Have you been injured on public, private, commercial or retail property? Our expert team of public liability claim lawyers will fight for the compensation you deserve.

Public Liability Claims

If you have been injured on public, private, commercial or retail property you might not know where to turn for help. When you are in pain and suffering financial stress from not being able to work, it can be overwhelming to find out what your legal rights are. This is where Stacks Goudkamp can assist you. Public liability compensation claims cover a wide range of accidents, so you may well be entitled to compensation. Our friendly and knowledgeable public liability solicitors will talk through the circumstances of your accident and help you understand your rights.

In your free initial public liability claim assessment we will advise you on:

  • Whether you have a viable public liability claim
  • Who your public liability claim should be brought against
  • The time limits which apply
  • Who pays the legal fees
  • Explain our no win, no fee agreement
  • What your personal injury claim is likely to involve.
 

Common Places People Get Injured That Could Result In Public Liability Compensation

  • Injuries in shopping centres (Westfield, Stockland, etc)
  • Injuries in supermarkets (Woolworths, Coles, Aldi, IGA, etc)
  • Injuries in parks, leisure centres or other public places (footpaths, manholes, playgrounds, car parks etc.)
  • Injuries in private building (Gyms, pubs, clubs, hotels restaurants, office buildings, etc)
  • Injuries at schools or daycare centres
  • Injuries at worksites (contractors, etc)
  • Injuries from animals (dog bites and attacks)
  • Injuries in rental and private properties 
  • Recreational and sporting injuries 
  • Injuries on boats (ferry’s, private boats, charter boats, cruise ships, etc)
  • Injuries on aeroplanes and at airports
Why Stacks Goudkamp For You Public Liability Compensation Claim?

Tom Goudkamp and his team have extensive experience helping people make public liability claims in NSW and across all of Australia.

At Stacks Goudkamp, we pride ourselves on providing our clients with effective legal advice and keeping our clients informed throughout the entire personal injury claims process. Our public liability lawyers are responsible, approachable and committed to securing injured people the best compensation outcomes possible.

I would just like to thank Tom and Megan, as well as anyone who has been involved behind the scenes. From the get go you have all made me feel well informed & well supported. There was never a moment where I doubted that you all had my best interests at heart & that I could be confident

I would just like to thank Tom and Megan, as well as anyone who has been involved behind the scenes. From the get go you have all made me feel well informed & well supported. There was never a moment where I doubted that you all had my best interests at heart & that I could be confident

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in being guided by your recommendations. I personally have struggled with the process of continuously recounting my experiences and focusing on the prospective issues I am likely to have from my injuries, but I am glad that we all stuck it out to the end & got a result I am very happy with and thankful for.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Public Liability Compensation Claims

The value of each claim is different depending on –

  1. Your prospects of winning your case and 
  2. The seriousness of your injury. 

The amount of compensation you receive may ultimately be determined by a judge who hears the evidence and makes an award based on the losses you have incurred as a result of your injury. Most compensation claims settle before they reach a court hearing, so the value of your case is likely to be determined by the prediction that each side makes as to what a judge is likely to award. 

In order for your lawyer to make an accurate prediction, he or she will need to have access to all of the medical information that a judge can expect to receive.

Yes. The usual limitation period that applies to a public liability claim is three years from the date of your accident. There are some circumstances where that period can be extended, for example where you did not have a proper diagnosis of your injury or you were unable to identify the correct defendant. However, there is no guarantee that time will be extended and if you believe you have a claim we recommend you contact a lawyer to discuss your entitlements as soon as possible.

A public liability claim can be resolved immediately when both parties are willing to negotiate. More commonly claims may take between 12 months and 18 months and in cases involving very serious injuries it is not uncommon for them to exceed 24 months to resolve.

We do not charge you legal fees for your personal injury compensation matter unless you are successful. Success means that you either win your case in Court and a Judge makes you an award of compensation or the defendant makes you an offer that you choose to accept.

Your legal fees will be explained in detail at the outset of your case.

No. In a public liability claim, Stacks Goudkamp will ensure that the expenses incurred during the running of a claim are covered. At the resolution of your claim, those expenses will be itemised and will form part of any settlement negotiations.

Yes. The key to succeeding in a public liability claim is proving that another party was negligent and their negligence caused your accident. If your injury took place on someone else’s property there may be a specific act that the property owner or occupier took which caused your injury or there may have been an omission, for example a lack of maintenance to the property, which caused or contributed to your accident. 

