If you were injured in an accident in a public park, you could be entitled to claim compensation. This guide explains when and how you might be eligible to make a public park injury claim, what damages may be covered, who could be liable, and how our panel of solicitors can support you throughout the claims process on a No Win No Fee basis.
Accidents in public parks can result from a failure by the local council or private operators to maintain equipment or pathways to a reasonable safety standard. From faulty playground equipment to broken paving slabs, the consequences of negligence can be serious.
Our panel of solicitors could help you claim the personal injury compensation you deserve. So, contact us today to find out whether you’re eligible to begin a claim. We are available to assess your case for free:
- Call 0333 0000729
- Fill out our Contact Us page.
- Message in our live on-screen chat box.
Jump To A Section
- Can I Claim If I Was Injured In An Accident In A Public Park?
- Can I Claim On Behalf Of My Child Who Was Injured At The Park?
- Who Is Responsible For A Public Park Injury?
- What Compensation Could I Get After Being Injured In A Park?
- How Can Public Park Accidents Happen?
- The Common Injuries Sustained After A Park Accident
- What Can Legal Helpline Do For Me?
- Can I Make A No Win No Fee Park Accident Claim?
- More Information
Can I Claim If I Was Injured In An Accident In A Public Park?
Yes, you may be able to claim compensation if you were injured in an accident in a public park caused by someone else’s negligent actions.
Under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, those in control of public spaces (occupiers) have a duty of care to ensure visitors are kept reasonably safe. If they fail in this duty and you suffer an injury as a result, you could have grounds to make a public liability claim.
To be eligible for a public park accident compensation claim, you must show:
- A duty of care was owed to you.
- That duty was breached.
- The breach caused your injuries.
Additionally, there is generally a 3-year time limit for starting a personal injury claim, starting from the date the accident happened, as per the Limitation Act 1980. However, exceptions apply in some circumstances where the injured party is unable to claim for themselves, such as claims involving children.
Contact our team now to find out if you’re eligible to make a public park injury claim.
Can I Claim On Behalf Of My Child Who Was Injured At The Park?
Yes, if your child was injured in a park accident, you could make a claim on their behalf as a litigation friend. Children under the age of 18 cannot pursue their own compensation claims. However, a responsible adult, such as a parent or guardian, can step in to act for them.
The standard time limit for public park accident claims does not apply in the same way to children. Instead, they have up until their 18th birthday for a litigation friend to claim on their behalf. If no claim is made by then, they can bring their own claim before they turn 21.
We can guide you through the process of becoming a litigation friend and making a public park injury claim on behalf of your child.
Take the first step to protect your child’s future. Speak to one of our advisors today for a free consultation.
Who Is Responsible For A Public Park Injury?
Responsibility for an accident in a public park typically lies with the local council or the private company managing the space.
Common liable parties include:
- Local councils
- Private landowners
- Park maintenance contractors
They are expected to carry out regular risk assessments, maintain facilities such as playground equipment, and repair hazards like broken paving or damaged fencing. Failing to do so could result in public liability accidents, for which they may be held accountable.
Evidence such as photographs, witness contact details, accident reports, and CCTV footage can help identify the party responsible and support your public park accident claim.
Find out who could be liable in your case. Contact us now and let our team review your accident in a public park for free.
What Compensation Could I Get After Being Injured In A Park?
The amount of compensation awarded in a public park injury claim depends on the severity of your injuries and the impact they’ve had on your life. Personal injury compensation is typically divided into two categories:
- General damages – to compensate for the physical and mental effects of the accident in a public park.
- Special damages – to reimburse financial costs and losses resulting from the injury.
General damages are calculated using various factors, including:
- The type and severity of the injury.
- The level of pain and suffering experienced.
- Whether the injury caused any long-term or permanent effects.
- The impact on day-to-day life, including hobbies or relationships.
- How long it takes to recover or if full recovery is likely.
