Injured in a shop, restaurant, hotel, gym, park, or public space? If the business or organisation that runs it failed to keep you safe, you’re owed compensation. Free case review. No Win, No Fee.
A public liability claim is a personal injury claim against a business, organisation, or individual whose negligence caused you injury on their premises or through their activities. It covers injuries in shops, restaurants, hotels, leisure centres, parks, events, and any place open to the public.
The business or organisation does not pay your compensation out of pocket — your claim is made against their public liability insurance, which virtually every business carries. The key question is whether they failed in their duty to keep you reasonably safe.
At Harris & Co. Solicitors we pursue public liability claims against businesses of all sizes, event organisers, local authorities, and any party responsible for public-facing premises where negligence caused you harm.
Report your accident to the venue and ask for it to be recorded in their accident book. Photograph the hazard, your injuries, and the surrounding area before anything is cleaned up, repaired, or moved. Ask for witness names. CCTV is typically overwritten within 14–30 days — contact us immediately so we can preserve it.
Public liability compensation covers both the injury itself and every financial loss that followed. Even injuries that seem minor at first can lead to significant claims once lost earnings, ongoing treatment, and care costs are included.
Under the Occupiers’ Liability Acts 1957 and 1984, anyone who controls premises owes a duty of care to visitors. This duty extends to every business, venue, and public space. The responsible party depends on who controlled the premises or activity that caused your injury.
Your claim is made against the defendant’s public liability insurance. The business does not pay compensation from its own pocket — that is exactly what their insurance is for.
No Win, No Fee. No upfront costs. A solicitor will respond within 2 hours.
We move fast on public liability claims because critical evidence disappears quickly. CCTV is overwritten, hazards are repaired, and staff memories fade. Our priority is locking down the evidence before it’s gone.
We handle all public liability claims on a strict No Win, No Fee basis. You pay nothing upfront and nothing if your claim is unsuccessful. The defendant’s public liability insurer pays your compensation.
After the Event (ATE) insurance covers all disbursements in the event your claim does not succeed.
Public liability compensation is calculated in two parts. General damages cover pain, suffering, and loss of amenity — shown below. Special damages cover lost earnings, medical costs, and all financial losses. Your total compensation is often significantly higher than the general damages figure alone.
Figures shown are for general damages only. Drawn from the Judicial College Guidelines. Your total compensation will also include special damages. Only a solicitor can provide a reliable estimate after reviewing your circumstances.
| Part of Body | Severity | Compensation Range | Types of Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head | Minor | £1,880 – £9,260 | Head injury with recovery within weeks. |
| Head | Moderate | £13,430 – £95,310 | Poor concentration, epilepsy risk, personality changes, intellectual impairment. |
| Head | Serious | £186,890 – £204,500 | Reduced life expectancy, significant cognitive changes, substantial dependence. |
| Head | Severe | £240,590 – £292,940 | Severe brain damage, vegetative states requiring full-time care. |
| Eye | Severe | £56,080 – £194,870 | Complete blindness or severe visual impairment. |
| Face | Minor | £1,460 – £6,340 | Simple jaw or nose fractures with full recovery. |
| Face | Serious | £15,320 – £22,110 | Broken jaw or nose, damage or loss of several teeth. |
| Face | Severe | £26,010 – £33,020 | Severe facial disfigurement, multiple fractures, scarring. |
| Ear | Minor | Up to £5,080 | Slight or occasional tinnitus. |
| Ear | Moderate | £12,700 – £21,550 | Partial hearing loss or tinnitus. |
| Ear | Serious | £25,350 – £33,020 | Complete deafness in one ear. |
| Ear | Severe | £77,430 – £102,030 | Complete deafness in both ears. |
| Neck | Minor | Up to £5,680 | Soft tissue injuries with recovery within 3–24 months. |
