Personal Injury

Public Injury Compensation Claims

The aftermath of an accident can be hugely distressing for you and your family. Depending on the severity of your injury, it can impact your ability to work, look after yourself and live a normal day-to-day life.

You should be able to live your life without the risk of injury. If you’ve suffered an injury in a public place, from tripping on a loose pavement to being hurt by falling signage in a shop, you could be entitled to make a personal injury claim.

At Hodge Jones & Allen, our personal injury solicitors are experts in helping clients bring claims for compensation for an injury in a public place.

“Hodge Jones & Allen is a well known and popular claimant law firm, with a reputation for taking on complex cases that require excellent legal knowledge and courage.” – Legal 500, 2023

Hodge Jones & Allen_Chambers 2023_png Our Personal Injury team has been ranked in the Chambers & Partners 2024 legal directory. The team was described as “very attentive in every regard“ and were praised for providing “solid advice tailored to each request.”

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Accidents in public places:

Slips & Trips Claims

Sports Injury Claims

What is a public accident?

Personal injuries in public can, in legal terms, happen anywhere the general public is allowed to access. For example, a personal injury in public might occur in:

A retail park or shopping centre
Restaurants, cafés, fast-food outlets
Public car parks, roads, and streets
Supermarkets and their facilities, including toilets
Public parks and recreational areas
Public buildings including hospitals, libraries, etc.

" I never felt I was just a client number, I always felt Sarah was personally looking out for myself and my family... I have no hesitation in recommending this company and its team(s) to anybody thinking of engaging them."

How do you make a claim for an accident in a public place?

An accident in a public place can take many forms, including:

Sports injuries
Slips, trips & falls
Accidents in places governed by local councils.

Public places can be anywhere from a pavement owned by a local authority, to a business premises. In these instances, the business or council is responsible for any accidents that take place.

If you have been hurt in an accident, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention for your public injury. As long as you’re well enough to do so, try to note down any details of the accident, including what happened and who was involved. It can also help to speak to any witnesses and get their contact details.

Once you’ve recovered from the initial shock of the event, it’s important to contact a solicitor as soon as possible. At Hodge Jones & Allen, our expert personal injury lawyers will speak to you to learn more about what happened and the injuries you have sustained.

We will then gather evidence that will help us get you the compensation you deserve, whether that’s gathering CCTV footage, speaking to witnesses, or asking independent experts to assess your condition.

Afterwards, we will speak to those responsible for the accident, whether that’s a local authority or a private business, to see if they accept blame. If they do, we will try to negotiate a settlement out of court to get you the compensation you need.

What is the public injury claim process?

The first step is to get in touch with our team for a free consultation so that we can learn more about your injury and circumstances.

If we’re able to help, your lawyer will explain how we use No Win No Fee agreements to fund your case. They will also explain the steps and guide you throughout.

The next stages of your claim will involve negotiations between your lawyer and the party at fault, or their insurers. We can help you to gather supporting evidence, including expert medical evidence and witness statements that can potentially support your case.

Our lawyers will help you to access specialist rehabilitation or care, where necessary, whilst also fighting to ensure you get the compensation you deserve. For an estimate of how much your claim could be worth, please see our online personal injury compensation calculator or talk to one of the team if you’re ready to start your claim.

get in touch with us on

0330 822 3451

or request a call back.

Why choose Hodge Jones & Allen?

At Hodge Jones & Allen, our personal injury lawyers have decades of experience in getting clients the compensation they deserve for accidents that weren’t their fault. We’re widely recognised as industry leaders in the field, so when you instruct Hodge Jones & Allen, you know you’re getting access to a personal injury expert you can rely on.

We offer a free consultation when you call to help us learn more about your injury and how it has impacted your life. We then operate on a No Win No Fee basis, which means you can make a claim for compensation without any financial risk.

If you’ve been injured in a public place and it wasn’t your fault, we want to help you get back on your feet by getting you access to the compensation you deserve.

We’ll fight your corner every step of the way, building a case for your compensation while looking after you and ensuring you get the care and medical attention you need. Rehabilitation is our number one concern. That’s why we always look to ensure we can secure an interim payment at an early stage, to cover any medical expenses you accrue, without leaving you out of pocket.

