Parks have become vital to the British public during the COVID-19 pandemic. They spent a long time as many people’s only outside space, and with Love Parks Week approaching, they seem set to remain an important part of Summer 2021. However, there are always risks of public accidents in parks, and you may be unaware that if you have an accident in a park, you may be able to claim compensation.

Public Accidents in Parks

The most common type of public accidents in parks are slips, trips and falls. These accidents can happen on public footpaths in parks. They are usually caused by potholes or defects in the ground. There are certain rules when claiming for tripping on a pothole or defect in paving. On a footpath in a park, a pothole or defect must be at least an inch deep or raised.

Another cause of accidents in public parks is accidents in playgrounds. There are many causes of playground accidents. Sometimes, it is the child’s fault, or it is a by-product of playing. These are accidents that cannot be claimed for. However, if the accident was caused by faulty or unsafe playground equipment, then there may be grounds for a claim.

The main cause of accidents due to unsafe playground equipment is poorly maintained equipment. Other causes include broken equipment, poor equipment design, failure to comply to safety standards, poor layout of equipment, incorrect installation, and poor installation.

The Responsibility of Local Authorities

The Highways Act 1980 states that local authorities are responsible for keeping all roads and footpaths safe to use. Keeping all roads and pavements smooth at all times is both unnecessary and impractical. However, a council has a legal duty to repair any damage that occurs to surfaces. They must do this by making repairs within six months of being notified of the risk. If a local council does not do this and someone has an accident, then they may be liable.

If You Have Had an Accident

When you have an accident due to a defect in the footpath in a park, it is important that you take photos of the defect. This will help with your case, as it can be proof of the defect in a claim.

If you have an accident and you have information about the defect, then it can be helpful to note this down too. Details include how long the defect has been there, how often the local council repair defects, and if other people have had accidents in the same place. If the accident was previously reported, how long it took the council to fix the defect, and if they did fix it.

It is important that you report the defect to the council so that they are aware of it. They also need to be aware so that they can fix any defects.

How We Can Help with Public Accidents in Parks

Here at The Compensation Experts we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with personal injury claims. This includes public accidents in parks. Contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly knowledgeable advisors.

Children are the most prone to accidents overall, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). They also state that there are approximately 40,000 injuries to children on playgrounds each year which result in a hospital visit. Due to this, there are some children’s accidents that are more common than others.

Common Children’s Accidents

Common children’s accidents can include:

• Cycling accidents
• Playground accidents
• Home accidents
• Injuries from a faulty or dangerous toy or product

Cycling Accidents

A bike accident can happen for all sorts of reasons. However, in our experience, the most common children’s cycling accident claims include hit and run, any slippery road or pavement conditions due to oil spills, ice and snow, and injuries relating to faulty bicycle parts or repairs.

Many cyclists do not realise that, if a bike accident that was someone else’s fault, they can claim compensation.

Playground Accidents

There are many causes of playground accidents. Sometimes, it is the child’s fault, or it is a by-product of playing. These are accidents that cannot be claimed for. However, if the accident was caused by faulty or unsafe playground equipment, then there may be grounds for a claim.

The main cause of accidents due to unsafe playground equipment is poorly maintained equipment. Other causes include broken equipment, poor equipment design, failure to comply to safety standards, poor layout of equipment, incorrect installation, and poor installation.

Home Accidents

Children are amongst the most likely to have accidents in the home. You may think that if your child has an accident in your home that you may not be able to make a claim. There are a few instances where there are grounds to make a claim. These instances include claiming for faulty products, claiming against a contractor whose work has caused an accident, or an accident that has been caused by negligence on the part of your landlord.

Common reasons that an accident may be the fault of your landlord if you live in rented accommodation include:

• Poor lighting
• Defective outdoor steps or indoor stairs
• Ripped carpets
• Loose or missing floorboards
• Broken or loose paving stones

Claiming on Behalf of A Child

If a child has an accident, then a parent or guardian may be able to make a claim on their behalf. Any compensation received is put into a special fund or trust for the child to access when they turn 18. Or managed by trustees to cover the cost of caring for a child with a disability sustained as the result of their injury.

Usually in personal injury cases, there is a three-year time limit to make a claim. however, this is not the case if a child has an accident. In that case, a parent or guardian can make a claim on their behalf until they turn 18, and after that, they have until they turn 21 to make a claim for themselves.