| Neck | Moderate | £7,410 – £40,600 | Disc lesions, serious limitation of movement, permanent pain. |
| Neck | Severe | £56,100 – £118,330 | Serious fractures, chronic pain, significant permanent disability. |
| Back | Minor | £2,090 – £9,070 | Strains, sprains, soft tissue injuries. |
| Back | Moderate | £11,730 – £22,140 | Spinal fusion, compressed lumbar spine, prolapsed discs. |
| Back | Severe | £36,390 – £128,410 | Damaged spinal cord, partial paralysis. |
| Shoulder | Minor | Up to £5,720 | Soft tissue injury, full recovery within 24 months. |
| Shoulder | Serious | £10,890 – £13,920 | Fractures requiring surgery. |
| Shoulder | Severe | £16,380 – £34,820 | Significant disability from brachial plexus damage. |
| Pelvis & Hips | Minor | £3,370 – £9,140 | Complete recovery within 2 years. |
| Pelvis & Hips | Moderate | £10,750 – £28,420 | Injuries requiring hip operations or replacement. |
| Pelvis & Hips | Severe | £33,430 – £94,940 | Severe fractures, significant disability. |
| Scarring | Minor | £2,020 – £6,270 | Noticeable but superficial scars. |
| Scarring | Moderate | Up to £6,270 | Partial recovery, non-debilitating symptoms. |
| Scarring | Severe | £6,680 – £16,480 | Disfiguring scars. |
| Arm | Minor | £5,630 – £13,920 | Fractured forearm. |
| Arm | Moderate | £16,380 – £28,420 | Serious injury with long-lasting symptoms. |
| Arm | Serious | £33,430 – £94,940 | Serious injury, inability to use the arm. |
| Arm | Severe | £82,040 – £217,540 | Amputation of one or both arms. |
| Elbow | Moderate | Up to £9,140 | Simple fractures, no permanent damage. |
| Elbow | Serious | £13,360 – £23,220 | Restricted movement. |
| Elbow | Severe | £33,430 – £39,760 | Severe disability or requires surgery. |
| Wrist | Moderate | Up to £7,430 | Minor fractures, recovery in 1–2 years. |
| Wrist | Serious | £10,750 – £17,770 | Permanent disability from broken wrist. |
| Wrist | Severe | £20,900 – £43,410 | Complete loss of wrist function. |
| Hand | Minor | Up to £3,440 | Soft tissue injuries, recovery within 6 months. |
| Hand | Moderate | £4,780 – £9,630 | Permanent but non-intrusive symptoms. |
| Hand | Severe | £24,740 – £146,130 | Clawed or impaired hand, amputation. |
| Finger | Minor | Up to £3,450 | Healed fracture within 1 year. |
| Finger | Moderate | £3,370 – £4,250 | Near-complete recovery. |
| Finger | Severe | £10,380 – £26,650 | Amputation of fingers. |
| Thumb | Minor | Up to £3,450 | Pain resolved within 3 months. |
| Thumb | Moderate | £3,370 – £9,140 | Fractures, nerve or tendon damage. |
| Thumb | Severe | £10,750 – £39,760 | Amputation, inability to grip. |
| Leg | Minor | £7,780 – £10,210 | Simple fractures, recovery within months. |
| Leg | Moderate | £15,320 – £39,760 | Compound fractures, arthritis risk. |
| Leg | Severe | £46,780 – £204,500 | Permanently reduced mobility or amputation. |
| Knee | Minor | Up to £9,970 | Soft tissue injuries, bruising. |
| Knee | Moderate | £22,340 – £31,510 | Damaged kneecaps, ligaments, torn meniscus. |
| Knee | Severe | £44,470 – £69,770 | Constant pain, severe disability. |
| Ankle | Minor | Up to £9,970 | Sprains, full recovery within a year. |
| Ankle | Moderate | £11,730 – £36,300 | Ligament tears, osteoarthritis risk. |
| Ankle | Severe | £42,710 – £50,560 | Deformities, disabilities, potential amputation. |
| Achilles | Minor | £6,200 – £9,140 | Minor tendon instability. |
| Achilles | Moderate | £10,750 – £15,270 | Partially ruptured tendon. |
| Achilles | Severe | £21,320 – £27,860 | Restricted movement, severed tissue. |
| Foot | Minor | Up to £9,970 | Minor fractures, recovery within 2 years. |
| Foot | Moderate | £11,730 – £50,770 | Metatarsal fractures, permanent deformity. |
| Foot | Severe | £71,640 – £146,130 | Amputation. |
| Toe | Minor | Up to £6,960 | Broken toes. |
| Toe | Moderate | £8,190 – £9,970 | Multiple fractures, permanent disability. |
| Toe | Severe | £11,730 – £40,660 | Surgical amputation of toes. |
General damages are only part of the picture. Your total compensation includes lost earnings, medical costs, care, and all financial losses. Contact us for a free assessment.
Don’t take our word for it — see what our clients say directly on Google.
Read Our Google ReviewsIf a business or organisation’s negligence caused your injury, their insurer owes you compensation. Contact Harris & Co. Solicitors for a free, confidential case review.