Pub And Bar Accident Claim – Learn How To Claim Compensation

People all over the country go to bars and pubs to relax and socialise and expect to be able to do so safely. But what happens if you get hurt?

This guide will cover when you could be eligible to make a pub or bar accident claim, as not all instances of harm will result in a valid personal injury claim. We’ll also discuss the legislation that protects visitors to public places and how those in control of those spaces are expected to act.

We’ll also talk about compensation in pub and bar accident claims. Many people wonder how much compensation they could receive; we discuss what you could claim compensation for, and how a professional might calculate your payout.

Finally, our guide will cover solicitors, and why we always recommend seeking legal advice from specialist solicitors. At Accident Claims, our team of advisors are dedicated to helping you, and can answer any questions you might have when you get in touch:

Friends drinking wine and eating food at a bar

Browse Our Guide

  1. Can I Make A Pub or Bar Accident Claim?
  2. What Are Common Pub or Bar Accidents?
  3. How Do I Prove Negligence In A Pub or Bar Accident Claim?
  4. What Compensation Could I Claim For In Public Liability Cases? 
  5. Is There A Time Limit When Claiming For An Accident In A Pub? 
  6. Why Make A No Win No Fee Bar Injury Claim?
  7. More Resources About Claiming Public Liability Compensation

Can I Make A Pub or Bar Accident Claim?

To make any kind of public liability claim, you need to be able to prove that your injuries were the fault of someone else. Specifically, they need to be the fault of whoever was in control of that space.

This is outlined in the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 (OLA), which states that whoever is in control of a public space owes visitors a duty of care. This means that they need to make sure the visitors are reasonably safe.

Failure to do so could be seen as negligence, which means that:

  • You were owed a duty of care
  • This duty was breached
  • You were injured as a result

If you’d like to find out how a pub or bar could act negligently, keep reading. Or, you can get in touch with our friendly team for more information on pub and bar accident claims.

What Are Common Pub or Bar Accidents?

Some examples of how negligence could occur in a pub or bar could include:

  • Slips, trips, and falls: Spillages are common in bars and pubs, but they should be either cleaned up in a timely manner or signposted. If it isn’t, this could lead to a slip, which could cause a head injury.
  • Cuts and lacerations: Likewise, broken glass and ceramics should be cleaned up as soon as possible. Otherwise, it can cause customers to suffer from cuts and lacerations, which can lead to infection and permanent scarring.
  • Food poisoning: Food should be properly prepared, and bars and pubs should make sure it’s safe to eat. If a pub serves food that is unsafe, this could cause food poisoning, which can be very serious.

What Types Of Pub Or Bar Injuries Could I Claim For?

An accident in a pub or bar could result in injuries such as:

  • Brain damage and head injuries
  • Back and neck injuries
  • Shoulder or knee dislocations
  • Cuts, lacerations, and permanent scarring
  • Food poisoning
  • Nerve damage

Can I Claim For Being Assaulted At A Bar?

If you were assaulted at a bar, you may be able to make a criminal injury claim. Contact our advisors today to learn more.

A wet floor sign on a tiled floor to prevent the risk of personal injury

How Do I Prove Negligence In A Pub or Bar Accident Claim?

It’s your responsibility to prove that negligence occurred in a pub or bar. To do this, you can collect evidence such as:

  • Photographs: These can include pictures of your injuries, or pictures of of things like glass in your food, dislodged carpet, or unmarked spillages.
  • Witness contact details: Taking down the details of anyone who witnessed the accident means that their statements can be made at a later date.
  • CCTV footage: Some pubs and bars have internal CCTV systems. If your accident was caught on CCTV, you may be able to request the footage.
  • Medical records: Your medical records and the results of any tests, like an x-ray, can be used to show how severe your injuries are.

This might seem overwhelming. However, you don’t have to do it alone; if you choose to make a pub or bar accident claim with the help of a solicitor, they can use their experience to gather evidence and support your claim.

What Compensation Could I Claim For In Public Liability Cases?

There are generally two kinds of compensation you can pursue in a public liability claim. We’ll start with general damages, which are awarded in every successful claim.

Under general damages, you can claim compensation for the pain and suffering your injuries have caused, as well as the effect that these have had on you. This includes loss of amenity, which covers loss of enjoyment in hobbies and socialising.

