The Injury Central

All public places such as roads, pavements, shops, restaurants and other public buildings have by law a basic duty of care to the public. In addition all public premises and business must by law carry Public Liability Insurance which guarantees the general public a basic conduct of care and safety when on the premises.

Whenever there may be a potential hazard on the road or on a public pathway, interior as well as exterior, it must be clearly sign posted and sectioned off from public access in order to prevent accidents. One of the most common instances for a public liability accident is a wet floor that has not been marked with a sign and blocked off from public passage. Another common public accident is an uneven or broken paving stone that gives way for a nasty trip or serious fall. Poor maintenance of a public footpath is common grounds for a personal injury compensation claim. Local authorities are responsible for the maintenance of public footpaths and if they fail to do so or fail to warn the public by means of a clear warning sign they are liable for damages caused to the person or persons involved in an otherwise preventable accident.

Other public liability claims may even arise from friends and family visiting another family member or friend’s private property. Although it may not seem like the right thing to do due to the personal relationship aspect of the claim, it can help you if the nature of the accident sees you out of pocket as a result of having to give up your job due to ill health or a physical disability.