Zoo Accident Claims

Visiting a zoo is typically considered a fun and educational activity for children and adults alike. In most cases, it makes for a great day out. However, when adequate safety measures are not in place, accidents can occur, resulting in various injuries to staff and visitors. These include sprains, strains, lacerations, back injuries, food poisoning, and even broken bones.

If you, your child or another loved one were injured in an accident at the zoo, you may be able to make a claim for compensation. The following guide provides more information about how and when you can start a zoo accident claim and get the compensation you deserve.

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Table of Contents

• Duty of care of zoos towards visitors
• Common accidents that could happen at a zoo
• Am I eligible to make a zoo accident claim?
• What injuries could you suffer at a zoo?
• Types of zoo negligence that could lead to a personal injury claim
• Steps to take if you are injured at a zoo
• Can I make a claim as a zoo employee?
• Can I make a zoo accident compensation claim on behalf of my child?
• How much compensation could I claim for an accident at a zoo?
• Time limit to claim compensation if you're injured at the zoo
• Start your claim with a No Win No Fee solicitor

Duty of care of zoos towards visitors

Various laws and regulations are in place to protect anyone who enters a zoo. The owner or occupier of premises must abide by multiple legislation to protect the health and safety of visitors, including the Occupiers Liability Act 1957 and the Zoo Licensing Act 1981. Their duties include:

• Carry out regular risk assessments to identify hazards that could cause accidents and injuries;
• Maintain safe premises that are free from hazards that could cause incidents, such as slippery surfaces, loose railings, or broken fences;
• Ensure the animal enclosures are secure;
• Provide clear signage to warn visitors of potential risks and instructions on how to behave in specific areas;
• Train staff on how to adequately handle animals, handle emergencies, and ensure the safety of visitors;
• Have a valid license to operate the zoo, ensuring compliance with safety and animal welfare standards.

If you had an accident at a zoo due to a breach of the zoo’s duty of care, you may be eligible to claim personal injury compensation.

Common accidents that could happen at a zoo

If adequate safety measures are not in place, various accidents could happen at zoos, including:

• Slips, trips, and falls can be due to slippery surfaces, uneven ground, or obstacles left in walkways. They can result in various injuries, including lacerations, broken bones, and back injuries.
• Animal attacks can result from a lack of barriers or animals escaping enclosures. These can result in bites, scratches, lacerations, and other more severe injuries.
• Infections or illnesses caused by animals can be due to direct contact with infected animals, indirect contact with contaminated surfaces, or environmental exposure. Some diseases you could contract at a zoo include salmonella, toxoplasmosis, and avian influenza.
• Food and drink-related incidents include burns, scalds, poisoning, and allergic reactions. These can be caused by inadequate food storage, inadequate hygiene, or other causes.
• Vehicle accidents can include collisions with zoo transport vehicles or between visitors in parking areas. These can be due to driver error, poor vehicle maintenance, potholes, and inadequate signage within the zoo.
• Contact with hazardous substances can involve exposure to chemicals used for cleaning, pesticides, animal waste, and other dangerous materials. These can cause burns, allergic reactions, illnesses, and other injuries.
• Accidents involving fairground rides can be due to mechanical failures, poor maintenance, operator error, and other hazards. These can result in severe injuries, such as broken bones and head trauma.

If you suffered an injury as a result of the zoo’s negligence, you may be able to claim zoo accident compensation.

Am I eligible to make a zoo accident claim?

If you suffered as a result of an accident in a zoo, you may be eligible for compensation. A personal injury solicitor will take on your case if they can prove the following:

• Another party, such as the zoo owner, owed you a duty of care;
• They were negligent and caused an accident;
• You were injured at a zoo due to their negligence within the past three years.

If all these apply to your case, you will be able to claim compensation for your pain, suffering and any related financial losses.

A duty of care will be established based on legislation such as the ones mentioned above. Once liability is established and you have enough evidence to support your case, your solicitor will contact the defendant to inform them of your intentions.

If they admit liability, your solicitor will start to negotiate your zoo accident compensation award. Otherwise, your solicitor will be ready to issue court proceedings and argue your claim in court.

What injuries could you suffer at a zoo?

An accident in a zoo could lead to various injuries or illnesses, such as:

• Puncture wounds can be due to animal bites, sharp edges, broken glass, rusty nails, or other similar hazards and can lead to infections and other illnesses;
• Allergic reactions can result from improperly labelled food sold at the zoo or from contact with animal dander, mould, and other irritants;
• Food poisoning can be due to contaminated water or poor hygiene standards in zoo food courts and can cause severe sickness;
• Lacerations can result from animal attacks, falls, or sharp objects and can lead to permanent scarring or infections if not properly treated;
• Burns and scalds can be caused by hot food and beverages or contact with chemicals or electrical equipment;
• Bone fractures can be due to slips, trips and falls, animal encounters, accidents involving fairground rides or vehicle incidents;
• Head injuries can be caused by slips and trips, falls from a height, being hit by falling objects and other incidents and can have severe long-term consequences;
• Back injuries can be the result of falls, carrying heavy objects, defective structures and vehicle collisions;
• Sprains and strains can result from slips, trips, falls, collisions, and other incidents that overstretch or tear muscles, ligaments, or tendons.

Regardless of the physical injury or illness you suffered, if it was due to someone else’s negligence, you could be entitled to recover compensation for your losses.

