Many people are unsure whether or not public liability compensation covers slips and falls.
The short answer is yes – but only if your slip or fall is the result of another party's negligence.
In other words, you can apply for compensation if the slip was not your fault, and you can clearly prove that someone else is to blame.
"It's important to show that someone's been negligent," says Vrege Kolokossian, an accredited personal injury specialist at GMP.
A serious accident may result in minor or catastrophic injury, therefore compensation lawyers exist to ensure that people can claim reimbursement for medical expenses, time missed off work, suffrage and any other relevant factors.
There are lawyers in Sydney who operate on a no win no fee basis that would be happy to provide you with an initial consultation.
However, according to Mr Kolokossian, it is important that you follow certain procedures after your accident, otherwise this can make it harder to prove that you fell due to someone else's negligence.
For example, if you fell over in a supermarket you would need to alert the manager straight away, and also see a doctor to be treated for your injuries.
Mr Kolokossian says you must tell your doctor every body part that has been injured. He also says that more than one consultation with your doctor may be necessary.
"Usually most people should ensure that if they've been injured, they see the doctor straight away, and that they make it clear to the doctor what happened," he explained.
"Sometimes that information, the accurate recording of an injury – of what happened – is referred to a contemporaneous record, and that's important down the track when the matter goes to court or is looked at by other doctors," he added.
Therefore, in order to be able to successfully claim compensation it is important that you understand your rights before any accident occurs.
Sometimes people realise their rights too late, and the time has passed to be able to prove negligence in court.
One way to be aware of your rights is to understand some examples of public liability slip and fall cases.
They commonly occur in supermarkets and department stores where staff have mopped the floor and failed to erect appropriate signage, or a spillage has occurred.
However slips and falls can also happen in other public areas, such as on footpaths where pavements have not been built to a high enough standard and therefore pose a hazard.
It depends on the situation which is why it is important to report your injury and then consult a personal injury specialist.