"I WAS PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED WITH THE PERSONAL SERVICE YOU PROVIDED, AND OF COURSE, YOU WINNING MY CLAIM!"

Meet The Team

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Leticia Williams

Partner

Anne Sanders

Partner

Daniel Denton

Partner

Ken Brough

Partner

Louise Jukes

Partner

Patrick Allen

Senior Partner

Riffat Yaqub

Partner

Afiya Begum

Solicitor

Andrew James

Senior Associate

Araba Quartey

Senior Paralegal

Arifah Tahir

Solicitor

Ashleigh Pearson

Paralegal

Cigdem Hasirci

Paralegal

Denise Doherty

Chartered Legal Executive

Emma Hall

Senior Associate

Jack Foran

Paralegal

Karen Mann

Senior Associate

Mandhir Seera

Trainee

Melinda Katsiaounis

Paralegal

Sarah Townsend

Associate

Usheena Patel

Associate

Accidents in Public Places

Our client was walking to work on a day when it was raining heavily. He stepped on newly laid marble flooring outside a restaurant which was very extremely slippery causing him to fall heavily onto the ground.

nature of injury

complex fracture to the dominant right wrist requiring reconstructive surgery

damages awarded

£112,500

accidents in public places

Our client was crossing a road in Central London when they tripped over a pothole, within the a black section of a zebra crossing, so making it difficult to see. The pothole was not marked to indicate a hazard. The injuries sustained from the fall included a broken ankle requiring urgent hospital treatment. Our client was self-employed and was not able to work during recovery.

nature of injury

fall caused by pothole on public crossing

damages awarded

£27,500

accidents in public places

We represented a client who had been to a stadium to watch a rugby match. When the client left the stadium, she was walking along the road to get back to her car. As she was walking, she tripped over a raised paving stone. She sustained a laceration to her left knee requiring 13 stiches and was left with residual scarring and pigmentation. A claim was submitted and liability was admitted about 2 months after being submitted. Our client became self-conscious about the appearance of her knee. For example, she would no longer wear skirts above the knee. As part of the claim she recovered the costs of camouflage make up which is used to help disguise the appearance of the scarring.

nature of injury

laceration to left knee

damages awarded

£23,520.00

accidents in public places

We represented a Claimant who had an accident whilst wakeboarding and sustained a serious eye injury – retinal detachment and a secondary retinal detachment as well as facial scarring. The Claimant required surgical intervention to treat the retinal detachments after which their eye symptoms and vision gradually improved. Expert evidence concluded the Claimant was at an increased risk in the future of developing early onset cataracts and would need surgical intervention for this. The Claimant was also psychologically affected and required counselling. The Claimant required time off work to recover following the accident and surgeries that led to a significant loss in commission earnings. Liability was in dispute however the Defendant Insurer funded rehabilitation which helped to progress the Claimant’s recovery. Damages were agreed, and we secured the cost of future surgery which will allow the Claimant to have the necessary treatment on a private basis.

nature of injury

retinal detachment and facial scarring

damages awarded

£75,000.00

accidents in public places

We represented a client who was injured when he was assaulted by a member of staff at the hostel where he was living. He sustained a fracture to his jaw which required surgery to stabilise. The client had to eat soft food for 6 weeks after the surgery and after that avoided hot food and drinks. He struggled to brush his teeth properly during this period. He also struggled to sleep properly for approximately 2 months and suffered from nightmares and flashbacks. At the time of the medical examination, the client continued to experience occasional pain in his jaw which the expert considered is likely to be permanent. He has also been left with a small (2mm) scar on his left cheek. The housing association that ran the hostel admitted liability as they were vicariously liable for the actions of their employee.

nature of injury

fracture to jaw

damages awarded

£12,000.00

Accidents in Public Places

We represented a client who had an accident as a customer in a supermarket who tripped over a cardboard box that was left on the floor. Liability was admitted for the accident but an allegation of 40% contributory negligence was raised by the Defendant. This allegation was disputed and the client was advised that no more than 20% contributory negligence should be conceded when agreeing a settlement figure. As a result of the accident the client sustained a shoulder injury and the fall aggravated an underlying degenerative change. The client was examined by an orthopaedic surgeon who concluded that in the absence of the accident he may have developed a mild degree of symptoms in the long term and that the acute symptoms were 50 to 70% related to the accident. He considered overall there was a 2 year acceleration period and that his remaining symptoms would be permanent. Settlement negotiations went back and forth and the claim settled.

