Accidents in Public Places.

Public Place Accident & Injury Compensation Claims.

When you’re out and about in public, perhaps socialising, exercising, working, shopping, or running errands, you should be able to do so without the risk of being injured.

All public premises, buildings, walkways, and highways should have a responsible party who holds liability for any kind of accident that takes place therein. For example if you have had an accident in a park, or have tripped over a paving stone in the street, your local council will usually be the ones to hold liability in these circumstances.

All businesses that are open to the public, such as shops, cinemas, restaurants, and sports centres, have a legal duty to ensure that everyone who enters their premises does so without risk of injury. Likewise, local authorities and councils have a responsibility to ensure that public highways, parks, and recreational spaces are well maintained and that any potential hazards are removed, reduced, or clearly communicated to the public.

If you are involved in an accident in a public place which occurred due to somebody else’s negligence you may be entitled to claim compensation. Perhaps you were injured when using faulty equipment at a play park, or perhaps you slipped on a spillage in a supermarket which hadn’t been signposted or cleaned up. Whatever the circumstances and the type of injury caused, if the accident took place in a public space, we can help you to claim the compensation you deserve.

Here at Lanyon Bowdler our specialist team of personal injury solicitors have helped many people, just like you, to seek justice after an accident in a public place. We have the knowledge and expertise to handle your case with the diligence it deserves. We’re with you for the whole journey, helping you to claim what you are owed, as well as facilitating access to private medical treatments and therapies to aid you on your road to recovery. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch to find out how we can help you.

Am I eligible to claim compensation after an accident in a public place?

In order to make a successful claim for compensation after an accident in a public place, we must be able to provide evidence that you were owed a duty of care, that somebody was negligent in their duty, and that this negligence caused, or directly contributed to, your injury.

The owner, occupier, or other person who has control over the public place in which you were injured has a legal duty of care to ensure that all those who enter the premises, or use the area, remain as safe as is reasonably possible. This will typically involve the regular carrying out of risk assessments, followed by implementing policies and procedures to ensure that all identified risks are minimised or eradicated.

For example, in a supermarket the manager has a responsibility to ensure that stock is moved around the store carefully to avoid causing injury to shoppers and workers, and that any spillages of produce are signposted promptly and cleared up as quickly as possible in order to prevent customers from slipping. If you have sustained an injury after being struck by an unsecured object, or by slipping on a spillage which wasn’t clearly signposted, you may have a valid claim for compensation.

If you are unsure as to whether or not you have valid grounds on which to claim compensation, please get in touch with our personal injury solicitors. We’ll be happy to discuss the circumstances of your accident, and once we have a clear picture of exactly what happened, we can advise you further.

We are a renowned law firm with experienced No Win No Fee Solicitors. We can guide you through the entire claim process and assist with your recovery.

Our Accidents in Public Places Claims Expertise

We pride ourselves on our dedicated and thorough approach to each and every personal injury claim that we handle. We take the time to really get to know you so that we can understand your needs and address your concerns. Our friendly and professional personal injury specialists will keep you in the loop at all times, ensuring you are up to date with the developments of your case.

Not only are we able to provide exceptional legal counsel, we can also support you in other ways such as facilitating access to private medical treatments to aid your recovery, and organising interim payments to ensure that you are not left struggling whilst your claim is ongoing.

Podcasts

Listen here to Dawn Humphries from the Personal Injury team, chatting about the challenges faced by people and their families when dealing with brain injuries.

In this episode Dawn Humphries & Alex Spanner from the Personal Injury team are chatting with local legend Mickey Bushell MBE. Mickey is an Paralympic gold medallist and qualified personal trainer, who works with disabled people to help improve their physical and mental well-being.

Recommendations

The Personal Injury Team is recognised in Tier 2 for the West Midlands in the 2025 edition of the Legal 500, which states ‘The ‘very client-centred’ team at Lanyon Bowdler is ably led by Dawn Humphries who is based at the Shrewsbury office. Humphries excels in serious brain and spinal injuries. She is also well-regarded for her work on employers’ liability claims that arise from accidents at work, particularly at construction sites. Telford-based Debbie Humphries is recommended for her representation of clients who have sustained life-changing injuries. Phillip Roberts is at the Hereford office, and has particular experience in areas such as accident at work cases and loss of limbs claims. Associate Karen Clarke is another notable member of the practice’.

Work highlights:

Represented claimant in PI claim against a well-known sporting activities franchise, where claimant sustained a C5 fracture of the neck rendering him tetraplegic, resulting in a claim estimated to be worth over £10m.

Represented claimant in PI claim against employer, having sustained fractures to L2, 3, 4 and 5 after falling from a roof. Contentious evidence in respect of quantum led to negotiations which successfully secured a £500,000 settlement for the client.

Represented claimant via their litigation friend in a PI claim against a defendant driver, successfully negotiating a settlement of £2.9m ahead of a liability trial.

