30 Oct 2019

Slips, trips and falls - the ins and outs of Public Liability claims

Although something as simple as slipping on a wet floor may not seem too serious, it can actually lead to devastating, life-changing injuries. Hip fractures, broken bones or a head injury are just some of the injuries that can be sustained, which is why business owners have a duty of care to their visitors to put measures in place to prevent these kinds of incidents from happening.

In recent years, insurers have seen an increase in public liability cases, putting the validity of these claims into question and resulting in investigations by the likes of Aviva plc.

 

What exactly is Public Liability?

Any area which is used by members of the general public must be maintained to a safe standard; this could be a park, a restaurant or a shopping centre, for example.
These public areas have a duty of care towards their visitors, meaning measures must be put in place to ensure the public’s safety. If an individual were to fall over in one of these places because the owner has not ensured a reasonable level of safety, there could be grounds for a public liability claim.

Examples of public liability claims are:

• Slips, trips and falls
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals or materials
• Accidents in playgrounds or at school
• Falling objects
• Faulty equipment
• Burns or scalds

This is why businesses are advised to take out public liability insurance, safeguarding them in case a claim arises.

 

A rise in fraudulent Public Liability claims

In May of this year, insurance giant Aviva plc claimed that they had seen a 20% increase in the value of fraudulent liability claims in 2018, which included false slip-and-trip accidents made against employer’s liability and public liability insurance policies. These fraudulent claims amounted up to nearly £14 million, with the average claim worth more than £14,000.

 

Employers’, Public and Occupiers’ Liability Claims at Speed Medical

No matter the case type, Speed Medical’s experienced team can facilitate a vast range of quality medical reports, covering everything from fixed fee and non-fixed fee RTA to more complex non-RTA cases including Employment, Public and Occupiers Liability to Clinical Negligence. As we offer a complete service, we can arrange for the collection of medical records as well as request mandates, where instructed. We also offer comprehensive rehabilitation and diagnostic services and mymedical, which is not only an online booking portal for your clients but it enables your client to upload their completed mandate if required - streamlining the process and putting control in the hands of your client.

To learn more about our comprehensive Medical Reporting service, please click here.