Public Liability
Lawyers Queensland.
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Can I sue for a public liability injury in Queensland?
Yes. If you were injured on someone else's property or in a public space due to their negligence — a slip, fall, or unsafe premises — you can make a public liability claim. Queensland has a 3-year limitation period from the date of the injury.
Businesses, councils and property owners owe you a duty of care. When they fail it — and you're injured — a public liability claim holds them accountable. We act for injured people across across Queensland on a 100% No Win, No Fee basis.
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"I won't trust anyone else other than AMK Compensation Lawyers. They are compassionate, caring and provide a personal, human touch in tough situations. They made sure to provide the best outcome and actually over-achieved and got a better result due to their knowledge and long standing within the industry."
"I truly believe that if it was not for Michael and his team at AMK Compensation Lawyers, I might not be here writing this review today. Michael is an incredibly smart man and has worked as a defence lawyer for the insurers before starting his own firm. He foresaw and knew every tactic they used before they used it. To this day I am still blown away how Michael and AMK Compensation Lawyers got the insurer to a really good settlement when I was backed into a corner. I am forever grateful."
"Thank you to all the team at AMK Compensation Lawyers for all your support. Michael has a ton of knowledge and has led and guided me throughout the whole process. Thank you Michael — your knowledge allowed me to get a good result. Highly recommend."
"Michael Singh was an incredible help during a very difficult recovery. He was patient, kind, and professional, providing a no-nonsense assessment that honestly accounted for both the physical injuries and the mental health toll. It's rare to find a lawyer who handles every single detail personally. If we could give more than 5 stars, we would do it in a heartbeat."
"AMK Compensation Lawyers were very supportive in my matter. The teamwork across the firm was excellent. Their communication was clear at every step and I would be more than happy to work with them again."
"When I had a motor vehicle accident, I was very scared and confused. After I talked to Mr. Michael Singh, I knew I'd be in good hands. From day one the level of communication and guidance was really outstanding. I am eternally grateful to Michael, Michelle and the team for everything they did. Moving forward after the accident feels easy with AMK Compensation Lawyers."
"Michael Singh is very friendly and patient, even with my limited English background. Such amazing help with my work injury. Very, very honest and humble man. I am very grateful to him and his team for their immense help and the outcome they helped me bring about. Highly recommend for anyone needing help with work or car injuries."
"Have been using AMK Compensation Lawyers for the last 18 months for my business, and they are very professional with quick turnarounds."
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What Is A Public Liability Claim?
A public liability claim is a compensation claim against the person or business that controls a space where you were injured — a shopping centre, supermarket, park, rental property, venue or event — for failing to take reasonable care for your safety.
Claims run under the Civil Liability Act 2003 and are paid by the occupier's public liability insurer. They cover medical expenses, lost income, care and pain and suffering, assessed the same way as other Queensland injury claims.
Who Is Liable If You're Injured In A Public Place?
Whoever owed and breached the duty of care — which can be the occupier, the cleaning contractor, the event organiser, the body corporate or the council, and sometimes more than one of them. Identifying the right defendant early is half the battle.
In James v USM Events, a duathlon competitor injured in a collision recovered $1,062,351 from the event organiser. In Cullen v NSW, police were held liable for knocking down a bystander at a protest — $800,000. The defendant isn't always who you'd first guess.
What Do You Have To Prove In A Public Liability Claim?
That the occupier breached its duty of reasonable care — and that the breach caused your injury. Occupiers aren't liable for every accident: courts have dismissed claims where the risk was obvious or the inspection system was reasonable.
The honest picture matters: in Townsville City Council v Hodges, the council won on appeal because its park inspection regime was reasonable; in Blue OP Partner v De Roma, a trip claim failed because the pit lid was an obvious risk. We'll give you a frank view of which side of that line your claim sits on — see our public liability recent cases for both outcomes.
What Are The Time Limits For Public Liability Claims In Queensland?
Court proceedings must generally start within 3 years of the injury — but the pre-court process under the Personal Injuries Proceedings Act requires notice to the defendant much earlier: within 9 months of the incident, or 1 month of consulting a lawyer.
More urgent than any legal deadline is the evidence: CCTV is routinely overwritten within days or weeks, hazards get fixed, and witnesses scatter. Report the incident, photograph everything, and get advice in the first week if you can.
Does Contributory Negligence Reduce Your Claim?
It can. If your own inattention contributed — not watching where you were going, ignoring warning signs — your damages are reduced by your share of responsibility, not eliminated.
In Rodd v Hall, a motel guest who slipped on wet tiles recovered $470,690, reduced by 20% for failing to keep a proper lookout. Insurers push these reductions aggressively; we push back with the evidence.
Public Liability Lawyers By Location.
Public Liability Lawyers Serving Brisbane
AMK handles public liability claims — slips, falls and injuries in Brisbane shopping centres, council spaces and commercial premises. Visit our public liability lawyers Brisbane page for Brisbane-specific information.
Injured in a public place in Ipswich?
If you were injured in a public place in the Ipswich area — a shopping centre, park, council facility, or business premises — our personal injury lawyers in Ipswich handle public liability claims across the region. No Win, No Fee. See our public liability lawyers Ipswich page for local detail.
Frequently Asked Questions.
I was injured at a rental property. Can I claim?
Yes — landlords and agents owe tenants and visitors a duty to keep premises reasonably safe. Unsafe stairs, broken railings, and known hazards left unrepaired ground claims, though courts won't impose liability for slight, obvious risks (Russell v Carpenter).
Can I claim for a dog attack?
Yes. In Queensland, dog owners are generally strictly liable for injuries their dog causes — you usually don't even need to prove negligence. Claims commonly run against the owner's home and contents insurance.
What if I was injured at a private home?
Injuries at private homes can be claimable against the homeowner's insurance where negligence is involved. These claims need sensitive handling — the defendant is often someone you know — but remember it's their insurer who pays.
The business denies anything happened. What now?
This is why same-day reporting and photographs matter. Even without an incident report, claims succeed on medical records, witness evidence and CCTV preservation requests — but every day of delay helps the insurer.
Is the council liable for footpath trips?
Sometimes. Councils are liable for hazards they knew or ought to have known about, judged against a reasonable inspection regime — they're not automatically liable for every crack. Photograph the defect and its surrounds immediately; these claims are won and lost on that evidence.
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