Advice On Making A Playground Accident Claim

Last Updated 11th November 2025. To be eligible to make a playground accident claim in the UK, you must prove that an injury was suffered due to the negligent actions or inactions of a third party, such as a council or private owner. We understand how distressing it can be for what should be a fun time to be anything but. If you or a loved one has endured the distress of being injured in a playground accident that wasn’t your fault, our advisors are here to help.

What You Need To Know About Playground Accident Claims

• Playground accidents are commonly caused by faulty or poorly maintained equipment.
• Failing to act on reports of hazards, such as the presence of syringes, can also lead to playground injuries.
• Falls from climbers and swings can lead to head injuries, fractures, and dislocations.
• A council, school, or another third party may be responsible for a playground injury, depending on who is in control of the space.
• Our specialist personal injury solicitors have supported families nationwide in navigating the playground accident claims process.

Our solicitors have a deep knowledge of the claims process and always take the time needed to ensure their clients get the help and guidance they need from start to finish. To make an enquiry today and find out how to claim with a solicitor from Advice, please contact us for free:

• Call 0161 509 2856
• Use our live chat
• Complete the online contact us form

Select A Section

• Children’s Playground Accident Compensation Payouts
• Example Case Study Of A Successful Playground Accident Claim
• What Is A Playground Accident Claim?
• What Duty Of Care Does A Playground Owner Owe Users?
• Types Of Accidents Which Could Happen In Playgrounds
• Protecting Children’s Compensation Settlements
• Make A No Win No Fee Playground Accident Claim
• Related Claims Guides
• Frequently Asked Questions About Playground Injury Claims

Children’s Playground Accident Compensation Payouts

Compensation for a successful playground accident claim can include general and special damages. General damages compensate for the pain and suffering the injured party has experienced.

Those who value a playground accident compensation case for general damages may look at the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) for reference. This document covers guideline compensation brackets for many different injuries. For guidance purposes only, you can view some of these compensation brackets in the list below. Note that the first entry is not based on the JCG:

• If you’re eligible to claim for multiple very severe injuries plus special damages, such as loss of earnings, then you may receive a payout of up to £1,000,000+.
• Should a fall result in a serious brain injury that leaves the person with very severe brain damage and little meaningful ability to interact with their environment, the compensation bracket is £344,150 to £493,000.
• When claiming for a hand injury that is severe enough to cause total or effective loss of one hand, the compensation bracket is £117,360 to £133,810.
• If claiming for a hand injury that involves serious damage to both hands, the compensation bracket is £68,070 to £103,200.
• For a serious hand injury, where finger amputations may have occurred and the hand’s functionality has been reduced by around 50%, the compensation amount is £35,390 to £75,550.
• When claiming for a very serious thumb injury, which usually means the thumb has been severed and reattached at the base and has lost functionality, the compensation bracket is £23,920 to £42,720.
• For a moderate back injury (ii), which can refer to different types of harm such as fractures or soft tissue damage, the compensation amount is £15,260 to £33,880.
• If claiming for a moderate foot injury, that may include a displaced fracture of one or several metatarsal bones, the payout is £16,770 to £30,500.
• If claiming for a minor head or brain injury, which means there’s minimal damage and a full recovery may be possible, the compensation amount is £2,690 to £15,580.
• When claiming for a moderate or minor elbow injury, such as a fracture or lacerations which do not cause permanent damage, then the compensation bracket is up to £15,370.

What Are Special Damages?

Children also receive special damages if their personal injury claim is successful. This is to reimburse any financial losses that have been experienced through the child’s injuries. The payout will also cover the cost of any future expenses the child may need. For example, special damages will include compensation to pay for any medical treatment the child may need in the future.

Special damages can include funds to cover the cost of the following:

• Medical expenses
• Care expenses
• Travel expenses
• Loss of income expenses (parent or guardian)
• Home adaptation costs
• Mobility equipment costs.

Example Case Study Of A Successful Playground Accident Claim

In our example case study* of a successful playground accident claim, 10-year-old George fractured their wrist after falling from a swing set where the critical bolt was loose. Other parents had made reports that the bolt was loose over a number of months, but the council had made no effort to repair the hazard or cordon off the swings. 

George’s parents decided to make a playground accident claim, and were connected with a specialist solicitor. The solicitor focused on proving that the council had failed to act on a known hazard and take the practical steps necessary to keep visitors, such as George, reasonably safe. By securing maintenance logs and witness statements, the solicitor negotiated a settlement of £27,300 for the injury and ongoing physiotherapy costs.

If your child has suffered an injury in a playground due to failings from a responsible third party, our solicitors can help you in the same way George and his family were helped. So, please don’t hesitate to contact us today and have a chat about your situation.

What Is A Playground Accident Claim?

A playground accident is a mishap in a playground which results in a child becoming injured. Accidents in a playground can happen in a public play area managed by your local council. Similarly, children can suffer playground injuries in a privately run playpark or soft play area.

You might be eligible to make a playground injury claim if your child was injured in a playground accident. The criteria for making a claim are as follows:

• Firstly, the claimant needs to have been owed a duty of care which was breached through negligence.
• Secondly, your child must have sustained an injury in a play area due to an accident.
• And finally, a litigation friend will need to act on behalf of the child as they cannot make their own claim while they are under 18. If no claim is made and the child turns 18 they can make their own claim up until they turn 21.

