Injuries in public places
For people injured in shops, malls, parks, pavements and other publicly accessible places because of unsafe conditions.
What this covers — and what it doesn't
Occupiers and owners of places open to the public — shops, centres, venues, walkways — have a duty to take reasonable steps to keep those places safe. When they fail and someone is hurt, the injured person may have a claim.
An injury on someone's premises does not automatically establish liability. What matters is evidence of the conditions: what caused the hazard, whether the occupier knew or should have known about it, what warnings or steps were in place, and how the injury followed. That is exactly the evidence that vanishes fastest — spills are mopped, footage is overwritten, incident books go quiet.
We investigate the incident, identify the liable parties — owners, occupiers, managing agents or contractors — and pursue compensation for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost income and other losses caused by the negligence.
- A slip on a spill or polished surface in a shop or mall
- A trip on broken paving, potholes or obstructions
- Falling objects or collapsing fixtures
- Injuries at entertainment venues, schools or sports facilities
- Inadequate lighting, barriers or warnings contributing to an injury
Examples only — never a conclusive legal test. Whether a claim exists always depends on the facts and evidence of the specific matter.
What to keep safe, starting now
- Report the incident to management immediately and ask that it be recorded in the incident book
- Photograph the exact spot, the hazard and the wider area before it changes
- Ask for the names of staff who attended and any witnesses
- Request that CCTV footage be preserved — it is often overwritten within days
- Keep the shoes and clothing you wore, unwashed and unrepaired
- Keep all medical records and accounts
Incident records, CCTV footage and the condition of the scene disappear quickly, and claims against municipalities involve statutory notice with short deadlines. Act early.
Leshilo Attorneys Incorporated · 11 Rabe Street, Corner President Paul Kruger Street, Polokwane Central, Polokwane · 015 280 0070 · leshiloattorneys.com
The path to resolution
High-level stages — matters differ, experts may be involved, and honest uncertainty is part of proper advice.
Fees are agreed in writing before work starts — no verbal fee promises, here or anywhere. Depending on the matter, regulated contingency ("no win, no fee") arrangements may be available, subject to the legal caps and formalities. How fees work, in plain language.
Tell us what happened
The place, the hazard, who was told, and the injuries that followed.
Evidence preservation
We move quickly on CCTV, incident records and scene evidence before they disappear.
Liability analysis
We establish who controlled the premises and whether reasonable steps were taken.
Claim and resolution
A claim against the responsible parties and their insurers, negotiated or litigated as needed.
- I was hurt on municipal property. Is that different?
- Yes — claims against municipalities and organs of state involve statutory notice requirements with short time limits, so the matter must be assessed quickly.
- The shop says I should have watched where I was going. Does that end the claim?
- No. Arguments about your own care are common and are weighed against the occupier's duty to keep the premises reasonably safe. Evidence of the conditions decides these disputes — which is why preserving it early matters.
Answers last reviewed 15 July 2026 · Jurisdiction: South Africa · see the disclaimer.
Who works on these matters
From the briefing room
Injured in a shop or public place: how occupier liability actually works
Being hurt on someone's premises does not automatically make them liable — and being told 'you should have looked where you were going' does not automatically end the claim. What the law weighs, and which evidence decides it.
The first 24 hours after an accident: what to record, keep and avoid
The evidence that decides injury claims is often created — or lost — in the first day. A practical, printable guide to protecting your health first and your claim second.
The confidential next step.
Call during office hours, or open a confidential enquiry — it reaches only authorised staff, never a marketing tool.
Submitting an enquiry does not create an attorney-client relationship. We confirm receipt, review conflicts and suitability, and agree any engagement in writing.
This page is general information, not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship exists until an engagement is agreed in writing. Outcomes depend on the facts, evidence and law of each matter, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Deadlines can be short — do not rely on this website to determine or preserve them.