nature of injury

shoulder injury & underlying degenerative change

damages awarded

£7,000.00

Accidents in Public Places

The Claimant was a singer in a group performing in London. Our client had finished performing and was exiting the stage when they fell between a gap in an unlit area causing a protruding piece of metal to pierce his lower limb and cause significant injury. The client underwent 3 operations to repair the fascia but was left with unsightly scarring and hernia type symptoms. They sustained significant psychological symptoms. Liability was admitted in full by the Defendant. The matter was due to go to Court for assessment of damages when the Defendant raised the issue of potential clinical negligence on the part of the original treating hospital. The parties nonetheless were able to reach a settlement by amicable negotiation in the sum of £55,000 based on the evidence of the plastic surgery and psychological experts.

nature of injury

Lower Limb Injury

damages awarded

£55,000

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Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about accidents in public places.

What should I do after a personal accident in a public place?

Whilst accidents in public may be painful, embarrassing or disorientating, what you do following the accident can be instrumental in being awarded compensation.

First and foremost, you should seek medical attention and make sure that you’re safe. It’s also important to take down as many details as you can about the accident, whilst it’s fresh in your memory. Evidence such as photos and videos can also prove crucial.

What details do I need to collect at the scene?

Whilst at the scene, it’s helpful if you can collect information such as:

The names of those present, including witnesses (it helps to obtain contact details too)
The address where the incident took place
Insurance details, if applicable
The date and time of the incident
Weather conditions and lighting details
Pictures of damaged or dangerous equipment or structures
Evidence of any injuries (photos and videos)
CCTV camera locations

How long does a public injury claim take?

Each individual case is different, so our lawyers will be able to advise you after we learn more about your injuries and circumstances. The timeframe depends on factors such as the extent of the injuries and how long it takes the other party to respond productively to the claim. If you’re unsure if you were at fault or not, it might take your solicitor a little bit longer to work through this process.

How soon should I make a claim?

Whilst in most circumstances you’ll have up to three years from the date of the accident to make a claim, it’s in your best interests to do so as soon as possible. This can make it easier to obtain key evidence and it helps that the accident is still fresh in your memory.

Learn more about the 3 year limitation period and exceptions here.

How much will I pay my solicitor if I win?

The general rule in a No Win No Fee personal injury claims is that the ‘losing’ party pays the ‘winning’ party’s costs. So, if you bring a personal injury claim and are awarded compensation then you can expect some of your legal costs to be paid by the other party.

In the vast majority of No Win No Fee cases the amount a lawyer receives in costs from the other party does not cover the amount of work they have done in order to bring the claim to a successful conclusion however this is taken into account with the No Win No Fee Agreement.

Entering into a No Win No Fee Agreement means that your solicitor will only get paid if you win your claim. The shortfall in costs as well as the insurance premium and the solicitors success fee will generally be covered from a deduction from a client’s compensation which will be agreed at the start of a claim

Learn more about No Win No Fee agreements here.

How much compensation could I get for my personal injury claim?

Inform the reader that their compensation depends on the nature of their injury, so this is a difficult question to answer. Include keywords and relevant phrases wherever possible, inserting them naturally into a sentence or two.

Every claim for an injury in a public place is unique, so the compensation amount you may be entitled to will be personal to you based on the circumstances of your injuries. Personal injury compensation comes in two forms:

General damages – This is compensation paid in relation to your suffering, specifically to your pain, the consequences of your injuries, and the impact these have had on you and your family. We always use the most recent edition of the Judicial Guidelines when assessing how much compensation you could receive for general damages.
Special damages – Compensation paid for financial losses you have incurred, including medical bills, loss of income and rehabilitation.

You can use our personal injury compensation calculator to see an estimate of how much your claim could be worth. As your case develops, speak to your solicitor to find out how much compensation you may be able to win through your personal accident in public claim.

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