HAVE YOU BEEN INJURED IN A PUBLIC SPACE BECAUSE OF SOMEONE ELSE’S NEGLIGENCE?

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When you’ve been injured, lodging claims and paperwork only makes things worse. At Carbone Lawyers, we manage the whole process so you can just focus on your recovery.

No Win, No Fee

Our no win, no fee policy means that most personal injury claims have no upfront fees.

We all know that injuries can happen at any time and in any place. If you’ve been harmed or injured while on public, commercial or private property because of someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible to make a public liability claim.

Under the law, businesses, organisations, and individuals have a ‘duty of care’ to ensure that anyone who comes onto their property is not harmed. This covers places like shopping centres, places of business, education campuses, sporting fields, entertainment venues, parks and gardens, and footpaths.

Common public liability claims include:

  • Slips, trips, and falls in supermarkets, public buildings, places of worship
  • Tripping and falling on public footpaths and pathways
  • Injuries in parks, leisure centres or other public places, including playgrounds and gyms
  • Dog or animal attacks
  • Recreational and sporting injuries
  • Sexual assaults or sexual abuse (including historical cases)
  • Air or sea travel-related injuries and trauma
  • Physical assaults
  • Tenants injured in rental properties
  • Amusement park and entertainment venue injuries
  • Food poisoning in venues


Businesses and other entities that occupy premises are required by law to have public liability insurance. In the majority of cases, compensation claims are made against insurance companies.

Public liability claims can be complex, and establishing that duty of care has been breached is essential. Whether you’re fighting against a private company, a large organisation or a Local Council authority, Carbone Lawyers has the experience and expertise to get you the best outcome.

What compensation will cover

  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Pain and suffering and the loss of enjoyment of life
  • The cost of car and home modifications you require as a result of your injury
  • The financial value of care provided by friends and family
  • Loss of earnings if your ability to work is impacted by the accident
  • Past and future damages if you are unable to provide care to dependents

Important things to know about Public Liability Claims

  • In most cases, Carbone Lawyers can settle the case out of court, avoiding the stress of having to go to court and ensuring more compensation ends up in your pocket
  • Public Liability claims are made on a no win, no fee basis, which means you will not be liable to pay Carbone Lawyers’ costs unless your case is successful. If your case is unsuccessful and you do not receive compensation, in most cases, you will not pay any legal fees.
  • In the event of a public liability incident, it’s vital that you collect all evidence, including photographs, witness contacts, medical reports and as much detail as possible about the circumstances of your injury. Call the team at Carbone Lawyers as soon as possible.
  • If you’ve been injured at work, please see our information on Workplace Injury
  • If the injury occurred on the road or public transport, please see our information on Road and transport Accident Compensation.

Carbone Lawyers has one of the most experienced Personal Injury teams in Australia. Regardless of your circumstances, our lawyers are likely to have worked on similar cases and know how to get you the best result. We understand the strategies insurance companies and their lawyers use to try and avoid paying your compensation and will relentlessly act in your best interest.

If you have started a public liability claim but feel frustrated or dissatisfied with its progress, please contact our team to discuss how we can help you achieve a better result.

If you have any doubts about where you stand, what you’re entitled to, or what you should do next, contact us today for a no-obligation, confidential discussion. 

Public Liability FAQs

What is a Public Liability Claim?

Public liability refers to the legal responsibility in Australia of a person, business or organisation to reasonably ensure the safety of others. When any person or entity with this ‘Duty of Care’ causes, or doesn’t take every reasonable step to prevent foreseeable harm to you, a public liability claim allows you to seek the compensation you deserve for your damages.

Contrary to popular belief, public liability claims aren’t limited to public spaces. Incidents such as slips, trips, and falls; product liability, food poisoning, dog or animal attacks; physical assaults in some instances; and injuries in rental properties are commonly covered. Essentially, any injury caused, or not reasonably prevented by, a person or entity with a duty of care can fall under public liability.

You may be eligible to claim compensation if you were injured due to someone else’s negligence in a public, commercial, or private space. Filing a public liability claim involves establishing that a duty of care exists and has been breached, proving damages occurred as a result of this breach, and understanding the options available to you for your case. For a free assessment of your claim, speak to the experts at Carbone Lawyers today.

Compensation may cover damages from the incident including past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of earnings, cost of home modifications, and care provided by friends and family. Each claim is unique, so the exact compensation will depend on your specific circumstances. To learn more about the scope of your claim, start your free claim assessment with our team, or read about our successful claims.

Public liability claims can add headaches and expenses to your life when you should be focused on recovering. Our expert team offers a no-win, no-fee policy to make getting the compensation you deserve as stress-free as possible. Contact us or find your local team to start your claim with an empathetic and experienced public liability lawyer.