If you have suffered an injury in a petrol station accident, this guide explains if you could make a personal injury claim. Petrol stations can be hazardous places. Therefore, those in control of them must comply with the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 to prevent accidents in a public place like this.
In the following sections, we explain the duty of care an occupier or controller of a public space has towards those who visit it for its intended purpose. We also give some examples of how negligence on the part of the occupier could make them liable if you are harmed at a petrol station.
Below, you will find free advice about the type of evidence you can use to support your petrol station accident claim. Also, we explore the compensation that can apply if your claim is a success. Finally, we explain the advantages of starting a public liability claim for personal injury with an expert No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel.
Our advisors can assess the eligibility of your claim in one phone call. If it’s strong, they could connect you with a solicitor from our panel today. The free consultation carries no obligation. To learn more, you can:
- Call on 020 8050 2736 for advice on a personal injury claim.
- Contact us through our website for advice about petrol station accident claims.
- Use our Live Chat window below to see if you can claim compensation.
Select A Section
- Can I Make A Petrol Station Accident Claim?
- How Could A Petrol Station Accident Be Caused By Negligence?
- What Evidence Could Help You Claim For An Accident At A Petrol Station?
- Petrol Station Accident Claim Compensation Payouts
- Can I Use A No Win No Fee Solicitor To Claim For A Petrol Station Injury?
- More Resources About Making A Petrol Station Accident Claim
Can I Make A Petrol Station Accident Claim?
The first step in suing a party in charge of any public area like a petrol station is to confirm negligence. In tort law, negligence means:
- A duty of care applied at the time and place of injury.
- This duty was breached because health and safety procedures were not followed, and an accident occurred on a petrol station forecourt or in the petrol station.
- Because of this, you suffered physical and/or psychological harm. With all three points in place, you could be eligible to start a claim.
The Occupiers’ Liability Act places a duty of care on occupiers of public spaces; these are entities that have some control over the space, and it requires those in charge to ensure that visitors to their premises are kept reasonably safe. This can be achieved by regular risk assessments, maintenance checks and repairs and the usage of safety signage.
It can be possible to suffer an injury at a petrol station by the conduct of other road users. The focus of this guide is negligence on the part of the petrol station owner or company in charge. However, we can also help with claims for road traffic accidents on petrol station forecourts as well.
In the next section, we look at some examples of how a breach of duty might result in injury. If you have any questions so far or would like to discuss your specific case, call our advisors on the number above.
How Could A Petrol Station Accident Be Caused By Negligence?
Petrol stations can be busy places at all hours of the day or night. In addition to providing petrol and diesel, a petrol station may have a small shop that stocks a variety of food and drink and other sundries. Hazards that might result in a petrol station accident:
- An unattended or unmarked spillage in the petrol station or on the forecourt could cause someone to slip over and fracture a bone.
- Damaged or faulty petrol pump nozzles could spill flammable liquids over a customer, causing burns or allergies.
- Tripping on defective flooring in the petrol station could result in a fall accident. A person could suffer cuts, bruises or a serious head injury.
Petrol station accidents could happen for many reasons and not all of them may be the responsibility of the occupier. To check eligibility in your case, please connect with one of our advisors. Or if you have any other questions about public liability claims please feel free to get in touch.
What Evidence Could Help You Claim For An Accident At A Petrol Station?
To give petrol station injury claims the best chance of success, it’s important to gather evidence that shows negligence. To assist you with this, we have compiled a short list of actions that can help:
- Petrol stations usually have CCTV cameras, so you can request a copy of the footage which might show your accident.
- Take photographs of your visible injuries and the accident scene.
- Obtain copies of your medical records that show the injuries. This can include X-rays, scans and specialist reports.
- Request the contact details of any witnesses so that statements can be collected at a later date.
- Keep receipts for any costs you have incurred as a direct result of your petrol station injury.
Our panel of expert personal injury solicitors can help with the collection of evidence. Why not get in touch to see if you could start work with them on your claim?
Petrol Station Accident Claim Compensation Payouts
If your public liability claim is a success, how much compensation you will be awarded can be made of up to two amounts. The first head of claim is called general damages and this seeks to compensate you for the anguish and pain caused by the injuries. This can incorporate both physical and psychological harm.
You may be invited to an independent medical assessment. This will generate a medical report that can be used to give the clearest idea about the extent of your injury.
