Accidents in Public Places: A Guide to Public Liability Claims and Compensation
Accidents in public places can happen in shops, supermarkets, bars, gyms, holiday parks and many other locations. When an injury occurs, a public liability claim may be available if another party was responsible for maintaining a safe environment.
This guide sets out, step by step, what you should do after an accident and how public liability claims work in practice. It explains how to assess whether you may have a claim, how legal fault is established, and how compensation is calculated.
You can use the sections below to explore different types of public place accidents, including slips, defective equipment and unsafe premises. Each category links to detailed guides explaining how claims arise and what evidence is needed.
In addition, you can access our public liability questions and answers, based on real scenarios, as well as practical legal guides to help you understand your options and next steps.
How to Use This Public Liability Claims Guide
The types of accident that may occur in public places are listed below in alphabetical order.
Choose the category that matches your situation to see when you may have a claim, how legal fault is established, how compensation payouts are determined, and the specific steps involved in making your public liability claim.
Types of Accidents in Public Places
Select your public place accident type to access our detailed guide.
Bar and Club Accidents
Find out how to claim compensation for injuries in bars, pubs and nightclubs, including slips on wet floors, cuts from broken glass, doorman incidents, overcrowding and unsafe conditions.
Go-Kart Track Accidents
Understand when you can claim compensation for injuries caused by defective karts, poor supervision or unsafe track conditions at indoor and outdoor venues.
Gym and Fitness Centre Accidents
Learn how to claim for injuries caused by faulty equipment, poor maintenance or unsafe exercise environments in gyms and fitness classes. Find out about gym public liability insurance, the different – the duty owed to both gym users and gym staff.
Hair Salon and Hairdresser Injuries
Find out when you can claim compensation for burns, chemical damage or scalp injuries caused during hairdressing treatments.
Holiday Camp and Activity Park Accidents
Explore when you can claim compensation for injuries at holiday camps (including sports and summer camps), activity parks and leisure sites, including accidents affecting guests, visitors and workers and
Pavement and Road Slip, Trip and Fall Accidents
See how to claim compensation for slips, trips and falls on pavements and roads, including claims involving councils and highway authorities.
Petrol Station Accidents
Find out how to claim for injuries at petrol stations, including slips, defective equipment and hazards affecting customers and workers.
Shop and Retail Accidents
Understand when shops and retail outlets may be liable for injuries, including slips, unsafe displays and accidents in customer areas.
Shopping Centre Accidents
Learn how to claim compensation for injuries in shopping centres caused by hazards such as wet floors, poor maintenance or unsafe premises.
Supermarket Accidents
Find out how to claim for injuries in supermarkets, including slips on wet floors, defective flooring, food poisoning and accidents in store car parks. We include both customer injury and supermarket worker accident claims.
Starting a Public Liability Claim After an Accident
Low Value Personal Injury Pre-Action Protocol (Claims Under £25,000)
Find out the process your solicitor should follow to commence your accident in a public place claim for compensation (for personal injury claims valued at less than £25,000).
Summary – Public Liability Claims
In summary, this overview guide brings together the main types of accidents that can occur in public places and shows you where to find the detailed guidance relevant to your situation.
However, every accident is different. Therefore, selecting the category that best matches your circumstances is the first step in understanding whether you may have a claim and what to do next.
Free Specialist Legal Help
See our free telephone and online initial help options. You can not only call to speak direct to a solicitor to discuss your accident in a public place, but also ask a legal question or have your claim assessed.