How We Can Help With Common Children’s Accidents

Here at The Compensation Experts, we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with all manner of personal injury claims. This includes children’s accidents. Contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly knowledgeable advisors.

Now that the weather is improving, it is natural that children and adults alike may want to get out cycling. However, with more people around comes the heightened risk of children’s cycling accidents. There are some incidents where there may be an accident involving children where it is just that, an accident. However, if your child has had an accident where someone is to blame, then you may be able to claim compensation on their behalf.

Common Causes of Children’s Cycling Accidents

Many children have cycling accidents due to a variety of reasons. Some of these include:

• Hit and run accidents
• Cycling accidents in public areas such as skateparks and parks
• Accidents due to defects in playgrounds and pavements
• Slippery road or pavement conditions
• Collisions with other cyclists or pedestrians

If your child has had a cycling accident due to one of these reasons, then it may be someone else’s fault and you may be able to make a claim on their behalf.

Minimising Risks of Children’s Cycling Accidents

The nature of children means that they may have accidents that there is no one to blame for. There are certain ways that you can minimise your child’s risk of having an accident by taking certain precautions. Here are a few tips from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) on how you can maximise the enjoyment and minimise the risk:

• Carry out a regular safety check (tyres at the correct pressure, brakes working and nothing loose like spokes, saddle or handlebars)
• Wearing a cycle helmet will help provide protection to the head in the event of a collision or falling off (remember to replace if damaged)
• Make sure your child is not wearing any loose clothing or shoelaces, which could become tangled in the chain or wheels
• Parents should ride with children to their competence and ability. Get them to demonstrate that they can safely control their bike and deal with other traffic
• For older children, if they are riding away from home plan the route with them; use cycle tracks and avoid busy roads and junctions if possible.

Claiming on Behalf of a Child

If a child is injured in an accident, then a parent or guardian may be able to make a claim on their behalf. The time limits are also different when making a claim on behalf of a child. Ordinarily a person would have three years from the date of the accident to make a claim. This is different when claiming for a child.

In the case of a child’s accident, you have until they turn 18 to make a claim on their behalf. They then have three years from the date they turn 18 to make a claim. So, in theory, you may have a longer time in which to make a claim. however, it is always better to start a potential claim as soon as possible.

How We Can Help

Here at The Compensation Experts, we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with all manner of personal injury claims. This includes children’s cycling accidents. Contact us by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly knowledgeable advisors.

With the Easter weekend just around the corner, many people will be looking forward to being able to meet people outside again. However, with the long weekend comes a long weekend of walking, which can lead to a rise in Easter weekend accidents in public places such as parks, in children’s play areas and on pavements.

Easter accidents in public

There are a few accidents that can happen over the Easter weekend. Some of these accidents include: slips or trips on pavements whilst out walking, accidents on children’s playgrounds due to faulty or broken playground equipment, and road traffic accidents. And because we can now meet other people outside, accidents in public places may even increase.

Pavement accidents

The most common type of public accidents are slips, trips and falls. These accidents can happen on the pavement, on the road or on public footpaths in parks. They are usually caused by potholes or defects in the ground.

There are certain rules when claiming for tripping on a pothole or defect in a pavement or road. On a pavement, a pothole or defect must be at least an inch deep or raised. In the road, this must be at least 2 inches deep and at least 12 inches wide.

Playground accidents

With many children on their Easter break from school, going to a playground during Easter weekend may be common. If a child has an accident on a playground due to faulty or broken playground equipment, then you may be able to make a claim on their behalf.

The Responsibility of Local Authorities

The Highways Act 1980 states that local authorities are responsible for keeping all roads and footpaths safe to use. Keeping all roads and pavements marble smooth at all times is both unnecessary and impractical. However a council has a legal duty to repair any damage that occurs to surfaces. They must do this by making repairs within six months of being notified of the risk. If a local council does not do this and someone has an accident, then they may be liable.

Road traffic accidents

If you have had a road traffic accident because of someone else’s carelessness on the road, then you may be able to claim compensation.

When you have a road traffic accident, your injuries can be severe. They can range from whiplash and soft tissue damage, to more serious injuries. In the worst cases, they can even be fatal. Even the smallest injuries can take a while to heal after a road traffic accident.

You may have to take time off work to recover, and therefore lose out financially. Your car may have also suffered some damage, and you may even have to replace it. If all of this happened in an accident that was not your fault, then it can be even worse.

