Home Understanding how laws apply to accidents in public places
Local News

Understanding how laws apply to accidents in public places

Contributors
bar beer
(© Syda Productions – stock.adobe.com)

Civil Liability Act covers the area of law in which the victims are suffering the consequences of other’s reckless actions. In the Civil Liability Act, the duty of care is enforced to maintain order in public and prevent similar accidents in public places. This duty shouldn’t be underestimated as unexpected outcomes can result from negligent actions. Under the laws, the negligent party will be responsible to cover the loss of the victim. This loss can be in many forms. As an example, a small accident can make someone lose his/her income and the additional medical expenses seriously damage one’s economy. This is the main reason why laws compel individuals to obey their duties.

Negligence in public

In every area of one’s routine, the risk appears. Even the first coffee of the day can result in a serious accident if the manufacturer fails to perform its duty. The product can defect, the coffee machine can fail and the consumer can suffer more than minor injuries that can cause them income loss. This is a good example of why these duties are important to keep each other away from harm. A normal person might not be aware of what problems his/her new TV can cause. If the electric circuit fails, fire can start. Or if your new vehicle fails while braking, whole traffic can be put into danger and a long and tiresome process of pursuing your rights can start. These are the objects that we use on daily basis. Even the boots we wear on a winter day can be the cause of a permanent injury. If the duty to serve at acceptable standards fails, others can suffer adverse consequences.

In Civil Liability, these duties apply to service providers. No matter what industry you are active in, if your business is accessible by the public, care should be taken. Even delaying these responsibilities for a minute can cause accidents on great scales. Performing these duties aren’t optional for the business as in case of an incident, the business will have to cover the loss of the victim and an investigation may start about the accident. Continuous negligence can result in fines and other harsh penalties. This is surely a situation that a business wouldn’t want to face.

Public accidents

In public, these accidents can occur in traffic, in our workplaces, in a shopping center; while celebrating the birthday of your loved ones, during your daily sports or even at a wedding ceremony. This means, if these duties are ignored, almost everywhere and every time we can face these risks. The most notorious hazard for businesses serving the public is the slippery surfaces. Although such an occasion can be encountered very commonly, ignoring to take action can lead to unexpectedly harsh consequences. It may sound simple but slip, trip and fall accidents form the large share of public accidents, and the results may not be as simple as it sounds. Serious damages can be taken to vulnerable parts of the victim’s body and can last permanently.

Public accidents compensation

Accidents can result from other’s unintentional actions but this is not an obstacle for claiming compensation. Victim’s sufferings can be challenging and might be in need of help as the post-accident process can be quite confusing. It is recommended to visit a lawyer to discuss the rights of the injured and see the legal options. Claiming compensation is especially important for those suffering permanent injuries as lack of income can be problematic in the future. Under the laws, if the victim is impaired after the accident, the insurance may award a lump sum.

Contributors

Contributors

Have a guest column, letter to the editor, story idea or a news tip? Email editor Chris Graham at [email protected]. Subscribe to AFP podcasts on Apple PodcastsSpotifyPandora and YouTube.