This guide details the most common accidents in public places and their causes, as well as practical tips on how to prevent them.
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What are the Most Common Accidents in Public Places?
Accidents in public places can include any areas accessible to the public, such as streets, parks, shops, restaurants, hotels, and playgrounds. Common examples include slips and trips, falls, injuries from falling objects, supermarket accidents, dog bites and injuries from faulty equipment.
Unfortunately, these types of accidents are common, with public liability claims accounting for almost 15% of all compensation claims in 2024/25 (64,423 out of 447,973).
This guide details the most common accidents in public places and their causes, as well as practical tips on how to prevent them.
Table of Contents
Slips, trips and falls
Slips, trips, and falls are the most common types of accidents in public places, including parks, restaurants, car parks, supermarkets, shops, and other public premises. In most cases, these could be prevented and are due to hazards such as:
- Spills or wet floors.
- Loose carpets, trailing cables and uneven pavements.
- Poor lighting and cluttered walkways.
There are a few things you can do to prevent slips, trips and falls in public places and keep safe from injuries:
- Wear comfortable shoes with good traction.
- Take smaller, careful steps when the risk of injury is high, such as on wet surfaces.
- Always pay attention to your surroundings, keeping a lookout for hazards.
- Use handrails on stairs.
Those in charge of the premises must maintain good housekeeping, ensure adequate lighting, signpost hazards and carry out regular inspections and maintenance.
Accidents in shops and supermarkets
Sometimes, going shopping can quickly turn from a relaxing, enjoyable activity into a distressing accident. When shop owners and operators neglect their legal duties to keep visitors safe from harm on their premises, various accidents could happen, including:
- Slips, trips and falls caused by spills that are not cleaned up or signposted.
- Being hit by items falling from shelves or loose fixtures.
- Cuts and lacerations from sharp edges on shelves.
- Elevator and escalator accidents, such as entrapment.
- Electric shocks from exposed wiring or faulty equipment.
- Accidents in car parks due to potholes or poor lighting.
To prevent accidents in shops and supermarkets, staff should keep a clean and organised environment, use proper signage to mark potential hazards and carry out regular safety inspections.
Pavement accidents
Pavement accidents are common public accidents that can be caused by potholes, raised or broken slabs, tree roots, uneven surfaces or damaged drain covers on footpaths. Poor street lighting can also contribute to such incidents by making it harder to see potential dangers.
Under the Highways Act 1980, maintaining pavements typically falls under the authority of local councils. If the path is on private property, such as in a restaurant car park or the front of a shop, then the duty lies with the owner or occupier of the premises. Whoever is responsible for the pavement must:
- Regularly inspect pavements for flaws.
- Promptly repair defects.
- Signpost areas that cannot be immediately repaired.
If this duty is breached and you suffer an injury, you could make a pavement accident claim, although in practice claims are more likely to succeed where the defect that caused your injury is at least around 1 inch (2.5 cm) high or deep.
Sports accidents
Sports accidents in public places include injuries sustained in spaces such as parks, gyms, tennis courts, sports venues and leisure centres.
Unfortunately, there is always a risk of accidents and injuries when engaging in sports, whether it is running, football, tennis, golf or gym training. However, some injuries are caused by negligence and could lead to a sports injury claim, such as:
- Bad advice or instructions from coaches.
- Faulty gym equipment or machinery.
- Unsafe ground conditions.
- Overcrowding and poor crowd control measures at sports events.
These accidents can cause various injuries, from minor sprains and strains to debilitating brain and spinal injuries. To avoid them, those in control of the premises must assess risks, maintain a safe environment and provide adequate equipment and supervision.
Accidents involving public transportation
Public transportation accidents involve various types of situations on public transport, such as:
- Bus accidents, including collisions, slips and trips inside the bus or luggage falling from overhead compartments.
- Train accidents, such as derailments, collisions and entrapment in faulty doors.
- Accidents on ferries, including capsizing, sinking or falling overboard.
- Accidents on platforms and bus stops, such as sudden starts and stops or slips and trips.
