{"id":148,"date":"2012-05-24T16:31:44","date_gmt":"2012-05-24T16:31:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.claims.co.uk\/?page_id=148"},"modified":"2024-05-03T16:18:33","modified_gmt":"2024-05-03T16:18:33","slug":"pavement-trips","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.claims.co.uk\/slips-trips-falls\/pavement-trips","title":{"rendered":"Pavement Accident Claims"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pavement accident claims<\/h1>

Claim compensation for pavement accident<\/h2><\/a>

If you’ve tripped on broken pavement, and suffered an injury as a result of a pavement accident that wasn’t your fault, you could be entitled to claim compensation.<\/p>

Slips, trips and falls on pavements are all too common. Sometimes, they’re just accidents where we trip over our shoelaces or aren’t paying attention to where we’re going. In these cases, we feel a little silly, but we get back up and keep on walking.<\/p>

However, there are also times when serious accidents happen because a stretch of pavement hasn’t been adequately maintained. For example, this might include cracked surfaces causing an uneven pavement, or raised pavement due to tree roots, potholes<\/a>, and damaged curbs.<\/p>

After suffering from a trip or fall because of a pavement defect, you might need to spend time in hospital or see a doctor. If your injuries are bad, you’ve likely had to take time off work which can be expensive and stressful.<\/p>

Suffering because of somebody else’s negligence can feel very unfair – and the situation can get much worse if you also have to worry about your finances on top of everything else.<\/p>

If your accident happened in the last three years and occurred due to poorly maintained paving, there’s a good chance an expert personal injury solicitor will be able to help you claim maximum compensation.<\/p>

Your compensation could cover the costs of your injury and the impact it’s had on your life.<\/p>

It’s a good idea to call a trained legal adviser on 0800 234 6438<\/span> as soon as possible while the accident’s still fresh in your mind. They’ll speak to you for free and can put you in touch with a specialist solicitor to help you start your case.<\/p><\/div>

Tripping on a public pavement<\/h2><\/a>

In the UK, pavement accidents are common – which is unfortunate as they’re also highly avoidable. When you’re using public walkways, you’re using public land, which is the local authorities’ responsibility.<\/p>

Find out more about making claims against the council<\/a>.<\/p>

There are laws in place to ensure safety when members of the public use pavements, and the local authority have a legal duty of care to protect you from accident and injury. Most importantly, it’s their responsibility to ensure each pavement is safe to use.<\/p>

According to the Highways Act 1980<\/a>, the local authority has to check pavements regularly to ensure they’re safe and free from obstructions.<\/p>

Although there’s no official legal definition of unsafe pavement, based on cases brought to court in the past, a defect of more than an inch in height is generally thought of as ‘unreasonable’.<\/p>

You can’t however claim for a fall on a public pavement if it wasn’t down to human error. For example, if you were using your phone while walking and stepped off the pavement, you wouldn’t be eligible.<\/p>

If you’re unsure whether you could claim, you can speak to a trained legal adviser on 0800 234 6438<\/span>, who will be able to let you know whether the pavement damage which caused your trip could be considered ‘unreasonable’ – and can tell you whether they think you can make a pavement compensation claim.<\/p><\/div>

Tripping on a private walkway<\/h2><\/a>

If you trip over on privately owned land – such as in a supermarket car park – you might still be able to make a compensation claim. In these cases, your lawsuit will be against the person or company that owns the land.<\/p>

Private land and property owners have a responsibility under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957<\/a> to ensure their property is safe, including making specific pathways free from tripping hazards.<\/p><\/div>

The common causes of pavement personal injury claims<\/h2><\/a>

While human error accounts for many pavement accidents, sometimes the local authority or private landowner is at fault.<\/p>

The most common causes of pavement injuries include:<\/p>