If you have been injured in a public place, you may be able to claim compensation from the organisation responsible for it.
Parks, leisure centres, swimming pools, libraries, car parks, markets and public buildings are all managed by someone. That organisation has a duty to take reasonable care of the people using the space, and where it fails to do so and someone is hurt, a claim may follow.
Many people assume nothing can be done, particularly where a council is involved. That is rarely the case. Our specialist solicitors will look at what happened, identify who was responsible and tell you honestly whether we think you have a claim. We act for clients across London and the wider UK as part of our wider team of personal injury solicitors.
Injured in a Public Place? Contact Us Today
Identifying who is legally responsible for a public space is often the first difficulty in these claims, and it is not always obvious from looking at it. Early advice helps, because records and CCTV footage held by councils and other organisations are not kept indefinitely.
Our public liability solicitors can help you to:
- Establish who was responsible for the place where you were injured
- Understand whether you are likely to have a valid claim
- Obtain records, inspection reports and CCTV footage
- Assess the value of your claim with independent medical evidence
- Deal with the organisation and its insurers on your behalf
Speak to our team today to discuss your circumstances.
What Is a Public Liability Claim?
A public liability claim is a compensation claim brought by a member of the public who has been injured because an organisation failed to take reasonable care of a space or activity it was responsible for.
The name comes from public liability insurance, which most organisations that deal with the public are expected to hold. In practice, your claim will usually be handled by that insurer rather than by the organisation itself, even where the accident happened on council land or at a small local business.
This matters for two reasons. It means claiming does not take money directly from a charity, a community group or a local service. It also means you will be dealing with an experienced insurer, which is why it helps to have a solicitor acting for you.
Where Public Liability Accidents Happen
We advise on claims arising from accidents in a wide range of public places, including:
- Parks, gardens, commons and other open spaces
- Leisure centres, gyms, swimming pools and sports facilities
- Libraries, community centres and other public buildings
- Car parks and multi-storey car parks
- Markets, festivals, fairs and organised events
- Stations, bus stations and transport interchanges
- Communal areas of buildings, including stairwells and shared entrances
Accidents in these places can be caused by anything from broken paving and defective handrails to poor lighting, unsafe equipment, missing barriers around hazards or a lack of proper supervision at an event.
Who Is Responsible for a Public Place?
Local Authorities and Public Bodies
Councils are responsible for a great many of the spaces people use every day, including parks, libraries, leisure centres and public car parks.
They are not automatically liable whenever someone is injured on their land. The question is whether the council took reasonable steps to manage the risk — for example, whether it had a proper system of inspection and maintenance in place, whether hazards were recorded and repaired within a reasonable time, and whether the system was actually being followed.
Inspection and maintenance records are therefore central to these claims. They can be requested, and we will do so on your behalf.
Private Organisations and Event Organisers
Not every public space is publicly owned. Shopping streets, transport hubs, sports grounds and festival sites are frequently run by private companies, and responsibility may sit with a management company, a contractor or an event organiser rather than the obvious landowner.
Where an accident happened at an organised event or activity, the organiser’s duties may extend beyond the condition of the site to how the event was planned, stewarded and supervised.
Establishing the correct party to claim against is often the most important early step in a public liability claim, and getting it wrong can waste months.
Proving a Public Liability Claim
To succeed, a claim generally needs to establish three things: that the organisation owed you a duty, that it failed to take reasonable care, and that you were injured as a result.
In practice, most disputes turn on the second of these. Organisations and their insurers will often argue that the hazard was not there long enough to be found, that the space was inspected properly, or that the risk was obvious and you should have avoided it.
The evidence that answers those arguments usually includes inspection and maintenance records, previous reports of the same hazard, photographs taken at the time, witness accounts and CCTV footage. Much of it is held by the organisation you are claiming against, which is why having a solicitor request it promptly makes a real difference.
Dog Bites and Animal Injuries in Public
Injuries caused by animals in public places are more common than people expect, particularly dog bites in parks and open spaces.
The owner or the person in charge of an animal may be responsible where an injury occurs, and different legal rules can apply depending on the circumstances. These claims can be more complicated than they first appear, particularly where the owner cannot be identified or is not insured.
If you have been injured by an animal in a public place, please speak to us so we can advise you on the position.
What Public Liability Compensation Can Cover
The amount recoverable depends on the injury and its effect on your life, and every claim is assessed individually.
Compensation generally covers the injury itself — the pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life it has caused — together with your financial losses. Those may include:
- Loss of earnings, including future losses where you cannot return to the same work
- Medical treatment, physiotherapy and prescription costs
- Travel to appointments
- Care and assistance provided by family members
- Adaptations or equipment needed because of the injury
We will assess your claim carefully and explain clearly how the figure has been reached.
Related Personal Injury Services
How Our Public Liability Solicitors Can Help
Claims against councils, public bodies and large organisations are usually handled by experienced insurers. Having a solicitor who knows how these cases are defended puts you on an even footing.
We can:
- Assess your case honestly and tell you whether we think it is worth pursuing
- Identify the correct organisation or organisations to claim against
- Request inspection records, maintenance logs, previous complaints and CCTV footage
- Obtain independent medical evidence about your injury and recovery
- Calculate your losses in full, including future losses where relevant
- Negotiate with the organisation’s insurers on your behalf
- Issue court proceedings where a fair settlement cannot be reached
- Keep you updated in plain English throughout
Where it is easier for you, we can meet at your home or in hospital, and we can arrange an independent interpreter if English is not your first language.
Why Choose TV Edwards?
- Experienced personal injury solicitors. Your claim is handled by a named solicitor, not passed between case handlers.
- Familiarity with public bodies. We know what records councils and other organisations hold, and how to obtain them.
- Honest advice from the outset. If we do not think a claim is likely to succeed, we will tell you.
- An established London firm. We have supported clients across London and the wider UK for many years.
- Clear communication. You will always know what stage your claim has reached and what happens next.
- Practical support. Home and hospital visits and independent interpreters are available where they would help.
Client Testimonials
Contact Our Solicitors Today
Public Liability Claim FAQs
Who is responsible if I am injured in a public place?
It depends on who was in control of the space at the time. Councils are responsible for many parks, libraries, leisure centres and public car parks, but a great deal of publicly accessible land is managed by private companies, contractors or event organisers. Responsibility does not always sit with the obvious landowner. Identifying the correct party is one of the first things we will do for you.
Can I claim compensation against a local council?
Yes, councils can be held responsible where they have failed to take reasonable care of land or facilities they manage. A claim will not succeed simply because an accident happened on council land — the question is whether the council had a reasonable system of inspection and maintenance in place, and whether it was followed. Inspection records and previous reports about the same hazard are often decisive.
How long do I have to make a public liability claim?
In most cases, three years from the date of the accident. Different rules apply to children and to people who lack the mental capacity to bring a claim themselves. It is worth seeking advice well before that deadline, because CCTV footage and inspection records held by organisations are often kept for a limited period only, and they can be difficult to recover once destroyed.
What evidence do I need to support my claim?
Photographs of the hazard, the date, time and precise location, details of any witnesses and a record of any report you made all help. Medical records are important, so it is worth seeing a doctor even if the injury seems minor at first. If you do not have all of this, please still contact us — much of the key evidence, including inspection records and CCTV footage, is held by the organisation responsible and can be requested on your behalf.
