LEGAL GUIDE · ENGLAND & WALES
If you have been injured in a public place — a shop, a park, a café, a sports centre, or anywhere else that is open to members of the public — you may have a public liability claim. This type of personal injury claim holds the person or organisation responsible for that place accountable when their negligence causes harm to visitors.
Public liability claims are one of the most common types of personal injury cases in England and Wales. Every year, thousands of people are injured on other people’s or organisations’ premises through no fault of their own. The law is on your side — and NJS Law can help you get the compensation you deserve, with no upfront cost.
Key fact: You generally have three years from the date of your accident to start a public liability claim. If you were injured as a child, the three-year clock starts on your 18th birthday. Act promptly — evidence disappears, and the sooner you start, the stronger your claim.
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A public liability claim is a legal claim you make against a person or organisation whose negligence caused you injury in a place that is accessible to the public. The legal basis for most public liability claims is the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, which places a duty of care on anyone who occupies or controls premises.
Under the Act, occupiers must take reasonable steps to ensure that visitors are safe while using their premises for the purposes for which they are invited or permitted. If they fail in that duty — and you are injured as a result — you have the right to claim compensation.
The range of places and situations covered is broad:
The defendant in a public liability claim is whoever was responsible for the safety of the place where you were injured. This is not always obvious, and it can sometimes be more than one party.
If you slip on a wet floor in a supermarket, trip over a loose mat in a restaurant, or fall on poorly lit steps in a hotel, the business that runs the premises owes you a duty of care. Even if the hazard was created by a member of staff rather than the owner directly, the business is liable under the principle of vicarious liability.
Councils are responsible for maintaining public spaces such as parks, playgrounds, and public buildings. Where a council-managed space has an unrepaired hazard — broken playground equipment, a flooded path, a crumbling car park surface — and you are injured because of it, the council may be liable. Councils can also be responsible for pavements and roads under the Highways Act 1980 — see our dedicated guide on pavement trip and pothole claims.
Educational establishments owe a duty of care both to pupils and to members of the public who visit. If you are injured on school premises or at a university facility, a claim can be made against the institution.
Educational establishments owe a duty of care both to pupils and to members of the public who visit. If you are injured on school premises or at a university facility, a claim can be made against the institution.
If you entered a premises without permission, the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1984 applies. The duty of care is lower but does still exist — occupiers must take reasonable steps to prevent injury to trespassers if they are aware of a danger and know people are likely to encounter it. Children trespassing are given particular protection under the Act.
To succeed in a public liability claim, you need to establish three things:
The key question is always what was reasonable. A supermarket that cleans up a spill immediately may not be liable, but one that left a wet floor unmarked for two hours almost certainly is. Courts look at whether the risk was foreseeable, how serious the potential injury was, how easy it would have been to prevent, and whether the occupier had proper inspection and maintenance systems in place.
Strong evidence makes for a strong claim. The most useful evidence in a public liability case includes:
Act fast on CCTV: Most businesses and councils overwrite CCTV footage every 28–31 days. Write to the premises owner immediately preserving all footage from the date and time of your accident. If you instruct NJS Law, we will do this for you from day one.
Public liability compensation covers two categories of loss:
This compensates you for the injury itself — both the physical pain and the impact on your life. The amount depends on the nature and severity of your injuries. Solicitors use the Judicial College Guidelines (18th edition, April 2026) to estimate these values. You can read more about average personal injury compensation payouts in the UK. Some example ranges include:
Injury Type | Approximate Range |
Minor soft tissue injury (full recovery within 3 months) | Up to £3,150 |
Moderate wrist injury | £13,370 – £29,260 |
Moderate knee injury | £14,840 – £26,190 |
Back injury — moderate disc lesion with lasting symptoms | £27,760 – £38,780 |
Fractured hip or pelvis (significant) | £39,170 – £52,500 |
Moderate psychiatric injury with good recovery prospects | £6,400 – £19,070 |
You can also claim back any out-of-pocket financial losses caused by the accident, including:
Under the Limitation Act 1980, you have three years from the date of your accident to issue court proceedings. This applies to most adults injured in public places in England and Wales. Key exceptions:
Do not wait until the last minute. Evidence becomes harder to obtain and witnesses’ memories fade. For a fuller explanation of these deadlines, see our guide on personal injury claim time limits in England and Wales.
NJS Law handles all public liability claims under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) — commonly known as No Win, No Fee. This means:
There is no financial risk to you in finding out whether you have a claim.
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A public liability claim is a legal claim against the person or organisation responsible for a public or private premises where you were injured due to their negligence. It is based on the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 and covers a wide range of places including shops, restaurants, parks, schools, and event venues.
Most straightforward public liability claims settle within 9 to 18 months. More complex cases — particularly where liability is disputed or where your injuries are serious and ongoing — can take longer. NJS Law will give you a realistic timeline at the outset based on the specifics of your case.
It is very common for businesses and their insurers to initially deny or dispute a claim. This does not mean your claim will fail. Your solicitor will gather evidence, correspond with the defendant’s insurer, and if necessary, issue court proceedings. The vast majority of claims that are properly evidenced settle before reaching a final hearing.
Yes. If you were partly responsible for your accident — for example, if you were not watching where you were going — your compensation may be reduced proportionally. This is called contributory negligence. But even a partial fault on your part does not bar you from recovering compensation altogether.
You do not need to have visited a doctor before contacting us, but you should seek medical attention as soon as possible after an accident. Medical records form an important part of the evidence in any personal injury claim, and a delay in treatment could be used to minimise the seriousness of your injury.
The terms are often used interchangeably and both involve injury on someone else’s premises. “Occupiers’ liability” refers specifically to the legal framework under the Occupiers’ Liability Acts 1957 and 1984, while “public liability” is the broader commercial and practical term used by insurers and the industry. NJS Law handles both under the same No Win, No Fee service.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. The law applies differently depending on the specific facts of your case For advice on your specific circumstances, please contact NJS Law directly.
For a full overview of public liability claims, including eligibility, time limits and the claims process, see NJS Law’s public liability claims service page.
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