Accidents in a Public Place*

We can help with your Public Place Accident Claim*

If you have been injured in a public place, due to the negligence of the persons responsible for that area, you may be entitled to pursue legal action.

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We’re here to help. Call us today on +353 1 649 9900

Accidents in a Public Place

Public Liability Claims*

Slips, trips and falls, also referred to as public liability claims, can occur in almost any environment. From tripping on a pavement while out and about as a result of an uneven or broken footpath, a fall in a supermarket on a wet or slippery floor, or a trip or fall in the workplace. All of these occurrences can lead to serious personal injury.

COMMON ACCIDENT CLAIMS

    A Duty of Care

    What is important to note is that in a public place there is a duty of care on the persons responsible for this area to ensure that a personal injury does not occur. In some cases a slip, trip or fall can be attributed to the person who suffered the accident. However, in many other cases, the accident can be attributed to the negligence of the persons responsible for the upkeep of the area. These are the people with the legal duty of care to protect people from injury.

    What to do after an accident in a public place*?

    Following an accident in a public place, there are a number of steps you should follow:

    1. Seek medical attention

      Your health is your wealth and should be your first priority. Immediately after a public place accident, take a second to assess yourself to determine if you have any injuries and seek the relevant medical attention. If you have sustained a serious injury ensure that you contact an ambulance to attend the scene.

      For minor injuries, you must remember that minor injuries where you ‘feel fine’ could progress to a more serious injury in the future. In this case it is always better to be safe than sorry and advisable that you go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) or local GP to be checked out.

    2. Report the accident

      If you have an accident in a public place it is important to report it to the persons who are in charge of the upkeep of property.

      Examples of such are:

    3. Identify any witnesses

      If possible, try to collect the contact details of anybody that witnessed the accident. This may be of good use if you do decide to pursue a public place accident claim. It is also useful to find out if there is any CCTV in the area where the accident happened.

    4. Document the incident

      It is important that you collect all the relevant information in connection with your accident:

      • How the accident happened
      • Details of any witnesses
      • If there are any CCTV recordings of the accident
      • Take pictures of where the accident happened and what caused you to slip, trip or fall

    5. Speak to a public place accident solicitor

      If you are considering moving forward with a public place accident claim for any personal injuries sustained it is advisable that you speak with a public place accident claims solicitor as soon as possible. If you are proceeding with a claim, the first step will be submitting your claim to the Injuries Board for assessment. A public place accident solicitor can help you in preparing your application to the Injuries Board and ensure that you follow the process in the correct format, meaning that you can move forward with your claim quickly without unnecessary delays.

      It is important to remember to keep copies of any expenses that you have incurred as a result of the accident. It is also imperative to retain copies of medical reports or incident report forms where possible as you will need them when making a claim.

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    We Look After Your Case

    At Tracey Solicitors LLP, we are passionate about helping our customers focus on their recovery from accidents in public places, while our team of solicitors and legal executives navigate the legal world for them, to bring their case to a close.

    How do I make a claim?

    Once you have gathered all the relevant information in relation to your injury it is then time to move forward with your claim. It is important to use a specialist public place accident solicitor to help you with this.

    1. Prepare information for a solicitor

      When you decide you want to move forward with your public place accident claim it is important to have all the relevant information to hand when contacting a solicitor. Important information to have on hand at this point is:

      • Date of the accident
      • Location of the accident
      • Details of who/what caused the accident
      • Specifics of what happened
      • Who did you report the accident to?
      • Is there CCTV that may have captured the accident?
      • Details of your injuries
      • Details of hospital or GP attended
      • Any pictures you may have taken of the scene of the accident and/or your injuries
      • Try to retain any clothing and footwear in case it has some evidential value

    2. Solicitor becomes your trusted advisor

      As a solicitor is aware of the public place accident claim process they can avoid any legal bumps in the road you might encounter if you did this yourself. It is their job to be your trusted advisor on all legal matters throughout your case.

    3. Solicitor obtains a medical report

      One of the most important documents in your case is a medical report. Your solicitor will ask for your doctor’s or Hospital details so they can obtain a report on your injuries. This report will then be used to allow us to progress your case.

