If you've suffered an injury in a public place, you may be eligible for a claim under personal injury law. This is essentially where you seek compensation from the organisation in charge of the space where you were injured. To pursue such a claim, you'll need to prove the organisation was negligent, for example, a council failing to maintain a hazard-free footpath. Read on for some essential tips if you've been injured in a public space.
If your injury requires medical attention, you should seek it as soon as possible. Even if you don't believe your injury is serious, it can be worth being checked by a medical professional. That way, if there are further complications in the future, you've done the right thing by seeking help. You'll also want accurate records of the medical attention you've sought, as this can form part of your compensation claim.
When you've been injured in public, it's crucial to act quickly. You should report the event to the relevant authority immediately. Typically, this is the entity controlling the public space where you were injured. If, for example, you've tripped on a loose brick on council property, you should report the incident to the council immediately. Not only does this help the council rectify the problem, but prevents further people from being injured.
If you need to make a personal injury claim, the best thing to do is seek legal advice. A legal professional can guide you through the process. Compensation may be available for lost wages, medical expenses and more, but each case is very different. There are also time limits for making personal injury claims. Typically, this is three years from the date of the injury, but the sooner you act, the faster you can move forward with your life.
*This information is current at the time of publication. For accurate legal advice, please contact Scammell & Co on 08 8440 270.
