mitchell
  • About Us
  • Responsible Business
  • Careers
  • Business Management
  • Alumni Programme
  • Pay A Bill
  • Complaints Procedure
  • SRA Regulated
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy & Security
  • Hoaxes
  • Modern Slavery Act Statement
  • Manage Cookie Settings

© 2025  Irwin Mitchell LLP

Irwin Mitchell LLP is authorised & regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Our Regulatory Information

Dialog that contains a form to request a callback.

Request A Callback

Enter you details below and we'll call you back, at a time of your choice

1000 characters remaining

Preferred date*
Today
Tomorrow

This data will only be used by Irwin Mitchell for processing your query and for no other purpose.