When professionals value this head of claim,  they often get help from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This is a document that contains a list of injuries and illnesses with guideline compensation brackets.

The table below illustrates some of these guidelines, but note that the first entry is not from the JCG. These figures are only guidelines and aren’t guaranteed amounts.

InjuryCompensationNotes
Multiple serious injuries and special damagesUp to £1,000,000+Combined effects of serious injuries and financial losses, including lost earnings
Very Severe Brain Damage£344,150 to £493,000There is little to no response to surroundings and a need for full-time professional care
Less Severe Brain Damage£18,700 to £52,550A good recovery takes place and the claimant can return to a normal working and social life
Damage/Illness To Digestive System From Non-Traumatic Injury (i)£46,900 to £64,070Severe toxicosis resulting in cramps, severe pain, and hospital admission
Damage/Illness To Digestive System From Non-Traumatic Injury (ii)£11,640 to £23,430Serious food poisoning lasting from two to four weeks
Moderate Back Injuries (ii)£15,260 to £33,880Many common back injuries including backache, soft tissue injuries, and prolapsed discs
Minor Back Injuries (i)£9,630 to £15,260A full or mostly full recovery takes place within two to five years without surgery
Less Serious Leg injury (ii)£11,120 to £17,180A simple femur fracture with no damage to the articular surfaces
Moderate Shoulder Injuries£9,630 to £15,580Limited movement caused by a frozen shoulder.
Scarring to the Body£2,890 to £9,560One noticeable scar, or several scars that are more superficial

Can I Claim For The Long-Term Effects of Severe Injuries?

In some cases, your injuries can have long-term effects, both physically and financially. If your injuries have resulted in you suffering from financial losses, you could potentially claim them back under special damages.

For example, if you work in construction, then a severe leg injury could mean you can no longer work. In this case, special damages could help you claim back your lost wages. This heading can also help you claim back the cost of:

  • Prescriptions and medical treatments
  • Travel
  • Childcare
  • Home adjustments
  • Mobility aids, like a wheelchair
  • Help with cooking and cleaning

Evidence of these losses will need to be provided, with documents such as invoices, payslips and bank statements.

If you’d like to find out what kind of expenses you could recoup in a pub or bar accident claim, contact our team of advisors today.

A group of people eating food and drinking beer at a pub

Is There A Time Limit When Claiming For An Accident In A Pub?

Yes, there is a time limit for beginning a claim for an accident in a public place. This is three years, as stated by the Limitation Act 1980. This means you have to start your claim within three years of suffering your injuries, but you don’t need to finish it during this time.

There are also some exceptions to this rule. For example, those under 18 can’t make their own personal injury claims, so a litigation friend can do it for them. If no claim has been made by their 18th birthday, then they’ll have three years from then to claim for themselves.

There are other exceptions to this rule; contact our team of advisors today to learn more. Or, keep reading to find out how a No Win No Fee solicitor could help you.

Why Make A No Win No Fee Bar Injury Claim?

So, why do we recommend making a pub or bar accident claim with the help of a solicitor? While you don’t need a solicitor to claim, it can make the process feel much less stressful if you seek legal advice from an expert.

At Accident Claims, our solicitors are experts in public liability claims. With decades of combined experience, they can use their training and knowledge to guide you through the claims process by helping you:

  • Collect evidence
  • Prepare to go to court, if necessary
  • Negotiate a compensation payout
  • Understand legal jargon

Plus, our expert solicitors work on a No Win No Fee basis. This means that they work under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which allows you to access their services without paying anything upfront or as the claim is ongoing. You also don’t need to pay anything if your pub or bar accident claim fails.

If it succeeds, then your No Win No Fee solicitor will take a success fee. They take this directly from your compensation as a small percentage, limited by law. This is agreed before the claim starts.

Contact Us

Are you ready to start your No Win No Fee public liability claim? Would you like to learn more about how one of our expert solicitors could help you?

If so, our team of advisors are here to help. Through a free consultation, they can answer any questions you might have about making a pub or bar accident compensation claim, and may be able to connect you with one of our solicitors.

To get started:

A personal injury compensation solicitor ready to help a client claim compensation for a pub injury

More Resources About Claiming Public Liability Compensation

For more helpful public liability guides:

Or, for further resources:

Thank you for reading our guide on how to make a pub or bar accident claim.