    4. Solicitor prepares the Injuries Board application

      As soon as your solicitor has gathered all the information, your public place accident claim will be submitted to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board for assessment. Your solicitor will do this for you. Once the Injuries Board assess your claim, they will revert with a suggested settlement amount to your solicitor. At this stage, you have a choice to accept the Injuries Board assessment or reject it and move to the next steps.

      At this point one of two scenarios will unfold:

      a. If both you and the party at fault accept the Injuries Board assessment, your case is settled and the party at fault will be ordered to pay settlement to you.

      b. If either you or the party at fault reject the Injuries Board assessment, then you move to the next stage and your solicitor will issue legal proceedings.

    5. Possible case outcomes

      Before you start to concern yourself with court and everything that comes with it, it’s important to understand that only a very small percentage of cases actually make it to a courtroom.

      Settlement meetings will be arranged where a settlement can be negotiated. Most cases are settled at this point without ever having to step foot into a courtroom and remember it’s your solicitor’s job to be with you every step of the way, right beside you to ensure that your best interests are met at all stages. Your solicitor is to be your trusted advisor throughout the process and to let you focus of your recovery, as they focus on settling your case.

    At Tracey Solicitors LLP, we make law accessible to all — regardless of your knowledge or experience with the claims process. For more information and a confidential discussion on your public place accident, phone 01 649 9900 where you can speak with a member of our team straight away, or email ask@traceysolicitors.ie to tell us about your case.

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    Case Settlement

    If you are to proceed with a public place accident claim you may be entitled to claim compensation for the accident and added expenses you may have incurred. These claims are called damages.

    General Damages

    General damages are non-financial damages such as pain and suffering and/or physical and emotional injuries following a public place accident.

    Special Damages

    Special damages are out of pocket expenses incurred as a result of the public place accident, for example, loss of earnings (if you are out of work), medical bills, and added travel costs as a result of the accident (for example, travel to and from the hospital). Learn more about Special Damages

    Margaret’s Story

    Margaret fell crossing the road due to roadworks while doing her Christmas shopping. She injured her knee badly. Margaret found the claims process with Tracey Solicitors LLP straight forward and was put at ease straight away.

    “They took my case and within a short space of time I had my claim settled with no hassle whatsoever.”

    Who is Liable?

    If you have been injured in a public place and have decided that you want to make a claim then you will need to determine who was at fault for the accident. In order to proceed with a claim, the accident must have been caused by somebody else who acted in a negligent manner. If you were the main cause of the accident, then you will not be entitled to pursue a claim for the injuries you sustained as a result.

    Other members of the public may also have caused the accident if they acted in a negligent manner. It is important to note that it is not just an owner who has a duty of care but also all those who visit the public place.

    Occupiers’ Liability Act 1995

    Under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1995, an occupier of a building or land has a duty of care to ensure that all visitors are safe and looked after while visiting the building or premises. The occupier must also ensure that they provide staff with the necessary training needed in order to carry out the job correctly and minimise the risk of accidents happening.

    What are the Legal Time Limits?

    The statute of limitations are the legal time limits on how long you have to make a claim — these vary depending on the situation. The general rule for most personal injury cases is that the person has two years from the date of the accident or date of knowledge of the accident to make a claim for compensation. Contacting a solicitor to discuss your case will help you in determining how long you have left to make a claim.

    Learn more about Time Limits

    Common Causes of Accidents in Public Places*

    Accidents in public places can occur in a number of different environments; in a supermarket, in a bar or restaurant, on a footpath, on a flight, or on any premises that a member of the public has access to. Regardless of the type of injury, it is important to maintain whether the environment was unfit or hazardous, even in the case of human error, ascertaining the details of how the accident occurred is very important for an accident in a public place claim.

    The most common public place accident claims are:

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    Need Help? Just Ask.

    We use our expert knowledge and over 35 years of experience to give you the voice you need. We use non-legal language and provide practical and impartial advice through every stage of the process!

    Call us today on +353 1 649 9900 or contact us online.

    Common Accident in a Public Place Injuries*

    Being involved in an accident in a public place, can be a traumatic experience, especially if you have suffered any personal injuries. The most common injury claims that can occur after a public place accident are:

    Learn more about Injury Claims

    About Tracey Solicitors LLP

    We draw on more than 35 years of experience in personal injury law to provide you with expert advice and legal services.

    We’re here to help you with your claim, and will work with you to ensure you understand every step of your legal journey.

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