Injuries from Faulty or Poorly Maintained Equipment

You may be able to bring a claim if the accident happened within the relevant time limits and there is evidence that the business, occupier, local authority, contractor, supplier or other responsible party failed to take reasonable care to keep the equipment or area safe. Under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, lawful visitors are owed a common duty of care. 

Premier Legal Assist is a FCA regulated claims management firm that works with experienced solicitors specialising in personal injury claims, including accidents in public places.

The first priority is to get medical attention and report the incident. If possible, you should also take photographs of the equipment, note the exact location, keep witness details, and ask whether CCTV captured what happened.

If you later decide to pursue a claim, this early evidence can be important in showing how the accident happened and who may have been responsible.

The first step is to complete a short online form setting out what happened and the injuries you suffered. Once your enquiry has been reviewed, you will be contacted for a free, no-obligation consultation.

If your case is eligible, you may be referred to one of our panel solicitors who specialises in public liability and personal injury claims. If they agree to act for you, they will handle the legal process, including gathering evidence, contacting the responsible party and their insurers, and working to recover compensation on a no win, no fee basis.

Premier Legal Assist is a claims management company. You do not need to use a claims management company to make your complaint, you can complain to the organisation you are complaining about directly. If the issue is not resolved, you can refer it to the relevant independent Ombudsman service for free.

The level of compensation awarded will depend on how serious your injuries are and the effect they have had on your everyday life, your ability to work and your recovery.

Compensation is usually divided into two parts: General Damages, which compensate for pain, suffering and loss of amenity, and Special Damages, which relate to financial losses caused by the accident. This can include lost earnings, medical expenses, travel costs, rehabilitation costs and care needs.

Some claims may be worth a few thousand pounds, while more serious injuries can result in significantly higher compensation. If your claim is eligible, your solicitor will usually rely on medical and financial evidence to value the case properly.

These accidents can lead to a wide range of injuries depending on the type of equipment involved, how the defect arose and how the accident happened.

Examples include:

• Fractures
• Head injuries
• Back and neck injuries
• Soft tissue damage
• Cuts and bruising
• Scarring
• Crush injuries
• Ligament damage
• Psychological injuries including anxiety, PTSD and depression

In some cases, what first appears to be a minor incident can cause significant ongoing symptoms, particularly where mobility, confidence or ability to work has been affected. If a solicitor takes on your case, they will normally arrange medical evidence to assess the full impact of your injuries.

Yes, potentially. Claims involving parks and playgrounds can still fall within public liability law. Depending on the circumstances, responsibility may fall on the local authority, parish council, landowner, contractor or other occupier responsible for inspecting and maintaining the equipment. Local authority policies commonly require inspection records and action on identified defects. 

Examples may include accidents involving:

• Broken seating or benches
• Faulty automatic doors
• Defective barriers or gates
• Unsafe gym or leisure equipment
• Damaged play equipment
• Loose fixtures or fittings
• Unstable shelving or displays
• Broken handrails or public-use items

What matters most is whether the equipment was unsafe, defective or poorly maintained, and whether that caused your injury.

In some cases, yes. If the equipment itself was defective, there may be a separate claim against a producer or another party under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, alongside or instead of a public liability claim against the occupier of the premises. That will depend on the facts and on whether the problem was caused by poor maintenance, a design or manufacturing defect, or both. 

In most cases, an adult has three years from the date of the accident to begin a personal injury claim. Where the injured person was under 18 at the time of the accident, the usual three-year limitation period generally starts from their 18th birthday.

Good evidence can be very important in showing how the accident happened and why the responsible party may be at fault. The exact evidence will depend on the case, but often includes:

• Incident report entries
• Photographs of the equipment or defect
• CCTV footage
• Medical records and reports
• Witness details and statements
• Maintenance records
• Inspection logs
• Repair records
• Correspondence or complaint records
• Evidence of financial losses

A solicitor acting for you would normally help obtain the evidence needed to support both liability and the value of your claim.

Usually not. Most public liability claims are settled without a full Court hearing, often through negotiations between the injured person’s solicitor and the insurer for the responsible party.

If liability or the value of the claim cannot be agreed, Court proceedings may become necessary. If that happens, the Court will consider the available evidence, decide who was responsible and, where appropriate, determine the compensation payable. A solicitor acting for you will manage that process on your behalf.

In many cases, no. Our panel solicitors commonly deal with eligible personal injury claims on a no win, no fee basis. That means there is usually nothing to pay at the outset, and if the claim does not succeed, you would not usually be responsible for your solicitor’s fees.

It is important to note that if your claim is successful and you receive compensation, your solicitor will take a pre-agreed "success fee" from your compensation. This percentage is legally capped (currently at 25% of your general and past special damages) to ensure you keep the majority of your payout.

You may be charged cancellation fees by the legal service we introduce you to if you cancel your agreement after any applicable cooling-off period and before the claim is concluded.