Public liability compensation calculator
Injured in a public place — a shop, pavement, car park, park or venue — because someone failed to keep it safe? Estimate what your public liability claim could be worth in compensation (UK £) or settlement (US $), using published Judicial College bracket figures.
Public Liability Compensation Calculator
Estimate your total payout range in under a minute
Last updated · By Mustafa Bilgic · Figures reviewed against the Judicial College Guidelines
What a public liability claim is made of
A public liability claim is how you recover compensation when you are injured in a public place because the person responsible for it failed to keep it reasonably safe. Like every personal-injury claim it has two parts: the injury value (general damages) and your financial losses (special damages). What sets these claims apart is the question of liability — you have to show the occupier was at fault.
The duty: occupiers must take reasonable care
In England & Wales the Occupiers' Liability Act 1957 requires whoever controls a place — a shop, a council, a landlord, an event organiser — to take reasonable care that lawful visitors are reasonably safe. They do not have to guarantee your safety; they have to act reasonably. A claim succeeds where they fell short: an unmarked spillage, a known but unrepaired hazard, poor lighting, or a trip hazard left in a walkway.
General and special damages
Once liability is established, the value is built like any other claim. General damages for the injury come from the Judicial College Guidelines (US: typical settlement ranges). Special damages reimburse your losses — lost earnings, treatment, care and travel — and, for serious injuries, future losses such as ongoing care or reduced earning capacity.
Public liability compensation amounts by injury
Indicative general-damages ranges for injuries commonly seen in public-place accidents. Special damages (lost earnings, treatment, travel) are added on top. UK figures are bracket-style estimates based on the Judicial College Guidelines; US figures are typical settlement ranges.
| Injury type | UK — Minor (£) | UK — Moderate (£) | UK — Severe (£) | US — typical ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broken bone / fracture | 2,800 – 12,000 | 12,000 – 45,000 | 45,000 – 135,000 | 12k – 150k |
| Back injury | 2,500 – 12,500 | 12,500 – 38,800 | 38,800 – 160,000 | 15k – 175k |
| Head / brain | 2,690 – 14,400 | 45,000 – 219,000 | 219,000 – 493,000 | 25k – 500k+ |
| Wrist / hand | 3,800 – 12,800 | 12,800 – 29,400 | 29,400 – 79,000 | 10k – 90k |
| Knee / leg | 2,800 – 14,500 | 14,500 – 47,800 | 47,800 – 159,000 | 15k – 180k |
| Facial scarring | 2,000 – 9,300 | 9,300 – 30,000 | 30,000 – 97,000 | 8k – 100k |
* UK whiplash minor/moderate up to 2 years is the fixed statutory tariff (£275–£4,830). All other figures are bracket-style estimates and rounded. Last updated .
Common public liability scenarios
- Slips and trips on wet floors, spillages or broken surfaces in shops and venues.
- Pavement and highway trips on defective paving maintained by a local authority.
- Falling objects from poorly stacked shelving or unsecured fixtures.
- Defective premises — broken steps, unguarded edges, inadequate lighting.
Related contexts have their own pages: see supermarket accidents, slip and fall claims, and how compensation is calculated.
Frequently asked questions
What is a public liability claim?
A public liability claim is a compensation claim against the person or business responsible for a public place — the occupier — when they fail to take reasonable care for visitors' safety and you are injured as a result. In the UK this duty comes mainly from the Occupiers' Liability Act 1957. Typical examples include a fall on a wet supermarket floor, a trip on a broken pavement, or an injury from poorly maintained premises.
How much compensation can I claim for a public liability injury?
It depends on the injury and your losses. A sprained ankle or soft-tissue injury that recovers within a year sits at the lower end of its bracket; a fracture, a head injury or a permanent injury reaches much higher. Under the Judicial College Guidelines a moderate ankle injury is roughly £14,000–£29,000, plus lost earnings and treatment. In the US, public-place injury settlements vary widely by state and severity.
Who pays a public liability claim?
The occupier's public-liability insurance — for example the shop, local authority, landlord or event organiser responsible for the place. Most businesses and public bodies carry public-liability cover precisely for this. You do not claim against an individual employee; you claim against the organisation responsible for keeping the premises safe.
What do I need to prove?
You must show the occupier breached their duty — that they failed to take reasonable care (for example, leaving a spillage unmarked or not repairing a known hazard) — and that this caused your injury. Photos of the hazard, an accident-book entry, witness details and prompt medical attention all strengthen the claim. You do not have to prove they intended any harm, only that they were negligent.
How long do I have to make a public liability claim?
In England & Wales the general limit is three years from the date of injury, with different rules for children and people who lack capacity. Claims against some public bodies may have shorter notice requirements. In the US each state sets its own statute of limitations, commonly two to three years. See claim time limits.
Related calculators & guides
Supermarket accident
Slips, trips and falling-stock injuries in shops and supermarkets.
Supermarket calculator →How payouts are calculated
General vs special damages and the maths behind every estimate.
Read the guide →