Pub Injury Claims

Pubs are a fundamental part of British society where friends and family can gather to socialise and relax. While you expect to have a good time when going to a pub, incidents can sometimes occur, resulting in various injuries. These include slips, trips and falls, food poisoning, burns, scalds and physical altercations.

If your injury was a result of the landlord, brewery or pub operator’s negligence, you may be entitled to make a pub injury claim for compensation. The same is valid if you work in a pub and are injured due to your employer’s negligence.

If you would like to find out if you can start a pub or bar injury compensation claim, please call 0800 470 0474 or request a call back. If your case has merit, a personal injury solicitor will help you start a no win no fee claim*, so there is no financial risk and no upfront costs.

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By submitting this form you agree to be contacted by our partners. Find out how we handle your data in our privacy policy. With no win no fee you typically pay 25% of your compensation if your claim is successful, but the fee can vary. Termination fees may apply if you fail to co-operate with your solicitor.

Table of Contents

• Duty of care of pubs towards customers
• Can I make a pub injury compensation claim?
• What evidence do I need to support my compensation claim?
• Can I make a pub injury claim as a pub or bar employee?
• Common situations leading to pub and bar accident claims
• What injuries could lead to a pub accident claim?
• What is the time limit to make a personal injury claim?
• How much compensation can I claim if I'm injured in a pub?
• Will a personal injury solicitor help me make a claim on a No Win No Fee basis?

Duty of care of pubs towards customers

Under the Occupiers Liability Act 1957, pubs owe a legal duty to their visitors to ensure they are reasonably safe while on the premises. The key points regarding the duty of care of pubs towards their customers include:

• Carry out frequent and thorough inspections of the premises to identify potential hazards;
• Keep a schedule for regular maintenance to ensure all areas are in good repair, including floors, staircases, lighting, and furniture;
• Promptly address any hazards, such as loose carpeting, broken furniture or spills;
• If an immediate repair is not possible, use clear and visible signage to warn customers of potential dangers, such as wet floors or broken steps;
• Keep floors clean and dry and ensure that walkways are well-lit and free of obstacles;
• Ensure that heavy objects are securely fixed and not at risk of falling;
• Train staff to recognise and address potential hazards promptly;
• Adhere to food safety regulations to prevent contamination and foodborne illnesses;
• Ensure that drinks are served safely and avoid over-serving alcohol to prevent customer intoxication and associated risks.

If you were injured in a pub and your solicitor can establish a breach of duty, they will help you make a claim and secure the compensation you deserve for your injuries and financial losses.

Can I make a pub injury compensation claim?

If you suffered an injury due to an accident in a pub, you might be able to claim compensation. To find out if you can make a claim, all you need to do is call 0800 470 0474 or arrange a callback for a free case assessment. A solicitor will take on your case if they can prove the following:

• The pub’s operator owed you a duty of care;
• Their negligence caused an accident or incident to happen;
• You suffered an injury as a result of that accident within the past three years.

You do not have to worry about proving a legal duty of care, as your personal injury solicitor will be able to do this by referring to the relevant legislation. Once liability is established, they will contact the defendant to inform them of your intentions to make a pub accident claim. If they admit their fault, your solicitor can begin to negotiate your personal injury compensation. Otherwise, your solicitor will be ready to issue court proceedings and argue your claim based on the available evidence.

What evidence do I need to support my compensation claim?

If you want to sue a pub for negligence, you must be able to show how your accident occurred, the injuries you suffered and how they have affected your life. The types of evidence you can use to support a pub injury compensation claim include:

• Photographic evidence. Take clear pictures of the accident scene, showing any hazards that contributed to the injury, such as wet floors, poor lighting or broken furniture. It would help if you also photographed your injuries after the incident and as they heal.
• CCTV footage. Request any available CCTV footage from the pub that captured the incident. This can provide objective evidence of what happened.
• Witness statements. Ask for the names and contact details of anybody who saw the accident or the conditions that led to it. Their accounts can support your version of events.
• Accident reports. Make sure to report the accident to the pub management immediately and request a signed copy of the accident book entry. This report should detail the time, date, location, and nature of the incident.
• Medical records. Seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if your injuries do not seem severe. Your solicitor will obtain a copy of your medical records to prove the type and severity of the harm you suffered and the treatments you received.
• Expert testimony. In some cases, you may need an expert to testify about the safety standards that should have been in place and how the pub failed to meet these standards. Your solicitor may also arrange a free medical exam with a specialist who will link your injuries to the accident at the pub and assess their long-term consequences.
• Maintenance records. If possible, your lawyer will obtain copies of the pub’s maintenance and cleaning records to show whether they followed the safety standards.
• Personal notes. Write a detailed account of the accident as soon as possible while your memory is fresh. You should also keep track of your injuries and how they have affected your work and daily life.
• Financial evidence. Keep evidence of all the economic losses you want to include in your pub injury claim, such as prescriptions or care costs.

Can I make a pub injury claim as a pub or bar employee?

If you work in a pub, bar or nightclub, your employer must take all reasonable measures to keep you safe from harm. Their specific duties are established by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and include:

• Conduct regular risk assessments to identify risks that may lead to workplace accidents;
• Put in place measures to minimise or eliminate identified risks;
• Ensure all employees receive training on safe work practices, emergency procedures, proper use of equipment, and manual handling;
• Ensure that inexperienced staff are adequately supervised until they are fully competent in their roles;
• Provide a safe working environment that is clean and free from hazards;
• Ensure that all equipment, such as glass washers, beer taps, and kitchen appliances, are in good working order and regularly maintained;
• Provide ergonomically designed workstations to prevent repetitive strain injuries;
• Supply employees with necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves for handling broken glass or cleaning chemicals, and ensure they use it correctly;
• Have a system in place for reporting and recording accidents, injuries, and near-misses.

