What Public Liability Really Means For Compensation Claims

Public liability refers to laws that cover compensation for injuries in public areas and on private property. Making a public liability claim requires you to demonstrate that your injury occurred as a result of someone else’s carelessness or negligence.

It’s difficult to outline the compensation process for public liability claims as each situation is unique. It generally involves trying to show fault for an accident in order to secure monetary compensation for past and future medical expenses, loss of earnings and other related expenses.

Common Types of Public Liability Claims

Public liability claims cover a wide range of circumstances, with common claims including:

• injuries in public places, such as parks or leisure centres (slips, trips and falls, head and neck injuries, back injuries)
• injuries in private buildings, such as retail stores and shopping centres
• injuries in rental premises
• physical and sexual assaults
• animal related injuries, such as dog attacks or horse riding accidents
• recreational and sporting injuries
• schoolyard injuries
• food poisoning

To make a successful claim you must prove that the person at fault owed you a duty of care (an obligation to take measures to prevent harm), they failed to take this duty of care and, as a result, you suffered a loss or injury.

What Can You Claim?

The actual amount of compensation awarded will depend on a wide range of factors, such as how badly you were injured, how much you’ve lost in earning, your age and how much you’ve paid out of pocket for your treatment.

In some circumstances, you can also claim for pain and suffering. The compensation amount is calculated on the amount of loss or harm suffered. Once your personal injury lawyer gathers the evidence, you’ll get a better idea of how you’ll be compensated.

Why You Need to Act Quickly

It’s important to get in touch with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible if you believe you are eligible for a public liability claim. A strict time frame of three years applies for these claims. While that may seem like a long time, some cases can take much longer than anticipated due to the complexity of some claim processes.

Your lawyer needs time to collect evidence to help your case, such as photos, medical documents and witness accounts. Public liability claims can also be contested by the other party, with the negotiation process sometimes taking a long time. The sooner you act, the better your chances will be of maximising your compensation.

Speak to a Public Liability Lawyer

Need to lodge a public liability claim in Queensland? Get in touch with the experienced team at Brisbane Injury Lawyers. We offer a “no win, no fee” service. Call us today on (07) 3171 9313 or contact us online.