We could offer you free advice if your child were injured in an accident in a play park. Contact us today to find out more about making a playground accident claim.

What Duty Of Care Does A Playground Owner Owe Users?

Those responsible for a playground owe users a duty of care. This means that the local council or private company that operates a playground is responsible for making sure that it is a safe environment for children to play in.

Under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, the person in control of a space – this can be someone who would be expected to be able to spot hazards and rectify them – would owe those using their premises for the intended purpose a duty of care. Therefore, the occupier could be held liable for the person’s injuries if the playground fell into disrepair and this was the cause of the suffering. If the injured party or those representing them could prove that poor maintenance had caused this subsequent injury, they could be eligible to make a claim.

The following legislation protects the health and safety of consumers, employees and the general public:

Occupier’s Liability Act 1957

The Occupier’s Liability Act 1957 states that businesses and organisations owe individuals who use their premises a duty of care. Within this legislation, the occupier is not really defined. However, it is someone who would have control of an area. They would be liable for those who use the space for the intended purposes.

Consumer Protection Act 1987

The Consumer Protection Act 1987 states that manufacturers are responsible for producing safe products. Under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, a manufacturer can be held liable if a faulty product injures a member of the public.

Health And Safety At Work Etc. Act 1974

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 states that employers owe their employees a duty of care. This legislation applies to all workplaces and is intended to keep employees safe as much as is reasonably practical.

Management Of Health And Safety At Work Regulations 1999

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to carry out regular risk assessments. They must also provide employees with the necessary training and personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to carry out their jobs safely.

Types Of Accidents Which Can Happen In Playgrounds

Let’s look how some common playground accidents and how they can happen.

Causes of playground injuries include the following:

• Playground equipment is poorly designed or made.
• The playground equipment is broken or faulty.
• Poor installation of playground equipment.
• Nails sticking out of a climbing frame.
• The playground equipment is not suitable for the age group of the children who use it.
• Management or a local council has failed to inspect the playground regularly to check for faults or defects in the equipment.

Playground accidents can also happen due to user misuse. For example, parents not supervising young children in a playground. Or playground equipment being used for purposes other than what it was originally designed for. It is unlikely that you will be able to claim compensation for a playground accident that was caused by the equipment being used improperly.

If you are unsure whether the accident that your child sustained and the resulting injuries mean that a compensation case is a possibility, call our team today. Through an informal chat, the case can be assessed for free.

Protecting Children’s Compensation Settlements

Children’s personal injury claim settlements have to go through an infant approval hearing. This is a hearing at a local civil court to make sure that the child receives the correct amount of compensation.

What happens when a child is awarded compensation for an injury in a playground? The child’s general damages compensation payout is held in trust for them until they turn 18. After which, the child will receive their funds. Before then, the child’s parent or guardian can request money from that trust to make purchases for the child’s benefit. For example, a parent can request money to buy their child a laptop computer for school.

Claiming compensation for your child can add a further layer of complication to the process. For free advice about making a playground injury claim for your child, please contact us. We will be happy to advise you on how to make a personal injury claim and whether there are valid grounds to seek compensation.

Make A No Win No Fee Playground Accident Claim

You may have heard the term No Win No Fee before, but what does this mean? If you claim with a solicitor from Advice, you will sign a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), whereby no upfront or ongoing service fees are charged for your representative’s work. Your solicitor will also receive no service fees if your claim loses.

Instead, you will pay a success fee, which is deducted from your compensation if you win your claim. This fee is deducted as a capped percentage, meaning the majority of the compensation goes to you.

Contact us today to learn more about and take the first steps to claiming for compensation for a playground accident:

• Please call us on 0161 509 2856
• Or fill out our online claims form
• Alternatively, use the live support widget on your screen to chat with an advisor.

Related Claims Guides

We hope this guide to claiming compensation for a playground accident has been helpful. For advice, please feel free to look at these related resources:

• A head injury and concussion guide from the NHS
• An NHS guide to sprains and strains

Frequently Asked Questions About Playground Injury Claims

Here are some frequently asked questions you may have regarding playground injury claims:

What Do You Do When A Child Injures Themselves On The Playground?

When a child injures themselves on the playground, you should ensure they get prompt medical attention, collect evidence (including photographs documenting the scene of the accident), and report the incident to the owner or operator as soon as possible.

How Much Is The Average Playground Accident Claim Payout In The UK?

The average playground accident claim payout in the UK can range from £344,150 to £493,000 for very severe brain damage. For a more tailored assessment of compensation, please get in touch with our advisory team for free now.

What Is The Hardest Injury To Prove?

Psychological harm, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is often considered the hardest to prove, as it lacks immediate visual symptoms that would show up on imaging tests. Nevertheless, a solicitor from Advice can help gather supporting evidence for a playground accident claim.

What Is The Most Common Playground Injury?

The most common playground injuries are typically fractures, sprains, and dislocations, often resulting from falls from equipment like swings, monkey bars, slides, or climbing frames.

Thank you for considering our guide about a playground accident claim and reading our illustrative case study*.