Public liability lawyers Melbourne & Victoria
If you suffer an injury in a public place because of someone’s negligence in Melbourne or Victoria, Shine Lawyer’s public liability lawyers can help secure life-changing compensation. No Win No Fee*.
What is public liability?
Australia's states and territories have public liability laws that hold property owners to account for injury, damage or loss suffered because of negligence or wrongdoing. In Victoria, you could claim public place injury compensation if:
You’re injured in a public location, rental property or a privately-owned location that’s open to the public (e.g. shopping centre, theme park, commercial premises)
The property owner or operator owed you a duty of care to protect you from reasonably foreseeable injury
This duty of care was breached due to negligence or wrongdoing
Because of the negligence or wrongdoing, you were injured
Public place injury compensation in Victoria
Your eligibility to claim public place injury compensation in Victoria depends on the circumstances of your public place injury. You may be eligible to make a public liability claim in Victoria for:
Medical and rehabilitation costs
Domestic care and support
Past and future lost income
Financial public place injury compensation for non-economic loss (e.g. for pain and suffering) in Victoria can only be claimed for a ‘significant injury’.
What is a significant injury in Victoria?
Under Victorian law, a significant injury:
Includes a physical, psychiatric or psychological injury
Must satisfy relevant legal thresholds, as assessed by an approved medical practitioner
Examples of public place injury in Victoria
Public place injury claims are different from workplace injury claims and TAC claims. You may be injured:
In a park, playground or on a footpath
In a shopping centre, supermarket, carpark or retail outlet (you may have a slips, trips and falls claim in Victoria)
In business or rental premises
In an airport
While playing sport
While boating
Because of a dog attack
Shine’s public liability lawyers in Melbourne & Victoria can help
Our team of trusted public liability lawyers in Melbourne and Victoria are experts in public liability claims. Our expert team can:
Meet with you in an initial, obligation-free appointment
Listen to your situation to understand your injuries and their impact
Help you understand your best public place injury compensation options
The time limits that apply to your situation
Our No Win No Fee* cost agreement
*Conditions apply
Melbourne Team
Time limits for making a public liability claim in Victoria
The time limits for making a public place injury compensation claim in Victoria include within:
3 years of the date of your public place injury
6 years of the public place injury date for children and people with a disability
Do you have a claim?
We’re here to make the claims process as simple and stress-free as possible.
Where you’ll find Shine’s public liability lawyers in Melbourne and Victoria
Our expert public liability lawyers in Melbourne and Victoria can help with your claim for public place injury compensation. Get started on your public liability claim by contacting our friendly teams in:
Get in touch today with our friendly public liability lawyers Melbourne, Ballarat, Dandenong, Epping, Geelong, Melton, Pakenham, Sunshine or Werribee to get started on your public liability claim in Victoria.
When you’re a Shine Lawyers client, we’ll do everything in our power to secure the maximum public place injury compensation for you, as quickly as possible. We’ll keep you informed of the legal process every step of the way.
FAQs Public place injury - Melbourne & Victoria
What is public liability insurance?
What is public liability insurance?
Public liability insurance covers property owners if someone dies or is injured on their property. A public place injury claim must prove:
The property owner owed a duty of care to people coming onto their property, against reasonably foreseeable injury
The duty of care was breached
Because of the failed duty of care, someone died or was injured
Property owners may be an individual, business, local council or government entity. The public liability claim is made against the property owner’s public liability insurer.
What is duty of care?
What is duty of care?
A duty of care refers to a property owner’s legal obligation to take all reasonable steps to avoid causing foreseeable harm to someone or their property. A property owner (person, business or government entity) owes someone coming onto their property a duty of care. The risk of ‘reasonably foreseeable’ harm is if a reasonable person in the property owner’s position:
Should have known of the potential risk of injury (without the benefit of hindsight)
Would have done something (or not done something) differently to the property owner, to reduce the potential risk of injury
An example of a duty of care might be that owed by a theme park owner to visitors. To avoid a public place injury, theme park owners must ensure their rides are safe, operate correctly and are regularly reviewed and maintained.
I was partially at fault for my injury, am I still eligible for compensation?
I was partially at fault for my injury, am I still eligible for compensation?
Yes. If you were partially at fault for your public place injury, you could still be eligible for compensation. This is known as ‘contributory negligence’. The property owner’s insurer must prove you contributed in some way to your public place injury. If this argument is successful, any compensation may be reduced to reflect your contribution. Our experienced public liability lawyers in Melbourne and Victoria can provide advice specific to your injury situation.