If your claim is based on an allegation of negligent omission, then it is important to also establish that the occupier knew or should have known of the defect that ultimately caused your accident and that they had an opportunity to do something about it.

The vast majority of public liability cases resolve without the need to go to a court hearing. In rare instances, if you are not satisfied with the defendant’s settlement offer and you believe you can achieve a better result in court a hearing will be required. However, the current rate of cases that settle prior to a court hearing is well in excess of 90%. 

Will I receive compensation for pain and suffering? 

You are entitled to claim compensation for pain and suffering. This is referred to as ‘Non-Economic Loss’. 

The compensation you receive will depend on the seriousness of your injury and its consequences. It is calculated on a scale by reference to a ‘most extreme case’. An example of a most extreme case would be a young person who is made a quadriplegic or who sustains a very serious brain injury. 

Currently compensation for a most extreme case is in the region of $700,000. Compensation for all other injuries are scaled down from that amount. For example, if your injury is assessed by a Judge at 50% of a most extreme case, you will be awarded 50% of the maximum award.

You are entitled to claim compensation for pain and suffering. This is referred to as ‘Non-Economic Loss’.

The compensation you receive will depend on the seriousness of your injury and its consequences. It is calculated on a scale by reference to a ‘most extreme case’. An example of a most extreme case would be a young person who is made a quadriplegic or who sustains a very serious brain injury.

Currently compensation for a most extreme case is in the region of $700,000. Compensation for all other injuries are scaled down from that amount. For example, if your injury is assessed by a Judge at 50% of a most extreme case, you will be awarded 50% of the maximum award.

MEET THE TEAM

Tom Goudkamp OAM

Chairman
Tom is an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law. He has had over 40 years of experience successfully acting for seriously injured accident victims.

Julia Camus

Senior Associate
Julia has worked in various personal injury law firms since 2015 and has extensive knowledge and experience with representing injured victims across

Emily Yap

Lawyer
Emily is a talented and accomplished individual with an impressive background in law and language. Emily earned her Bachelor of Laws with Distinction in early 2023, solidifying her status as a high-achieving student.

What compensation can I claim?

You are entitled to claim all of the financial losses you have incurred as a result of your injury as well as compensation for your pain and suffering. You can also claim for the care you have received from your family and friends. There are some thresholds that have to be met and some restrictions on what you can claim. For example, the current award for pain and suffering cannot exceed $687,000.

Some of what you can claim includes:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Past and future treatment expenses
  • Past and future care provided by family and friends
  • Wage and income loss
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Such as:

The Stacks Goudkamp way

We are dedicated and the leading No Win, No Fee personal injury lawyers in NSW. For over 40 years, Stacks Goudkamp has been helping injured Australians to receive the compensation they need and deserve.

We are dedicated and the leading No Win, No Fee personal injury lawyers in NSW. For
over 40 years, Stacks Goudkamp has been helping injured Australians to receive the
compensation they need and deserve.

Reach Out

Call or Email us to start the process and to receive expert legal advice for personal injury or compensation claims. Seek the professional support you deserve on (02) 4058 2715 or enquire online through our website.

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We are just a call or email away. Do not struggle with complex personal injury claims processes and in dealing with insurance companies on your own. We are here to listen and to help you to get the compensation you deserve.

Free Initial Consultation

We will not charge you for a comprehensive initial consultation where we will listen to your needs and provide you with free detailed advice. Compassion is what drives us. You can be sure that your questions will be answered.

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Here, we will explain the next steps and what it takes to achieve the best possible outcome.

No Win, No Fee

We will not require you to pay our legal fees, or any expenses (disbursements), unless we win your personal injury claim i.e you receive compensation. We know that being injured can result in terrible financial pressures.

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We pride ourselves on giving every injured Australian the peace of mind that we will look after them by acting on a no win no fee basis for their compensation claims.

CONTACT US

Contact your local team for a free consultation to find out if you are eligible for compensation

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I could write a book as to how the last 4 years would have been different if not for Tom and his team.
The support, assistance, advice from the first conversation till even after the settlement was second to none from the team at Stacks Goudkamp.
Four years on and after many downs, my children and I have our lives back.
We are unable to THANK YOU enough, but know that you have changed our lives for the better in so many ways since the accident.