Key advice when claiming for an accident in a pub, bar or club
- The operators and owners of bars, restaurants and other public venues must take reasonable steps to keep staff and patrons safe, such as safety barriers, removal of trip hazards, and processes to clear up wet floors and broken glass.
- You can claim if you were injured as a result of an owner's or staff member's negligence.
- You can claim if you were assaulted by a bouncer or bar staff.
- You can still claim if you were drunk at the time of your accident.
- You must start your claim within 3 years of the date of the accident - but the sooner you start your claim, the easier it will be to gather evidence and witness statements supporting your claim.
- Your compensation is based on how serious your injury is, and on your financial losses. Check our compensation calculator to see how much you could claim.
- You can start a claim with no win, no fee.
Accident in a pub or bar? We’ll help you seek justice and compensation
A night out at a pub or bar should be a time to relax and enjoy yourself, but accidents can happen. From slips on wet floors and broken glass to poorly maintained seating or even accidents caused by other patrons, injuries sustained in pubs or bars can result in serious harm.
Whether you've suffered cuts, bruises, fractures, or more severe injuries, you shouldn’t have to bear the consequences if the accident was caused by someone else’s negligence. You can make a No Win, No Fee compensation claim for your accident with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.
1/3 or all major injuries are from slips and trips - you are not alone
Injuries in pubs and bars happen relatively often. The combination of alcohol consumption with potentially hazardous conditions like slippery floors, poor lighting and broken glass, increase the likelihood of accidents.
Overcrowding, especially during peak hours or special events, can further increase the risk of injury.
Slips and trips (which are common in food and drink service environments) are responsible for over 1/3 of all reported major injuries (hse.gov.uk).
How much compensation can I claim for a pub or bar accident?
Compensation for an accident in a pub or bar will vary depending on:
- how serious the injury is,
- how your injury impacts both your daily life and your ability to work,
- any financial liabilities or costs you?ve incurred from the accident.
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General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA). Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.
Special damages are awarded to compensate you for any costs or losses you've incurred or might incur as a result of your accident. These costs might include lost earnings, bonuses and overtime, damage to clothing, or any other out of pocket expenses.
Special damages may also be awarded for medical treatments or procedures that you might need to treat your injury, including diagnostic imaging tests, physiotherapy and pain management.
Read more:
A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim
How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?
Average pub or bar injury general damages compensation table
The following pub or bar injury payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 17th Edition by the Judicial College (oup.com).
These tables are used by solicitors or by the courts as a starting point when calculating your compensation.
Please note: these average figures represent general damages only, and do not include any element of special damages (e.g. lost wages).
Ankle injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | Minor fractures, sprains, and ligament injuries with full recovery | Up to £15,250 |
| Moderate | A fracture or ligament injury with mild ongoing symptoms | £15,250 to £29,500 |
Digestive problems
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor | Pain, cramps and diahorea lasting days or weeks | £1,010 to £4,380 |
| Moderate | Food poisoning, cramps, and affected bowel function, with full recovery in one to two years | £4,380 to £10,580 |
| Serious | Serious food poisoning, possibly leading to toxicosis, hospital admission and IBS, affecting your work and quality of life | £42,640 to £58,250 |
Elbow injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery within 18 months | Simple fractures, cuts or injuries (e.g. tennis elbow) with no permanent symptoms | Up to £3,920 |
| Recovery between 18 to 36 months | Simple fractures, cuts or injuries (e.g. tennis elbow) with no permanent symptoms | Up to £7,210 |
| Recovery after 36 months | Simple fractures, cuts or injuries (e.g. tennis elbow) with no permanent symptoms or damage | Up to £13,970 |
Finger injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Relatively minor injury | Finger fractures that recover in under 6 months, and/or injuries with tenderness, pain in cold weather, or scarring | Up to £5,270 |
| Index finger fracture | Fracture fully heals, but with ongoing pain, disability and an increased risk of osteoarthritis | £10,110 to £13,570 |
| Finger fractures | Fractures that cause deformity, affect sensation, and/or have a long term affect on your grip and ability to use your hand | Up to £40,760 |
Hand injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) injuries to one or both hands | A fracture or break recovering within 6 months, and/or with scarring, tenderness and pain in cold weather | Up to £5,270 |
| Moderate injuries to one or both hands | Moderate crush injuries, penetrating wounds, or deep cuts | £6,280 to £14,730 |
| Moderate/serious injuries to one or both hands | Serious crush injury that causes impaired function andthat cannot be resolved with surgery | £16,040 to £32,170 |
Knee injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | E.g. dislocation, torn cartilage or meniscus, that could cause future symptoms or weakness, or that exacerbated an existing injury | Up to £15,250 |
| Moderate | More serious knee injuries with a greater risk of future symptoms, pain and weakness | £16,460 to £29,050 |
| Serious | E.g. a leg fracture that extends to the knee joint, or injuries that cause constant pain and restricted movement, and/or a risk of osteoarthritis or future knee surgery | £29,050 to £48,210 |
Leg injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Simple femur fracture | Simple femur fracture with no damage to articular surfaces | £10,110 to £15,620 |
| More serious fractures | Incomplete fracture recovery with ongoing symptoms | £19,930 to £30,800 |
Wrist injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lesser | Relatively minor soft tissue injury or displaced fracture, with a full recovery within 12 months | £3,920 to £5,260 |
| Moderate | Uncomplicated Colles' fracture | Around £8,250 |
| Moderate | Fracture or soft tissue injury with complete recovery | £6,750 to £11,480 |
Am I entitled to make a bar injury claim?
