Injury & Compensation
Public liability lawyers act for people injured in shops, public places and on other people's property.
Claims arise from slips and falls, unsafe premises, and injuries at events or on council land. You generally need to show the occupier failed to take reasonable care. Evidence such as photos, witnesses and incident reports is important.
People injured in shops, on footpaths or at events may be entitled to compensation, but evidence disappears quickly.
Public liability claims are brought in negligence under each state's civil liability legislation, which sets thresholds for damages and defences such as obvious risk. Claims against councils have particular rules.
Public Liability firms in the directory
361 firms
Maitland, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Wiggins Cheffings Lawyers provides legal services in Maitland, NSW. Listed practice areas include Public Liability, Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP and Medical Negligence.
Understand the next step
Explain where the incident happened, who may control the premises and what was reported at the time. A lawyer will need to assess the facts and evidence rather than infer responsibility from the fact of an injury.
Ask about the cost and practicality of investigating responsibility before committing to a full claim.
Provide a chronology, relevant locations and employer or insurer details, together with forms and decisions already received.
Discuss medical, employment, incident and expense records. Ask who will obtain reports and how access, privacy and expert costs will be managed.
Have any offer, assessment or release explained before agreeing. Clarify what a resolution would cover and whether related claims need separate advice.
Ask for the written meaning of no win, no fee, including expenses, any uplift and possible other costs. The phrase alone is not enough to compare arrangements.
Ask for a written scope identifying the work you are authorising, the person responsible and when costs will be reviewed. If you only want advice on one step, say so before the firm begins wider work.
Ask early about notice, claim and review limits in the relevant scheme. Keep the incident date and every insurer decision available for assessment.
Directory guidance updated 19 September 2026. General information to help you prepare for a conversation with a professional; not advice about your individual matter. Check current requirements with the relevant authority.
Good to know
Report it, photograph the hazard, get witness details and see a doctor. Keep receipts for expenses.
You pay the lawyer's professional fees only if the claim succeeds. You may still be responsible for costs such as medical reports, and in some cases the other side's costs, so ask for a written costs agreement.
Simple claims can settle within months. Claims involving serious injuries usually wait until your condition has stabilised so the full impact can be assessed, which can take a year or more.