If you suffered any injury due to a breach of these duties, you may be able to make an accident at work claim. This is your legal right, and your employer cannot sack you or discipline you in any way for seeking pub injury compensation. If they retaliate, you can potentially make a further claim at an employment tribunal.

Common situations leading to pub and bar accident claims

Whether you are a customer or a member of staff, a pub accident can be traumatic and cause long-lasting injuries. Examples of situations that can lead to a pub injury claim include:

• Slips, trips and falls. These are the most common types of accidents in public places and can be caused by hazards such as spillages, poor lighting, cluttered walkways or defective flooring.
• Faulty furniture. Faulty chairs, bar stools or tables can collapse under a person’s weight, causing them to fall. Sharp edges or protruding parts of broken furniture can also cause injuries such as cuts and lacerations.
• Criminal assaults. If you have been roughly handled by a member of the staff or assaulted by another customer, you may be able to make a claim under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).
• Poor hygiene standards. Many pubs also serve food to their patrons besides drinks. If safety standards are not followed and the food is not properly stored and cooked, this can pose health risks and lead to food poisoning.
• Overcrowding. Excessive crowding in the venue can lead to crush injuries. Overcrowding can also make it difficult to move around freely, increasing the risk of trips and falls.
• Falling objects. Objects falling from shelves, ceilings or walls can hit patrons or staff on the head or other body parts, causing severe injuries.
• Broken glass. Broken glass shards can cause deep cuts and lacerations if someone steps or falls onto them. These injuries may result in significant bleeding and permanent scars.

If you were injured in a pub due to any of these or other situations where the landlord, brewery or pub owner may have been negligent, do not hesitate to seek legal advice and find out if you may be entitled to make a claim.

What injuries could lead to a pub accident claim?

Pub accidents can lead to various injuries for which it may be possible to claim compensation, such as:

• Cuts and lacerations. Customers and staff can suffer cuts and lacerations from broken glass or sharp edges on furniture and fixtures.
• Burns and scalds. Such injuries can occur from spilling hot drinks like coffee or tea or from steam or hot surfaces in the kitchen.
• Sprains and strains. Sprains and strains may result from lifting heavy objects like kegs without proper technique or from slipping and falling.
• Broken bones. Slips, trips and falls on wet or uneven floors can lead to broken bones, especially if you fall from a height.
• Head injuries. Head injuries can happen if you hit your head due to a fall or you are struck by a falling object, such as a loose fixture.
• Allergic reactions. Allergic reactions might occur if you are exposed to allergens in food or drink that are not adequately disclosed on the menu.
• Food poisoning. Food poisoning can result from eating improperly stored, handled, or cooked food served at the pub.
• Electric shocks. Faulty electrical equipment or exposed wiring can cause electric shocks to staff or customers who come into contact with them.

You may be eligible to make a pub accident claim if you suffered any of these or other injuries due to someone else’s negligence.

What is the time limit to make a personal injury claim?

In most cases, the time limit to make a personal injury compensation claim is three years following an accident. After this period has passed, the court will no longer accept your case, even if it has merit. For this reason, we would encourage you to seek legal advice as soon as possible, which will also help your solicitor gather the necessary evidence to support your claim.

There are a few exceptions that apply to this rule:

• If you were under 18 at the time of injury, the three years will only begin to run on your 18th birthday.
• If you cannot start a claim due to a brain injury or another condition that affects your mental capacity, the time limit is put on hold. A litigation friend could claim on your behalf at any time.
• You have two years to claim through the CICA if you suffered a criminal injury.

How much compensation can I claim if I’m injured in a pub?

Each pub accident claim is unique, so the compensation you may receive will be calculated based on your specific losses. These are typically grouped into two types of damages:

General damages are intended to compensate for the non-monetary aspects of the injury, which can include:

• The physical pain and emotional distress caused by the injury
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• The inability to engage in hobbies, sports, or other activities that you enjoyed before the injury
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of consortium or companionship

Special damages compensate for the monetary losses incurred because of the injury, such as:

• The cost of private treatments, such as medication or surgery
• Physical therapy or any ongoing medical care
• The income lost due to time off work because of the injury
• Future loss of earnings if you suffered a permanent disability
• Costs of travel to and from medical appointments
• Costs of care or assistance required because of the injury, whether provided by professional caregivers or family members

It is essential to keep detailed records and receipts of all related expenses and losses to support a claim for special damages. General damages will be calculated based on the type and severity of your injury and the guidelines from the Judicial College. You can find out more about how much compensation you could be entitled to claim for a pub-related injury by checking out our compensation calculator.

Will a personal injury solicitor help me make a claim on a No Win No Fee basis?

If you have grounds to claim pub injury compensation, your solicitor will work on a no win no fee basis. You will not have to pay any upfront fees, and you will not be taking any financial risks. Also known as a conditional fee agreement (CFA), the no win no fee service works like this:

• If you make a successful claim, your solicitor will receive a success fee of up to 25% of your pub injury compensation.
• If your claim is unsuccessful, you do not have to pay them a penny.

Furthermore, you do not have to worry about the costs and disbursements incurred during litigation either. If you lose the claim, these will be covered by the After the Event (ATE) insurance policy included in your arrangement. The ATE will cover court fees, travel expenses, expert witness fees and the defendant’s solicitors, to name a few.

To find out if you can start a pub injury compensation claim, arrange a free case assessment today by calling free on 0800 470 0474 or using our online contact form.

Last edited on 15th Jul 2025

With over 15 years’ experience in the legal sector, Nicholas Tate (LLB Hons, LLM in Health Law) has extensive experience across all areas of personal injury and medical negligence claims.