Injured in a Public Place? You Could Be Owed Thousands.
Slips on wet supermarket floors, trips over uneven paving, falls in car parks, injuries from falling stock on shelves, and accidents in restaurants, pubs and leisure centres — if you have been injured in a public place because the occupier failed in their duty of care, you have the right to claim compensation.
Scottish Claims Helpline handles public place accident claims across Scotland on a no win no fee basis. Under the Occupiers’ Liability (Scotland) Act 1960, the occupier of any premises — shops, supermarkets, councils, restaurants, hotels, leisure centres — must take reasonable care for the safety of visitors. When they fail, they are liable.
How Much Could You Receive?
| Injury Type | Typical Award |
|---|
| Minor sprains and bruising | £2,000 - £5,000 |
| Ligament damage or soft tissue | £5,000 - £15,000 |
| Wrist, ankle or arm fractures | £8,000 - £25,000 |
| Hip fracture or head injury | £25,000 - £40,000+ |
Based on Judicial College Guidelines for pain and suffering only.
That’s not all. Public place accident claimants also receive payments for lost earnings, private physiotherapy, medication, travel costs and any ongoing care. Hip fractures in older adults can require months of rehabilitation and may result in permanent reduced mobility — increasing the total settlement significantly.
Types of Public Place Accident We Handle
Who Can Claim?
Anyone injured in a public place due to the occupier’s failure to take reasonable care. This includes customers in shops and supermarkets, visitors to restaurants, pubs and hotels, members of the public on council-maintained pavements and roads, users of car parks, leisure centres and swimming pools, and visitors to parks and public buildings. You can claim even if partly at fault — contributory negligence reduces the award but does not prevent a claim.
Public Place Accident Claims — Frequently Asked Questions
Minor sprains: £2,000-£5,000. Ligament damage: £5,000-£15,000. Fractures: £8,000-£25,000. Hip fractures or head injuries: £25,000-£40,000+. Lost earnings and medical costs on top.
Under the Occupiers’ Liability (Scotland) Act 1960, the occupier (shop owner, supermarket, council, landlord) must take reasonable care for visitors’ safety. If they fail, they are liable.
Yes. Local councils must maintain pavements and roads. Raised paving slabs, potholes, tree root damage and uneven surfaces can all give rise to claims against the council.
Yes. Supermarkets must maintain clean, dry floors and use warning signs when cleaning. Spills must be cleaned promptly. Failure to do so breaches their duty under the 1960 Act.
Photographs of the hazard and your injuries, incident reports, witness contact details and medical records. Your solicitor will gather additional evidence including CCTV and maintenance records.
3 years from the accident date under the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973.
How Do I Start My Claim?
It takes 2 minutes. Fill in our short form and one of our specialist Scottish solicitors will call you back — all completely free and with no obligation. You pay nothing unless you win.
About this page: Written by the Scottish Claims Helpline editorial team. Reviewed by a qualified Scottish solicitor. Last reviewed February 2026. Scottish Claims Helpline is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (
FRN 830381).