Public liability is a duty of care for people owning public areas. It is to ensure safety for the common public. Businesses connected with such public places are liable to have an insurance policy to compensate people who get injured in their public premises. A person who gets hurt in these public areas can issue a claim for damages against the owner in charge of that public property.
Types of accidents or injuries that are applicable for a Public Liability Claim
- Slips due to wet surfaces of shopping centres
- Trips and falls caused by potholes,
- Dangerous footpaths and pavements
- Untreated surfaces in winter or rainy weather
- Defective stairwells
- Uneven pavements
- Falling from a height due to unsafe walls
- Obstructions on the road
- Pedestrian footpaths or trip hazards
- The uprooting of Tree roots
- Obstructions on the highways
- Hazardous rubbish left in public access routes
- Unclosed pits in Parks
People who get injured in all the situations mentioned above are liable to claim for public liability insurance to cover their expenses. Most of the claims are recovered from the insurance company only if the owner is subjected to an insurance policy.
The owner of the place doesn’t have Public Liability Claim – what to do in such cases?
If your accident or injury has occurred on the premises of public property, you are entitled to make a public liability claim. In cases where the owner of public property or place does not have public liability insurance, then you still have the right for your public liability claim. The difference will be you will not be compensated by the insurer or insurance company; instead, you will have to recover your expenses from the owner at fault directly.
Steps to undertake to make a successful Public Liability Claim
While initiating a public liability claim, you will need to prove that another party was at fault, and due to his negligence, he was responsible for your injury. To support your injury claim, you will need to take these following steps immediately after your injury –
- Report the accident to the owner of the premises or his staff.
- Gather evidence of the accident, including photographs or videos of the accident area, proving negligence.
- For strong support of your accident, collect witnesses with their contact numbers and addresses.
- Take a decent photo of your injuries after the immediate accident.
- Remember to keep receipts of prescription costs and travel expenses for treatment as supporting evidence for a public liability claim.
What other information is helpful for a Public Liability Claim?
If you are involved in an accident or injury, then certain information is necessary to begin the claim. Other than the steps mentioned above, it would help if you were correct to reveal the accident or injury date accurately. Show precisely the landmark where it happened and who was responsible for your injury.
If your accident occurred due to an uneven slab, then it should be proven with measured photographs of the depth of the tripping point, or if your accident happened due to a pothole, later the fault should be confirmed defect is of the pothole. If you find yourself not capable of handling all these parameters, then it is best to consider a proper public liability attorney who can handle it on your behalf. Click here and get to know some of the best general liability consultants in your area.
Time limits for bringing a Claim
While considering filing for a public liability case, it is advisable to bring the case within three years of the accident’s date. If you’re under the age of 18, then the three-year time limit does not begin until you are 18th. You can even opt for a no-win, no-fee public liability claim, as in it, you will not have to spend a penny on any legal costs.
