Over the years Parliament has enacted Laws which provide for the protection of our health and safety.
The Occupiers Liability Act 1957 imposes a duty on people occupying property (for example as owners or tenants) to take reasonable steps to ensure that visitors to their premises are not injured. This does not mean that every accident is somebody else’s fault. The law requires the occupier of a premises to take reasonable care of their visitors. Examples where we have proved liability would include cases where floor surfaces have been polished so they are extremely slippy and dangerous, hatches have been left uncovered and people have fallen, signs have fallen onto peoples heads, lights have not worked and people have fallen down steps.
Matthew Winder, our personal injury solicitor, has proved liability in many occupiers liability claims. These cases include accidents where people have suffered injuries as a result of the following:
- Loose carpets on steps in cinemas
- No hand rails on steps
- No slip resistant mats in shop doorways
- Hatches left uncovered and open
- Large potholes in car parks
- Slippery floors caused by leaking radiators or fridges
- The lights have gone out – failure to light steps and other hazards
- Building collapsing on pedestrians