Public transport operators have a legal duty of care to maintain vehicles and stations in good condition and make sure that all drivers are qualified and adequately trained.
However, to keep safe from injuries, you should always pay attention when boarding and exiting, hold onto handrails and poles during rides and be mindful of gaps between vehicles and pavements.
Accidents in cafes and restaurants
Going out for a coffee or dinner should be an enjoyable occasion where you are safe from injuries. However, cafe and restaurant accidents can and do sometimes occur in public spaces, the most common being:
- Slips, trips and falls caused by spills, uneven floors or poor lighting.
- Being hit by falling decorations or poorly secured shelves.
- Burns and scalds from hot food and drinks.
- Food poisoning and allergic reactions.
To prevent such accidents, restaurant operators have a legal duty to keep floors clean, carry out regular maintenance of the premises, adhere to strict food safety standards and ensure staff receive adequate training (see the Food Standards Agency guidance). If they fail to do so, they may be liable for any resulting harm.
School accidents
Each year, around 2 million children attend the A&E, many of whom are injured in school accidents, such as slips and trips, falls from height and accidents during school trips.
Some children suffer serious injuries, which could be avoided if local authorities and private school owners took reasonable measures to ensure the safety of children, such as:
- Ensure children receive adequate supervision.
- Ensure that teachers and school staff are adequately trained and qualified.
- Maintain a safe environment.
- Keep equipment and furniture in good working order.
If your child was injured in a school accident, you may be able to claim compensation on their behalf.
Playground accidents
Playground accidents are another common type of accident in public places. These are a major cause of injuries to children, resulting in around 40,000 hospital visits each year. Some of the most common accidents that can occur on playgrounds include:
- Falls from equipment such as swings, slides and climbers.
- Entrapment in ropes, holes or various equipment parts.
- Injuries from sharp metal edges or defective swing chains.
To prevent accidents, the owners and managers of playgrounds must ensure regular maintenance, install impact-absorbing mats and keep the area clear of hazards.
Holiday accidents
Holidays are supposed to be carefree, relaxing and an escape from the toils of daily living. Whether you travel to the seaside, a city or the mountains, having an accident may be the last thing on your mind when leaving on holiday.
However, according to the Foreign Office, 70 Brits are hospitalised every week while abroad. Common types of public place accidents that happen on holiday include:
- Slips, trips and falls in hotels and restaurants.
- Swimming pool accidents.
- Injuries during holiday activities such as hiking or skiing.
- Cruise ship accidents, including food poisoning.
To lower your risk of accidents on holiday, you should always thoroughly research your bookings and destination and choose a reputable tour operator if you want to book a package holiday.
Accidents involving animals
Accidents in public places could also involve various types of animals, such as:
- Attacks or bites from dogs.
- Trampling or kicks from large animals like horses or cattle.
- Animal incidents at zoos, safaris and wildlife parks.
Besides severe injuries, animal attacks can also cause emotional and psychological trauma. While the animal cannot be held legally responsible, you could make an animal injury claim against the party in charge of them, who should:
- Always control their animals.
- Ensure they are securely contained on their property.
- Use muzzles on aggressive or dangerous dogs.
Accidents in bars and nightclubs
Bars and nightclubs are public places where the potential for injuries is high, because of poor lighting, spilt drinks and inebriated customers. Common incidents include:
- Assaults and criminal injuries.
- Cuts and lacerations caused by broken glass.
- Slips, trips and falls on slippery floors.
To protect patrons and prevent bar and nightclub accidents, owners must:
- Carry out regular risk assessments and control potential hazards.
- Avoid overcrowding and ensure adequate lighting in all areas.
- Hire enough security and train staff members to clear up hazards promptly.
Can I claim compensation for an accident in a public place?
Owners and operators of public places have a legal duty of care under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of the public on their premises.
If this duty is breached and you are injured in a public place, a personal injury solicitor could help you start a claim on a no win no fee basis. A public accident claim may include compensation for your pain, suffering and any related financial losses.
To find out if you are eligible to start a claim, call 0800 470 0472 today or use our contact form to request a call back.