How we can help

Here at The Compensation Experts we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with all manner of personal injury claims. This includes accidents in public places and on the roads. Contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly knowledgeable advisors.

Public liability accidents are accidents where a public entity is liable for the accident. This is commonly the council. The accidents usually happen on the street, on the roads and in public places such as parks. Accidents in shops and supermarkets do not fall under public liability, as they are privately owned. Therefore, they are occupier’s liability.

Public Liability Accidents

The most common type of public liability accidents are slips, trips and falls. These accidents can happen on the pavement, on the road or on public footpaths in parks. They are usually caused by potholes or defects in the ground.

There are certain rules when claiming for tripping on a pothole or defect in a pavement or road. On a pavement, a pothole or defect must be at least an inch deep or raised. In the road, this must be at least 2 inches deep and at least 12 inches wide.

The Responsibility of Local Authorities

The Highways Act 1980 states that local authorities are responsible for keeping all roads and footpaths safe to use. Keeping all roads and pavements marble smooth at all times is both unnecessary and impractical. However a council has a legal duty to repair any damage that occurs to surfaces. They must do this by making repairs within six months of being notified of the risk. If a local council does not do this and someone has an accident, then they may be liable.

If You Have Had A Public Liability Accident

When you have an accident due to a defect in the road or pavement, it is important that you take photos of the defect. This will help with your case, as it can be proof of the defect in a claim. If you have an accident and you have information about the defect, then it can be helpful to note this down too. Details include how long the defect has been there, how often the local council repair defects, and if other people have had accidents in the same place. If the accident was previously reported, how long it took the council to fix the defect, and if they actually did fix it.

It is important that you report the defect to the council so that they are aware of the defect. They also need to be aware so that they can fix any defects. However, if you wish to make a personal injury claim, you should not try and claim directly with the council. This is because if you have already tried to claim from the council and they deny liability, then it is unlikely that they will accept liability if you start a personal injury claim.

How We Can Help

Here at The Compensation Experts we work with solicitors who have years of experience in all manner of personal injury claims. This includes slips trips and falls in public places. Contact us today by filling in our contact form or by calling us on 0800 182 2185 to speak to one of our friendly knowledgeable advisors.

All dog owners know that there is nothing better than taking your dog for a walk. When you are doing this, it is not always easy to notice if there is anything wrong with the area you are walking in. This is particularly true on pavements. However, public accidents whilst dog walking can be common. If you have an accident on the pavement due to a defect in the pavement, or if you have had an accident in a park whilst out walking your dog, then it may be someone else’s fault.

Accidents on Pavements

If you trip on a pavement whilst walking your dog, then the local council may be responsible. If there is a pothole in the pavement, or paving stones that are damaged, then the council may be to blame for your accident.

Your local authority has the responsibility to take all reasonable steps to make council property safe. These features include council buildings like schools and parks, council-owned homes, roads, pavements, and street lighting. So if you have fallen whilst walking your dog, and it is due to a defective pavement, for example, then we maybe able to help.

The council must also make sure they are carrying out regular maintenance and safety checks on roads and pavements to ensure people do not have accidents.

There is a rule with pavement trips, and that is that the defect must be an inch or bigger. That includes potholes that are an inch deep, broken paving stones or curbs that are raised by an inch.

Accidents in Parks

Much like accidents on pavements, the council is also responsible for ensuring parks are safe and free from accidents. However, if you have had an accident in a park, it may be harder to hold the council to account. If you have had an accident on a public footpath in a park because of a defect, you may be able to make a claim. but that is not to say that if you had an accident elsewhere in a park then it is not the fault of the council. The best way to find out is by contacting The Compensation Experts. We may still be able to help depending on the circumstances of your accident.

What to do when you have had an accident

It is important to take pictures of what you have fallen on, so that there is proof of the defect for your claim. It is also important to report your accident to the council, so that they are aware of the defect. Sometimes it can also be helpful to know how long the defect has been there, and if there have ever been any accidents there before because of the defect.

These accidents can also cause injuries that can take a while to heal, meaning you may not be able to walk your dog or partake in other hobbies for a while. It is important to note this down, as it may affect your potential compensation amount.

How we can help

Here at The Compensation Experts, we work with solicitors who have years of experience in dealing with personal injury claims. This includes public accidents whilst dog walking. Contact us today by filling in our contact form, or by calling us on 0800 182 2187 to speak to one of our friendly knowledgeable advisors.