State and Territory Public Liability laws protect you if you are injured in a public place through no fault of your own. The owner, tenant or even Council has a duty of care to ensure that there is no breach of safety standards.
If you have suffered an injury as a result of another person or company’s negligence then you may be entitled to claim expenses and direct compensation for the injury suffered. All the States and Territories have different laws that apply to such matters, but the end result is always the same: loss. Lost wages, lost time, and lost quality of life. Don’t take these losses sitting down, if you have the right to compensation and to get the help you are owed in getting your health and life back.
The most common places where public accidents take place include:
- Supermarkets
- Shopping Centres
- Fitness Centres
- Council Property
- Restaurants
- Schools
- Another Person’s Home
Shopping and Supermarket Accidents
Shopping and supermarket accidents can happen in a number of different ways; the most common accidents include slipping on a spill, tripping over an unseen object or being hit by an object or shopping trolley.
Supermarkets and shops stock their shelves with products (such as drinks, oils, liquids, etc) and if liquids or other hazards are spilt onto the ground, they pose a danger to customers. It is the responsibility of the owner, manager and their employees to ensure that the shop floor is kept clean, tidy and safe at all times. They are required to undertake regular inspections of all isles to ensure they are clean and free of hazards and a failure to do this will result in negligence on their behalf.
Slips, Trips & Falls
There are many different ways and circumstances in which slips, trips and falls can take place, here are common reasons for such accidents:
- Dangerous, cracked or broken pavements and footpaths
- Wet floors, spilt liquids, etc
- Obstructed walkways or isles
- Cracked or broken floor tiles
- Dangerous or misplaced obstructions
What to Do After a Slip or Fall Injury
After you’ve been injured it’s critical that you:
- Report That You’ve Been Injured to the Shop Owner / Manager, Council, etc: This report should be in writing, preferably in the company’s Accident Book. That way there is a record that can be traced in the case of any questions or problems in the future. If possible obtain a copy of the report.
- Seek Immediate Medical Assistance: You should immediately seek medical assistance for the injury suffered from either a physician or in more serious matters attending hospital. Make sure that in addition to keeping a copy of your evaluation, you continue to document any continued medical treatment that you receive as well.
- Prove the Case: The best way to prove that an area is dangerous and a slipping or tripping hazard is by providing photographic evidence and witnesses to the incident. The incident might well be on CCTV so a copy should be requested and tem or evidence you can supply the better chances your claim has to succeed.
Seek Legal Advice
Dealing with insurance companies, Supermarkets, Councils and individuals seeking compensation for your accident injury can be difficult and slow-going at times. Insurance companies will often drag their feet and offer to pay only the smallest amounts of compensation for your injuries if you don’t have legal representation to help you.
Insurance companies have lawyers on their side and so should you. If you’ve been injured and are suffering then hiring a specialist injury lawyer may be the best way for you to get the accident compensation that you deserve. An experienced lawyer will be able to review your case, calculate what your total compensation should average out to be, and represent you both in and out of court.
Get legal advice and representation today at compensationinjury.com.au.