To assist with calculating general damages, legal professionals may refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The JCG is a publication that provides suggested compensation brackets for a range of physical and psychological injuries.
Below is a table of guideline compensation figures based on the JCG for different injuries that could possibly result from an accident in a pubic park. Only the top figure is not from the JCG. These figures, however, cannot be guaranteed, so please only refer to this table as a guideline.
| Injury type | Injury severity | Guideline compensation figures | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple serious injuries + special damages | Serious | Up to £1,000,000+ | Compensation addressing multiple serious injuries + related financial losses, such as loss of earnings and care costs. |
| Brain damage | Very severe (a) | £344,150 to £493,000 | Cases such as 'locked-in' syndrome where the life expectancy is substantially restricted. |
| Less severe (d) | £18,700 to £52,550 | Problems with memory and concentration, but a good recovery will be made and the person will be able to return to work and a normal social life. | |
| Leg | Severe (b)(i) the most serious injuries short of amputation | £117,460 to £165,860 | Cases such as where fractures have not united properly, so extensive bone grafting is needed. |
| Less Serious (c)(i) fractures from which an incomplete recovery is made or serious soft tissue injuries | £21,920 to £33,880 | Where a reasonable recovery is made but the person will be left with a defective gait and discomfort. | |
| Wrist | Complete loss of function (a) | £58,710 to £73,050 | For example, where an arthrodesis has been performed. |
| Fracture or soft-tissue injury (d) | £7,420 to £12,630 | Where a full recovery takes longer than 12 months. | |
| Scarring to the body | A number of noticeable laceration scars or one single disfiguring scar | £9,560 to £27,740 | To the leg(s), arm(s), hand(s, back or chest. |
| Single noticeable scar or several superficial scars | £2,890 to £9,560 | To the leg(s), arm(s) or hand(s), with some minor cosmetic deficit. |
Every case is different and deserves careful attention. To get a more accurate estimate of how much compensation you could claim, speak to one of our expert advisors today.
What Other Damages Can Be Covered In A Park Accident Claim?
A park accident compensation claim can also include special damages to cover financial losses related to the injury. These can vary depending on your circumstances but may include:
- Medical costs such as physiotherapy or counselling.
- Travel expenses for hospital visits.
- Care costs, including professional or family assistance.
- Lost earnings if you had to take time off work.
- Future loss of earnings if your injury affects long-term employment.
- Adaptation costs if your home or car needs adjustments.
Special damages are a vital part of a public park accident claim because they aim to restore your financial position to what it was before the accident happened, covering essential losses. If your child has been injured, these costs could be even higher due to additional support or long-term needs.
To recover these costs, it’s important to gather evidence such as receipts, payslips, and invoices.
Maximise the value of your claim. Call us now and get tailored advice on the damages you could recover after your accident in a public park.
How Can Public Park Accidents Happen?
Below are some specific examples of how occupier negligence could potentially occur:
- The monkey bars in the park were broken, and multiple members of the public had reported the damage to the local council. Despite these warnings, the equipment was not repaired or cordoned off. As a result, when your child used the monkey bars, they fell and hit their head, leading to a serious brain injury.
- A broken paving slab at the park entrance had become loose and uneven, causing a tripping hazard. The defect had been present for weeks, yet no repair had been carried out and no warning signs were in place. You tripped on the slab, fell forward, and fractured your wrist.
- The fencing around a children’s play area had several sharp, rusted edges exposed, which had been flagged during a prior maintenance inspection. However, no action was taken to fix it. When your child brushed past the fence, they suffered a deep laceration that required stitches and left permanent scarring.
- Water had accumulated near a popular footpath in the park due to a drainage issue, which the council was aware of but failed to rectify. The slippery surface was not gritted or signposted. You slipped and sustained a back injury that left you unable to work for several weeks.
- A loose bolt on a park slide had caused the structure to become unstable. Although complaints were made and the danger was apparent during routine checks, no remedial action was taken. A child using the slide fell when the structure shifted, suffering leg injuries.