Chambers UK 2025 rank the department in Band 1 and state ‘The firm is particularly experienced in acting for clients with spinal and cerebral injuries. Also skilled in handling military cases, and works alongside clinical negligence and Court of Protection teams to fully support clients.’

Strengths

“The team are always friendly and nothing is a problem for them.”

“All communication was appropriately fast and always put into suitable non-legal layman terms.”

Notable practitioners

Dawn Humphries – Band 2

Dawn Humphries handles a wide range of orthopaedic and spinal injury claims. She is active on an array of personal injury cases, including those relating to workplace accidents and RTAs.

“Dawn is empathetic and sympathetic but very calmly assertive when it came to pushing back onto defence.”

“She is really on the ball and is open to having a discussion on how to improve the case.”

Debbie Humphries – Band 2

Debbie Humphries is highlighted for her experience in handling a full range of severe injury matters, including motor incidents and accidents at work.

“Debbie supports her clients with a balance of compassion and sector knowledge.”

Questions Answered Relating to Accidents in Public Places

Who is responsible for an accident in a public place?

When an accident occurs in a public place, the person or organisation who can be held liable will vary depending on the type of public place. In most cases you will be owed a duty of care by one of the following:

The local authority or council
The owner or occupier of the premises
The business or organisation operating in the public place
The person who holds responsibility for maintaining the public place

Whoever is in charge of a public place holds the responsibility for ensuring that regular risk assessments are carried out, and that measures are put in place to remove or minimise the risk of injury to the public. For example, it is the responsibility of the local authority to ensure that roads and pavements are well maintained, with potholes being filled in to reduce the risk of a road traffic accident, and broken paving stones being fixed to reduce the risk of people tripping and falling whilst walking or cycling, for example.

Accidents in public places typically happen because the responsible party has failed to uphold their duty of care to ensure the safety of the area. If you have been injured after tripping over a broken paving stone, or slipping on an icy path that wasn’t gritted, you may be able to claim compensation. If you’re unsure who was responsible for your accident in a public place, our specialist personal injury solicitors can help you to find out, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch and begin the claims process with us.

What types of accidents can happen in a public place?

There are a wide variety of outdoor areas and business premises that can be classed as public places, so therefore there are many different types of accidents that could potentially occur. Some of the most common accidents that can happen in a public place include:

Slipping on a wet floor
Slipping on an icy footpath
Tripping over a paving slab
Cycling or driving over a pothole
Falling from an unstable or unsecured height
Being struck by a falling object
Being injured by defective equipment
Tripping over loose wiring, refuse, or debris
Receiving an electric shock from faulty equipment
Being involved in a road traffic accident
Being assaulted by a person or an animal, such as a dog
Being injured when participating in or spectating a sporting activity

This list is not exhaustive, and if you have suffered from any kind of injury which occurred in a public place due to somebody else’s negligence, we can help you to claim the compensation you deserve. If you are 18 or over and your accident occurred in the last three years and you were not to blame, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Even if your accident occurred more than three years ago, or you were partially to blame, we may still be able to help you, so please do speak to one of our friendly and experienced team to find out more. If a child is injured the three year rule doesn’t come into force until they are 18.

What is the Definition of a Public Place?

Many people wrongly believe that a privately owned space, such as a business premises, is not a public place. However, according to Section 9 of the Public Order Act 1936, a public place includes “any highway and any other premises or place to which at the material time the public have or are permitted to have access, whether on payment or otherwise.”

Some examples of public places include:

Shops and supermarkets
Bars, cafes, and restaurants
Theatres, cinemas, and music venues
Bowling alleys and arcades
Tourist attractions and museums
Sports venues and gyms
Parks, paths, and roads

All of these places, and any other spaces in which the public are allowed access, even on a temporary basis, should have a responsible party which holds public liability insurance. This insurance covers the public space in the event of an accident occurring, which results in a member of the public being injured, ensuring that the injured party may be adequately compensated for the suffering they have endured due to the accident.

Testimonials

What our clients say.

From the first contact, the team at Lanyon Bowdler gave a fast & efficient service. They were very friendly & gave me the confidence that I had found the right solicitors. The advice given & the fast responses were beyond my expectations. The matter was resolved in no time at all.

Martyn

via ReviewSolicitors

It is a pleasure to act as a case manager for clients represented by the personal injury team at Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors. Lanyon Bowdler PI team are proactive and truly client centred. They understand the clients they represent and work tirelessly to achieve the best they can for them. Through collaborative working we have been able to achieve the best outcomes possible for our clients.

Rachel Dodwell

Community Case Management Services Ltd

As a case manager I work closely with litigation teams to ensure our clients get the expertise, support and care they need to bring them back to as close to their life pre-injury as possible. This is very often not an easy journey, and balancing the desires of the client to live their best life with collating and presenting the facts of how that life is altered, can be very challenging. Having worked alongside Lanyon Bowdler’s team for many years, I have noted it is always easier to strike this balance, when they are involved.