You have the right to claim compensation for a pub or bar accident, if:
- you were injured in the last 3 years, and;
- someone else was to blame, and;
- they owed a duty of care to prevent harm.
Find out online if you can claim with our injury claim calculator. Or you can call 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor. Find out in minutes if you have a claim.
What happens if I share some of the blame?
Figuring out who is legally at fault for an accident can sometimes be complex and nuanced.
According to our recent 2024 Public Liability Injury Claimant Survey, 17.45% of respondents thought that their actions could have contributed, either in part or wholly, to their injuries.
The legal term for cases where an injured person was (to some extent) responsible for their injuries is 'contributory negligence'. If there is fault on both sides of a claim, it is possible to pay reduced compensation on a split liability agreement.
Read more:
Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?
How long after a pub or bar injury do I have to start a claim?
An injury claim will usually need to be made within 3 years of the date or your accident or injury.
For injured children, a claim can be started by a parent or guardian at any time before they turn 18. Thereafter, the injured individual has until their 21st birthday to make a claim on their own.
How do I make a claim for an accident in a bar or pub?
If you have been injured in a pub, bar, club or restaurant and someone else was to blame, you may be able to claim financial compensation.
The process for claiming injury compensation will depend on how your injury happened.
Occupier's liability
Under the Occupiers Liability Act 1957, the owner or operator of any publicly accessible space has a duty of care to ensure the safety of any visitor. Accidents that occur as a result of company or occupier negligence are known as occupiers liability.
If you were injured in a pub or bar due to the negligence of the owner or operator, it may be possible to make a claim.
Read more:
Making a compensation claim for an accident in a public place
Accidents at work
According to the HSE, non-fatal injuries sustained by workers employed in the accommodation and food service industry are statistically significantly higher than the average rate across all industries.
Kitchen and bar environments mean that employees are sometimes at even higher risk than customers. If you have been injured working in a pub or bar, you would be able to pursue a claim against your employer.
A claim should still be possible even if you were working as a temp, via an agency or on a zero-hours contract.
Read more:
Making a work injury compensation claim
Criminal injuries
Injuries in bars, pubs, and nightclubs, often stemming from excessive alcohol consumption and resulting in fights, are unfortunately common. Such incidents are treated as criminal matters. Being a victim of violent crime can be particularly traumatic, leaving lasting physical and psychological impacts. It's important to report any attacks to the police immediately.
If you were a victims of an assault, you can seek compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICA), a government-funded program for victims of violent crimes in the UK. The scheme allows for compensation without a court trial, based on the 'balance of probabilities' rather than the criminal court's 'beyond reasonable doubt' standard.
Claims should ideally be made within two years of the attack, with early applications encouraged by the CICA.
Read more:
Making a compensation claim through the CICA.
Can I claim for PTSD or other psychological trauma?
Psychiatric harm is less obvious than physical injury, but the consequences can be just as difficult to deal with.
Our 2024 Public Place Injury Claimant Survey highlights that 29.03% of claimants reported they had suffered a psychological injury, 70.97% of which related to a physical injury.
Injuries in a pub or bar can cause anxiety in social situations, affecting social life and interactions.
Compensation for psychological harm can help you access mental health support and therapies not always available through the NHS.
Our compensation calculator can estimate your compensation for psychological injuries. Or you can call us on 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor.
Can I still make an injury claim if I was drunk?
Yes. You can still claim if you were drunk at the time of your accident.
Alcohol is often a factor in pub and bar injury claims. By law, premises must be suitable for their intended use and for intended users, including patrons under the influence of alcohol.
Safety measures could include suitable barriers and handrails on raised platforms and stairs, and regular checks for spills on dance floors and in bathrooms.
If it is found that a drunk claimant was partly responsible for their injuries, they can still claim compensation on a spilt-liability basis.
What should I do following an injury on a night out?
The following steps should be taken as soon as possible after the accident:
- gather witness statements, including names and addresses
- report the incident (e.g. in an accident book if injured at work)
- if you have been injured in a public place such as a shop, report the accident to the owner, management or local authority
- Report the incident to the police (if criminal)
It is worth doing as many of the above as possible - even if months have passed.
What was the cause of your injury?
Pub or bar injury claims are usually referred to as public place, or occupiers' liability, claims. Click on the icons below to learn more:
Can I make a no win, no fee pub or bar injury claim?
Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim pub or bar injury compensation without financial risk. If your claim isn't successful, you pay nothing. If you win, you only pay a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation.
Get expert advice now
Interested in talking to an injury specialist about your claim?
- Calls are FREE
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- No obligation to claim
- No Win No Fee solicitors
Call 0800 376 1001
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or arrange a callbackSources
Criminal injuries compensation: a guide - GOV.UK (reviewed: 27/07/2024)
Statistics - Industries (reviewed: 29/07/2024)
Why does it matter - Slips and trips - HSE (reviewed: 30/07/2024)
Author:
Howard Willis, Personal injury solicitor
About the author
Howard Willis qualified as a solicitor in 1984 and has specialised in personal injury for over 25 years. He is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and is a recognised Law Society Personal Injury Panel expert.