As we get into the summer months, many of us want to go outside and enjoy the sunshine with friends and family by visiting beer gardens, rooftop terraces and outdoor venues. While these spaces offer a great atmosphere on a sunny day, they can also come with certain risks.
If you’ve suffered an injury in a beer garden or an outdoor venue, you may be wondering whether you have a legal right to make a claim. This would depend on certain factors, but you could be entitled to compensation.
Some of the most frequent causes of injury in beer gardens and outdoor venues include the following:
- Slips, trips and falls on uneven or poorly maintained surfaces
- Broken or unstable furniture, e.g. collapsing benches or wobbly chairs
- Spillages that aren’t regularly cleaned up by staff
- Glass injuries from broken glasses and bottles
- Poor lighting in outdoor areas, especially in the evening
- Overcrowding, which leads to falls or crush injuries
- Physical assaults following excessive alcohol consumption
Who is responsible?
Venue owners and managers have a duty of care to take reasonable steps to ensure their premises are safe for visitors. This includes both their outdoor and indoor spaces.
Under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 they must regularly inspect and maintain seating, flooring and walkways, clean up spillages reasonably promptly, ensure pathways are well lit and free from hazards and take steps to prevent overcrowding or unsafe behaviour. If they fail to do so and someone is injured as a result, the injured person may have grounds for a personal injury claim.
What should I do if I’m injured?
If you’ve had an accident at an outdoor venue, here are a few steps to remember:
- Report the incident to a manager or a member of staff
- Ask for the incident to be logged in an accident book and retain a copy if possible
- Take photographs of the scene, including any hazards that may have caused your injury
- Get witness details from anyone who may have seen what had happened
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible
Is there a time limit to make an injury claim?
Yes, there is a time limit, just like there is with most personal injury claims in the UK. You usually have 3 years from the date of the accident to bring a claim. However, it is best to seek advice from a personal injury solicitor as soon as possible.
If you have been unfortunate enough to have been injured in an accident at an outdoor venue and would like some advice then our specialist personal injury solicitors are on hand to guide you through the process of making a claim, call us on 0161 696 6235 or complete our online enquiry form.
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