Types of zoo negligence that could lead to a personal injury claim

Various types of negligence could lead to a successful zoo injury claim, including:

• Poor maintenance of premises, leading to hazards such as slippery floors or broken fences;
• Not providing sufficient training to staff on how to handle animals, use equipment or respond to emergencies;
• Lack of proper warning signs to inform visitors of dangerous areas, hazards and unsafe substances;
• Not providing enough staff to supervise visitors, especially in areas where interaction with animals is allowed;
• Poor security measures to keep unauthorised people from entering restricted areas;
• Using faulty equipment, such as barriers, locks or protective gear;
• Mishandling or improperly storing chemicals used for cleaning or animal care;
• Not providing sufficient first aid facilities or trained personnel to handle injuries that occur on the premises;
• Serving contaminated or improperly prepared food and drinks;
• Ignoring or not addressing known hazards, such as damaged enclosures or unsafe walkways;
• Hiring staff without the necessary qualifications, experience or background checks.

Negligence in any of these areas can lead to accidents and injuries for which you may be eligible to claim compensation.

Steps to take if you are injured at a zoo

If you have an accident at a zoo, there are several steps you should take. These involve gathering evidence to show what happened and how your injuries have affected your life. For instance, you should:

• Take photographs that capture any hazards that contributed to your accident before anything is moved or repaired;
• Take photos of visible injuries such as cuts, lacerations or bruising;
• Report the accident to the zoo and ask for a signed copy of the accident report that will provide the date, time and location of your incident;
• Seek immediate medical care for your injuries, which will ensure you will make the best possible recovery. Your medical records will be essential to show the type and extent of the injuries you suffered;
• Ask for the names and contact details of any witnesses who can provide details about what happened and support your claim;
• Keep a diary of your recovery and any workdays and events you had to miss due to your injuries;
• Keep evidence of financial losses and expenses, such as medical bills, lost wages, or care costs during recovery.

If you want to make a zoo accident claim, you should also seek legal advice as soon as possible by calling the freephone 0800 470 0474. If your case has merit, a no win no fee solicitor will help you get the compensation you deserve at no risk to you.

Can I make a claim as a zoo employee?

If you work at a zoo, your employer must take all reasonable measures to protect your safety while doing your job. They must adhere to the regulations imposed by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1957, which include:

• Carry out regular risk assessments to identify and mitigate potential risks of accidents and injuries;
• Maintain the premises in a safe condition to prevent accidents such as slips, trips and falls;
• Provide sufficient information and training on the safe handling of animals, proper use of equipment, and emergency procedures;
• Make sure employees have the necessary protective equipment (PPE) to do their jobs safely, such as gloves, protective clothing and dust masks;
• Ensure that all equipment and machinery, including cages and barriers, are regularly inspected and in good working condition.

If you were injured at a zoo due to your employer’s negligence, it is your right to make an accident at work claim. Under unfair dismissal laws, your employer cannot sack you or retaliate in any other way following your claim. If they do, you can potentially make a further claim at an employment tribunal and receive compensation for unfair dismissal or discrimination.

Can I make a zoo accident compensation claim on behalf of my child?

If your child was injured at a zoo, you could make a personal injury claim and seek compensation on their behalf. Your solicitor will help you fill in and file all the documents you need to be named as their litigation friend by the court. Once appointed, you will have several responsibilities, which include:

• Deal with correspondence and sign legal documents
• Liaise with solicitors and take legal advice
• Pay any fees requested by the court
• Make decisions about the case that are in your loved one’s best interests
• Consider any compensation offers from the defendant

If you win compensation for a zoo accident on behalf of your child, the settlement must be approved by a judge during a court hearing. Afterwards, it will be transferred to a court bank account or a personal injury trust and released to the child on their 18th birthday.

How much compensation could I claim for an accident at a zoo?

The compensation payment you could receive if you were injured in a zoo accident will depend on the losses incurred. Your solicitor will consider two types of damages to determine the amount of compensation you deserve:

• Special damages refer to compensation for financial losses that can be precisely quantified based on evidence, such as receipts and payslips. These include private medical treatments, prescriptions, loss of earnings during recovery, and care costs.
• General damages refer to compensation for subjective losses that are more difficult to quantify, such as physical pain, emotional suffering, reduced quality of life, and loss of consortium. These are based on the Judicial College guidelines, details of which can be found on our compensation calculator.

Time limit to claim compensation if you’re injured at the zoo

If you were injured at the zoo due to someone else’s negligence, you typically have three years to start a compensation claim from the date of your accident. After three years have passed, your case will be classed as statute-barred under the Limitation Act and will no longer be valid. Some exceptions apply:

• If you developed an illness or your injuries did not become immediately apparent, the time starts to run from the date you became aware of the harm you suffered (known as the date of knowledge).
• A parent can start a child injury claim at any time before the child’s 18th birthday. After turning 18, they have three years to start a claim themselves, provided a claim has not already been made on their behalf.
• If the injured party cannot conduct legal proceedings, a litigation friend can make a zoo injury claim on their behalf at any time. This could be due to a zoo accident or a pre-existing condition such as schizophrenia, Dementia or Down syndrome.
• If you lost a loved one following an injury at the zoo, you have three years to start a claim from the date they passed away.

Start your claim with a No Win No Fee solicitor

If you have a valid zoo accident compensation claim, your solicitor will offer you a no win no fee service. You will not have to pay any upfront fees, meaning you can start a claim regardless of your financial situation. If you win, your solicitor gets a success fee, which is capped at 25% of your compensation award. If you lose, you do not have to pay them anything.

As further protection, you will also have After the Event (ATE) insurance against the costs incurred during litigation. If you lose, the ATE will cover your court fees, the cost of medical reports, expert witness fees, and other disbursements. It will also cover the defendant’s expenses and solicitor costs, so you will not be left out of pocket.

To find out if you have a valid zoo injury claim, do not hesitate to contact us by calling 0800 470 0474 for a free consultation or entering your details to request a call back.

Last edited on 7th Aug 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.