Furthermore, those who calculate the personal injury compensation amount for general damages can compare your medical report with injuries listed in the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This publication lists various award brackets for different types and severities of injuries but they are only guidelines. Each public liability claim settlement differs depending on the circumstances.
Guideline Compensation Table
| Injury Location on Body | Severity? | Notes | Award Bracket Guidelines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple Very Severe Injuries and Special Damages | Very Severe | Awards like this generally reflect very severe multiple injuries and the associated long-term loss of earnings or care costs needed. | Up to £250,000+ |
| Brain Damage | (b) Moderately Severe | A very serious disability effecting cognitive or physical ability and leaving a substantial level of dependence on others for basic needs. | £219,070 to £282,010 |
| Back | (a) Severe (i) | Typically reflective of the most severe types of spinal cord and nerve root injury which cause pain and paralysis issues, plus bladder or bowel impairement. | £91,090 to £160,980 |
| Neck | (a) Severe (ii) | Injuries that include fracture damage to the cervical part of the spine and cause loss of movement issues. | £65,740 to £130,930 |
| Leg | (b) Severe (iv) | Moderate multiple fracture or crush injuries to a single limb. Award depends on level of treatment required, as well as impact on employment. | £27,760 to £39,200 |
| Pelvis | (b) Moderate (i) | A significant pelvic injury but no great risk of any permanent disability is indicated for the future. | £26,590 to £39,170 |
| Arm | (c) Less Severe | Despite a significant level of disability, a substantial level of recovery takes place, or is expected to. | £19,200 to £39,170 |
| Elbow | (b) Less Severe | Injuries that cause a level of impaired function but will not necessitate major surgery or leave significant lasting disability. | £15,650 to £32,010 |
| Ankle | (c) Moderate | Fractures and tears to ligaments that cause less serious disabilities. Some examples are problems standing for prolonged periods or navigating stairs. | £13,740 to £26,590 |
| Knee | (b) Moderate (i) | Milder injuries that involve dislocation and tears in the cartilage or meniscus. | £14,840 to £26,190 |
Please be aware that the first line entry on our table does not come from the JCG.
Special Damages In A Petrol Station Injury Claim
The second head of loss that can form part of your settlement is called special damages. This aims to reimburse you for the financial losses and expenses caused by the petrol station injury.
To include special damages amounts, you will need to show receipts and payslips, or invoices and other documentation that shows these financial losses. You could be able to show issues such as:
- Loss of past or future earnings because you are unable to work.
- Medical expenses for treatments not available for free on the NHS.
- Prescription charges.
- Invoices that show any domestic care costs.
- Travel tickets to show essential transport costs.
Public liability solicitors on our panel will ensure all aspects of your petrol station accident claim are accounted for. Also, they can help you aim for a settlement that addresses all the impacts your injuries have caused you. If you would like to learn more about how a solicitor from our panel could help you, please get in touch. Our advisors can offer a free valuation of your claim as well.
Can I Use A No Win No Fee Solicitor To Claim For A Petrol Station Injury?
Firstly, it is important to point out that anyone is free to launch a public liability claim themselves and that legal representation is not an essential requirement. However, a claim for an injury in a public place can become complex and time-consuming. If you could entrust the process to a skilled expert, it could make the process less stressful.
The solicitors on our panel can provide their expert services through a version of the No Win No Fee contract. They may suggest a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This offers the following benefits to you:
- The solicitor won’t request a fee for their work upfront or for services provided as your claim develops.
- If the claim fails, the solicitor won’t ask for a fee for completed work on your claim.
- If the claim wins, a legally restricted success fee applies. This ensures you always receive the bulk of the compensation awarded.
The solicitors on our panel will ensure that your claim is launched within the personal injury claims time limit, which is usually three years from the date of injury.
Find out if you can make a petrol station accident claim by:
- Call on 020 8050 2736.
- Contact us through our website.
- Use our Live Chat window below to talk about a petrol station compensation claim.
More Resources About Making A Petrol Station Accident Claim
Below, you can find some more of our guides:
- Learn about pavement accident claims against the local authority in charge.
- In addition, read when compensation claims against the council could be valid.
- Read about how to claim for an accident in a shop that resulted in injuries.
Lastly, you may find these external resources useful:
- Here you can read what the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) recommends for petrol dispensing safety for employees.
- Also, this link looks at legislation for petrol station owners.
- Find out how to request CCTV footage of yourself from GOV.UK.
We hope this guide to a petrol station accident claim has helped. To ask any other questions about how a public liability solicitor from our panel could assist you, please get in touch at the number above.