These examples illustrate how failing to act on known risks or to carry out basic safety maintenance can cause an accident in a public park, potentially making the party responsible liable for any injuries sustained.
If you believe yours or your child’s accident in a public park was caused by such a failure, contact us today. Our experienced team can help you start your claim and seek compensation for the harm you or your child has suffered.
The Common Injuries Sustained After A Park Accident
Injuries sustained in park accidents can range from minor to severe, sometimes resulting in long-term effects. Common examples include:
- Leg injuries – fractures, sprains, and soft tissue damage.
- Neck injuries – minor whiplash, or something more serious, leading to paralysis.
- Head injuries – from falls or collisions with equipment.
- Wrist and arm injuries – including breaks and dislocations.
- Back injuries – often from falls on hard surfaces.
- Cuts and lacerations – from sharp or broken objects.
- Bruising and soft tissue injuries.
- Psychological harm – especially in children or after traumatic events.
Get the medical treatment and compensation you deserve. Speak to us today for confidential and free advice.
What Can Legal Helpline Do For Me?
Our panel of personal injury solicitors can offer expert support at every stage of your public park accident claim to help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Whether your injury was minor or life-altering, we’re committed to making the process as straightforward and stress-free as possible.
Services our panel of solicitors provide include:
- Representation on a No Win No Fee basis, so there are no upfront or ongoing fees.
- Help with accessing rehabilitation support, including physiotherapists, psychologists, and occupational therapists.
- Arranging an independent medical assessment to support your case.
- Gathering evidence, such as taking witness statements and requesting CCTV footage, on your behalf.
- Explaining legal terms clearly, without complicated jargon.
- Talking you through the claims process so you fully understand what to expect.
- Negotiating a settlement to secure the best possible outcome for your claim.
- Liaising with the other party and the courts on your behalf.
- Helping you apply for interim payments to ease financial pressure before your case settles.
- Setting up a taxi account to help cover your travel expenses to medical appointments.
- Taking on claims from anywhere in the country, not limited by location.
Additionally, our panel of solicitors
- Have decades of combined legal experience.
- Has undergone years of high-level training and education.
- Are specialists in public liability and personal injury claims.
- Have handled countless claims across the country.
- Are dedicated to offering a high standard of customer service.
- Are ready to help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Our panel of personal injury solicitors specialise in public liability claims and are dedicated to recovering the maximum compensation for injuries sustained in public parks. Whether your accident occurred in a local council-managed park or a privately owned space, we can help.
You don’t need to face this alone. Contact us now for free advice and find out how our panel of solicitors can support your accident in a public park claim.
Can I Make A No Win No Fee Park Accident Claim?
Yes, you can make a No Win No Fee park accident claim by working with a solicitor from our panel under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This type of agreement means:
- There are no upfront or ongoing fees to pay for your solicitor’s work.
- If your claim is unsuccessful, there also won’t be fees to pay for your solicitor’s work.
- You only pay a success fee if your claim has a positive outcome. This success fee is a small percentage that your solicitor will deduct from your compensation before sending it to you. A legal limit is in place to ensure that you keep the majority.
If you would like to pursue a public liability claim on these terms, please call us today to learn more about our No Win No Fee service:
- Call 0333 0000729
- Fill out our Contact Us page.
- Message in our live on-screen chat box.
More Information
For further support, you may find these resources helpful:
Our related guides:
- Find out what the pavement trip hazard height is in the UK.
- Learn more about slip, trip and fall injury claims.
- How to make a pothole accident claim.
other resources:
- Gov.UK – how to apply for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if you have needed time off work while you recover from your injury.
- Health and Safety Executive – information on managing public safety on forest sites
- NHS – when to use 111.
If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a public park, it’s important to act quickly. You could be owed significant compensation for the pain, financial losses, and disruption to your life. Contact us today at any time to find out whether you’re entitled to claim compensation after an accident in a public park.
