Injured in a Public Place: Taking the Council to Court

Injured while walking over uneven paving stones or using a poorly maintained public service?

If so, then you’re legally entitled to make a compensation claim against the council.

Many people may find this surprising.

Making a compensation claim against the council—against a government regulated body itself?

Yes, which in a way highlights the transparency of UK’s legal system, where everyone is equal before the law.

It’s the responsibility of the council to maintain public services, walkways, parks and other properties that they may own. If they fail to maintain it, and an individual gets injured because of their negligence, then that individual must be compensated for the injuries (and any other type of loss that they may suffer) by the council.

But how do you proceed with the filing of your claim?

Before we get into the details of that, there are few important things we would like you to know…

Be aware that all claims must be filed within 3 years of the date of accident. Claims made after the 3-year period are considered null and void.

Also, the defect in public service which lead to the accident must be in the knowledge of the council. Since councils are obligated by law to conduct periodic inspections of the properties that they own, it’s natural for them to be in the know of any long unaddressed defect. Town or city residents may also report these defects to the council and as such, people living in close proximity to the public place can be of great help to make your case stronger.

And now, coming on to the process.

Your first step should be consulting a solicitor who specialises in UK personal injury law. The solicitor would be able to better guide you regarding what documents you’ll need to present when filing a slip and trip compensation claim. They would also help you to present your narrative more strongly and convincingly to the council.

Next, try to collect as much evidence as possible to support your claim for compensation. This includes capturing photographs of the place where the accident took place. Your main objective when taking photographs should be to highlight the poor state of housekeeping practices and how the council was at fault. You may also record statements of locals living in the area to present as supporting evidence.

Rest assured, you should be justly compensated by the council. If the council refuses to do so, you don’t need to lose hope – remember, the UK law is there to protect you and you can always refer your case to the tribunal.

Looking for a personal injury solicitor who can help you file your claim successfully?

Feel free to reach out, the team of Wembley Solicitors will be happy to serve you.