Occupiers’ Liability Accident Claims

Occupiers’ liability is the legal responsibility that an occupier has to take reasonable care to ensure the safety of visitors to their property. An occupier is anyone who has control of a property, whether they own it or not. Visitors are people who are on the property with the occupier's permission.

A wide range of accidents can be covered by occupiers liability, including:

• Slips and trips on wet or uneven surfaces

• Falls from ladders or other raised surfaces

• Collisions with objects that have not been properly stored or secured

• Injuries caused by faulty equipment or machinery

• Assaults by other visitors

The law will consider a number of factors when determining whether an occupier has been negligent, including:

• The nature of the premises

• The purpose for which the premises are being used

• The age and understanding of the visitor

• The condition of the premises at the time of the accident

• The steps that the occupier took to prevent accidents

If you have been injured in an accident on someone else's property, you should contact a personal injury solicitor as soon as possible. A solicitor will be able to advise you on whether you have a valid claim and will help you to prepare and file your claim.

If your claim is successful, you may be able to recover compensation for a range of losses, including:

• Medical expenses

• Loss of earnings

• Pain and suffering & loss of amenity

Occupiers' liability is the legal obligation placed on the person or organisation in control of a property to take reasonable steps to ensure visitors remain safe while on the premises. Under the Occupiers' Liability Acts 1957 and 1984, an "occupier" is anyone exercising control over land or buildings – including business owners, local authorities, retail shops, landlords, and private homeowners. This duty of care covers lawful visitors, customers, and invited guests, and in certain circumstances can extend to trespassers. Our personal injury solicitors help establish who holds legal control of the site to ensure your claim is directed appropriately.

An occupiers' liability claim can arise whenever unsafe conditions or poor maintenance on a property directly lead to an avoidable injury. Common examples include slipping on wet floors without warning signs, tripping over broken paving slabs, falling down poorly lit stairwells, or suffering injury from unsecured items and defective equipment. The court considers factors such as the condition of the premises, whether clear warnings were displayed, and the steps taken by the occupier to prevent harm. We gather evidence – including CCTV footage, accident book entries, and maintenance logs – to show that the occupier failed to maintain reasonable safety standards.

A successful claim allows you to recover general damages for physical pain, suffering, and emotional trauma, along with special damages for any financial impact. Special damages cover lost income during recovery, private rehabilitation costs, travel expenses, and care assistance provided by family members. We handle occupiers' liability claims under a Conditional Fee Agreement (No Win No Fee), meaning you pay no upfront legal fees and face no financial risk if your claim is unsuccessful. Where liability is acknowledged early by the property owner's insurer, we can also seek interim payments to assist with immediate expenses.