$200M+
In Compensation Recovered
Real settlements paid to injured Australians and their families across every state and territory.
Public Liability Claims
Free Public Liability Claim Check
Receive major cash settlements for injuries on someone else's property or in public places.
If you've been injured on someone else's property, in a public place, by a dog, or because of a defective product, you may be entitled to compensation. Public liability claims fall under the Civil Liability Acts in each state. Take the 60-second check.
- Slip and fall injuries on private or public property
- Dog attacks (council or owner liability)
- Defective products and unsafe premises
- No-win-no-fee. Pay nothing unless you win.
No Fees
Unless You Win
You pay nothing out of pocket. Our partner firms only get paid when you do.
Every Scheme
Covered
CTP, TAC, MAIC, ICWA, icare, WorkCover, ReturnToWorkSA, every Australian compensation scheme.
Public liability in Australia, explained
Public liability is personal injury law's catch-all category. It covers injuries you suffer because of someone else's negligence in a place that isn't a road or a workplace. Think shopping centres, cafés, sports venues, hotels, gyms, footpaths, parks, private homes (when you've been invited), and accidents caused by defective products or by attacking dogs.
Common public liability claims
- Slip, trip and fall injuries: Wet floors, damaged carpets, uneven surfaces, poor lighting, missing handrails.
- Footpath and council claims: Damaged footpaths, hazards in parks, inadequate signage, council-managed property.
- Dog attacks: Council or owner liability for unrestrained or known-aggressive dogs.
- Shopping centre and retail injuries: Falling stock, malfunctioning escalators, spills.
- Defective products: Faulty appliances, contaminated food, unsafe vehicles, poorly designed furniture.
- Sports and recreation: Injuries at gyms, theme parks, sporting venues, where reasonable safety wasn't provided.
- Holiday and travel injuries: Hotel, resort, cruise and tour accidents (subject to choice-of-law issues).
Civil Liability Acts: state-by-state
Public liability is governed by each state's Civil Liability Act (or equivalent), which caps general damages (pain and suffering), applies impairment thresholds, and shapes the types of recoverable losses. The same injury can be worth materially different amounts in different states. Your matched lawyer will know the specific rules for where your accident happened.
What public liability payouts look like
What injured Australians have actually received. Your case will be assessed on its specific facts; these are scheme averages, not guarantees.
Claim type Average payout Notes
Slip and fall (minor injury) $10k–$50k Quick recovery, no permanent impairment
Slip and fall (moderate injury) $50k–$200k Permanent restrictions, ongoing care needs
Dog attack with scarring $30k–$300k Depends on severity and permanence
Catastrophic public liability $1m+ Spinal, brain or multiple-system injury
Source: Published Australian settlement data and civil liability practitioner surveys, 2025
How your public liability claim gets handled
Your details go to a lawyer who specialises in your state's Civil Liability Act, not a generic firm.
- 01
Tell us where it happened
Shopping centre, footpath, friend's house, café, restaurant, sports venue, or other location. Date, place, what happened.
- 02
We match you with a state specialist
Civil Liability Acts differ between states. Your details go to a lawyer who knows your state's rules and thresholds.
- 03
Free consultation, then they fight for you
A no-obligation call with the matched firm. If you proceed, no fees unless they win your case.
Public liability claim FAQs
The questions injured Australians ask us most often about public liability claims.
What is a public liability claim?
A public liability claim is a personal injury claim against a person or organisation whose negligence caused you harm in a public place or on their property. Common scenarios include slipping on wet floors in a shopping centre, tripping on damaged footpaths, injuries from defective products, dog attacks, and injuries at restaurants, hotels, gyms or sports venues. The defendant's public liability insurer typically pays the claim.
Who can I claim against?
Whoever was responsible for the unsafe condition that caused your injury. This might be a council, a shopping centre, a business owner, a strata corporation, an event organiser, a homeowner (where they invited you in), the owner of a defective product, or the owner of an attacking dog. Most defendants carry public liability insurance, which is what actually pays the claim.
How much can I get for a public liability claim?
Public liability payouts vary widely. Minor slip and fall injuries with quick recovery typically settle from $10,000–$50,000. Moderate injuries with permanent restrictions range from $50,000 to $200,000. Serious injuries causing significant permanent impairment can exceed $500,000. Catastrophic injury claims with lifetime impacts can reach into the millions. Your matched lawyer will assess your specific case.
How long do I have to make a public liability claim?
Most Australian states impose a 3-year limitation period on public liability claims, running from the date of injury (or from the date you knew or ought to have known of the injury). Children typically have until their 21st birthday. Late claims can sometimes still proceed but it's much harder, and evidence quality degrades. Lodge as soon as practical.
What if I was partly at fault?
Your damages will be reduced by your percentage of contributory negligence. For example, if you were 30% responsible (you weren't watching where you walked), your settlement is reduced by 30%. Total contributory negligence (you were entirely at fault) defeats the claim. Don't assume you're at fault before getting legal advice.
How are public liability claims priced under Civil Liability Acts?
Each Australian state has a Civil Liability Act that caps general damages and applies thresholds. NSW caps non-economic loss damages and applies a 15% impairment threshold. QLD uses an Injury Scale Value scale. VIC requires a 'serious injury' for general damages. Your matched lawyer will calculate your specific entitlements under your state's rules.
Don't leave compensation on the table.
Most injured Australians never claim what they're rightfully owed. A 60-second check could change that.