Shelley Lewis

AJ Case Management

Having worked with a succession of personal injury specialists at Lanyon Bowdler over the years, I have seen at first hand the top-flight legal expertise that they bring to every case and the commitment to obtaining the absolutely best result for every client. Equally importantly, I am struck by the compassion, empathy and humanity with which every client is treated. They go above and beyond to ensure their clients receive the very best representation.

Anthony Reddiford

Guildhall Chambers

The team at Lanyon Bowdler show an exceptional knowledge and understanding of their client’s needs, not just in terms of the claim that they lead, but also the emotional and personal experiences that they will have on that journey.

Jenny Whittall

JMW Ltd

Lanyon Bowdler provide seamless ongoing emotional support, information and guidance to their clients over what may be many years of a PI claim. This significantly helps mitigate the “stress” of a claim for their clients, and in my medicolegal experience puts them way ahead of other legal firms.

Professor Tony Elliott

Director UK Centre for Medico-Legal Studies

Contacted Lanyon Bowdler six months after an injury at work. They offered me several of their services, including no win no fee which I ended up choosing. The solicitor was extremely helpful, was always keeping me updated when there was news and answered promptly when asked for any updates or when I asked any questions. I was very happy with the final settlement and the advice I received proved to be the best for my case. I felt like the extra bit of care was extended to give me a good idea of the options I had to choose from which really helped to inform any decision.

Matthew

via ReviewSolicitors

From my initial approach to the final positive outcome I felt my solicitor was expending all his energy to win the case. I was kept informed throughout and was given straightforward advice on how to proceed. The end result was an acceptable outcome and the pay-out was prompt.

Eric

via ReviewSolicitors

Very friendly and quick to respond, highly recommend for anyone looking for legal advice.

Anonymous

via ReviewSolicitors

I couldn’t be happier with the service I have received over the past six years. I would highly recommend Lanyon Bowdler for legal requirements.

Jayne

via ReviewSolicitors

Since dealing with Lanyon Bowdler they have been diligent, efficient and at all times very helpful along with being structured in dealing with matters, fees and clarity on all levels. Thank you.

Michael

via ReviewSolicitors

I was clearly informed of progress step by step. The service you provided was very good.

Peter Weston

Shrewsbury

All work carried out effectively and efficiently.

Hubert Jones

via ReviewSolicitors

An excellent service with solicitors that you can talk to and who give you a clear understanding of all necessary legal implications and interpretations.

Eric

via ReviewSolicitors

From start to finish we had excellent service. Friendly, approachable and professional.

Carl Gittins

via ReviewSolicitors

Very clear, concise advice and guidance, easy to understand.

Ian Jamieson

Telford

Good service provided throughout with clear communication throughout with all options explored.

Lee

I can thoroughly recommend the highly professional and supportive service received over the last few months.

Heather

via ReviewSolicitors

Responsive, supportive, approachable, clear and empathetic.

Lisa Thacker

Professional and prompt communication. Supportive and client focused.

Lisa Thacker

Jennifer M Whittall Ltd

Whenever I have had need to contact Lanyon Bowdler I have always received a fast, concise and friendly response.

Lee Mortimer

UK Case Management

Definitely would use Lanyon Bowdler again if I need the use of a solicitor.

Mark Bowkett

via ReviewSolicitors

Smooth and efficient service from very professional firm.

Tim

via ReviewSolicitors

We were particularly impressed with the quality of work, the speed and excellent communication.

Allenby Douglas Ltd

Oswestry

Very friendly and approachable. Very good advice

Ivor Brown

via ReviewSolicitors

Great Service; Lanyon Bowdler were excellent from the outset. Straightforward and easy process. I just sat back and waited.

Paul Rowe

via ReviewSolicitors

Everything has been professional, efficient and courteous throughout and we are very pleased, both with the service and with the eventual outcome of our case. Everything was first class and exceeded our expectations. Thank you again for providing such splendid service. It is really appreciated.

Mr N J & Dr S J Browne

Llanfyllin

Contact Lanyon Bowdler’s Accidents in Public Places Solicitors

Our Personal Injury Team is accredited by the Associated of Personal Injury Lawyers, and the Law Society, as well as being accredited brain injury specialists, and experts in catastrophic injury claims. We are proud to have been highly ranked by both The Legal 500 and Chambers UK, which should offer you the peace of mind and reassurance to know that you’re in safe hands.

Please contact a member of the team or complete our online enquiry form.

Lanyon Bowdler has specialist Personal Injury Solicitors in Shrewsbury, Bromyard, Hereford, Ludlow, Oswestry, Telford, and Conwy in North Wales. We regularly act for clients regarding Personal Injury Claims across Shropshire, Herefordshire, Mid and North Wales, Birmingham, and the Midlands. As a leading law firm, we can represent you wherever you live in England or Wales.

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