If you have been injured as a result of a slip, trip, or fall in a public place, you may wonder whether you have the right to make a personal injury compensation claim. Many times, people are put off from beginning a personal injury claim when injured in a public space because they blame themselves for their injury and feel embarrassed about not paying enough attention.
These feelings are common, and when mixed with the incorrect belief that there is little point in starting a claim because there is no-one to blame when it comes to public spaces, the affected person can be left to pick up the pieces alone.
Duty of Care
However, the local authority has a duty of care to fulfil. This means that public spaces must be safe for their intended purpose and that any injury to an innocent bystander may be due to negligence in not upholding the duty of care. See this slip and fall lawyer in Beaumont for more information.
Now, let’s focus on some of the responsibilities that must be upheld by the local authority towards your safety in public spaces.
Slips and trips in a public space – what can go wrong?
As mentioned, the local authority has a responsibility towards your safety in public spaces (please note that public spaces would therefore not include private properties such as restaurants). This means that any slips and trips occurring on roads, parks, etc., that was not your fault could lead to a personal injury compensation claim.
Examples of local authority responsibilities include:
- Gritting the roads and public pathways following weather conditions that result in icy or slippery surfaces.
- Taking action to fix potholes in a time frame deemed reasonable – potholes can cause injury to drivers, cyclists, motorcyclists, passengers on public transport, and pedestrians.
- Taking action to apply fixes where uneven pathways or surfaces have been reported.
- Maintaining safety standards with regards to parks – damaged or faulty equipment could lead to injuries of varying degrees to both children and adults.
- Maintaining street lighting – darkened public spaces or pathways can lead to slips, trips, and falls that could have been avoided if issues with street lighting were addressed inside a reasonable timeframe.
- Failure to erect and maintain adequate signage near to roadworks informing the public of the imminent dangers to safety ahead.
You may also be eligible to bring a claim for personal injury compensation where every reasonable action is not taken to free public pathways from discarded items that pose a tripping hazard. If you are still unsure as to whether you are able to claim personal injury compensation following an injury in a public space, speak to a lawyer for answers.