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Public liability for an accident in UK or Europe, France or Spain - Legal advice

Accidents happen! And they often happen in a public place, perhaps due to poorly maintained surfaces, a spillage, inadequate lighting, or carelessness on the part of other people. Whether an accident happens in an airport, on the public highway, in a shop, restaurant or a car park, if you suffered an injury as a result of the actions or inaction of someone else, then you may be entitled to compensation.

Our multilingual personal injury lawyers are highly experienced in helping people who have been injured in a public place, especially while travelling abroad. This includes:
• foreign nationals who have been injured while visiting the UK; and
• British nationals who have been injured abroad.

We are accredited by APIL, the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, and have strong links in Europe, especially France and Spain.

The types of public place accidents we can help you with

We can assist you with claiming compensation for an accident occurring in any type of public place, including:

  • shops, supermarkets and shopping centres;
  • paths, steps, pavements and roads;
  • car parks;
  • airports, ports, railway and metro stations;
  • events, festivals and concerts;
  • museums and heritage sites;
  • sports arenas;
  • cafes and restaurants;
  • hotels;
  • private and rented domestic dwellings;
  • leisure facilities and swimming pools;
  • parks, gardens and public amenity spaces; and
  • bars, pubs and clubs.

Public liability claims are generally made against the owner or occupier of the land or premises on which the accident occurred. This may be a private individual, a commercial business or a local authority. Public liability insurance is widespread throughout Europe and beyond. This means that in many cases an insurer will be responsible for paying any compensation awarded to you.

Our personal injury team deals with all types of injury, including serious injuries to the head and spine, as well as fatal accidents. We are also able to recover compensation on behalf of children.

Call: +44 (0) 207 602 0305 ENQUIRE NOW

We offer a free initial consultation.

We will tell you if we think you have a good case and if we can help you.

We will not use your information for any other purpose.

Accident checklist
  1. Seek medical attention ASAP and record name of medical centre and staff who see you.
  2. Report the accident to the local police and request a copy of the report.
  3. Take the name, contact details and insurance details of the person who caused you to fall.
  4. Take photos of location and weather.
  5. Collect evidence, such as broken equipment.
  6. Obtain names and contact details of witnesses.
  7. Keep all receipts for medical and related expenses.
  8. Check if your travel or home insurance policy covers legal fees.

Is there a time limit?

Our track record of success

The solicitors at Pierre Thomas have a strong reputation for recovering compensation for people injured in public places in the UK, Europe, and worldwide; from minor injuries such as soft tissue injuries, to fatal cases and those involving brain, spinal or other severe injuries.

Recent examples of cases include:

  • Successfully obtaining compensation of nearly £15,000 for a lady after Christmas lights fell onto her from the façade of a hotel in Venice.
  • Acted for a jogger who tripped over a metal post in a public park in England and broke her elbow; the claim was brought against the local authority in charge of the maintenance of the park and their contractors and settled for £8,000 after a protracted dispute on liability.
  • Acted for an English hotel guest in France, who sustained facial and hand injuries as a result of a gas explosion in a nearby building and secured compensation of £180,000.
  • Advising on a claim against a leading aviation company for a client who tripped at the entrance of a plane and injured her leg.
  • Currently acting for an English lady who tripped in a club in Paris and injured her ankle.

Frequently asked questions

We offer a free initial consultation.

We will tell you if we think you have a good case and if we can help you.

We will not use your information for any other purpose.

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