Councils and local authorities are legally required to ensure that pavements, roads and other council property are safe for public use. But every year people are injured by loose paving stones or potholes. To sue a council for compensation it will be necessary to prove your injury was a result of the council's negligence.
How To Sue The Council For Negligence
Claiming compensation from the council requires you to show that your injury has been caused by a failure of care on their part. If you’ve experienced injury as a result of council negligence we can help you claim compensation. You can arrange a free initial consultation with one of our specialist solicitors to talk about your case and decide if you want to take it forward.
Suing a council for damages can be difficult if the road or pavement defect that caused your injury has since been corrected. You can help us make your claim by:
- Taking photographs of where your injury took place
- Taking measurements of the pothole or other defect that caused your injury
- Providing us with the names and addresses of any witnesses present
- Letting us know the police incident number.
What Types Of Claim Can Be Made Against The Council?
Councils have a duty of care to ensure that roads, pavements and other public areas are properly maintained. We could help you make a council compensation claim if you’ve been injured as a result of:
- A pothole that is 40 mm deep or more
- An uneven paving stone that was sticking up by more than one inch.
Cyclists are particularly vulnerable to poorly maintained roads – if you’ve fallen off your bike after hitting a pothole, we could help you make a claim against the responsible council.
What Are The Time Limits For Making A Claim?
Claims against the council usually need to be made within three years of the accident that caused your injury.
However, there are some important exceptions to the three year rule:
- If you’re claiming on behalf of your child there is no time limit up to their 18th birthday. From 18 years old the three year time limit applies
- There is no time limit if you’re claiming on behalf of someone who doesn’t have the mental capacity to claim for themselves.
In cases of council negligence we recommend making your claim as soon as possible. This makes it easier for us to gather evidence, such as interviewing witnesses in support of your case or taking pictures and measurements of the road/paving defect that caused your injury.
How Much Compensation Can I Claim?
How much compensation you could receive depends upon the severity of your injury and the impact it has had on your life. We’ll seek a fair settlement that takes into account any suffering you’ve endured because of your injury as well as other costs.
Compensation could cover:
- Cost of attending medical appointments and buying medical equipment
- Loss of earnings
- The costs of any treatment you’ve received and any further medical procedures or care you may need
- Living and accessibility changes made to your home or vehicle because of your injury.
No Win No Fee Claims
We may be able to handle your claim against the council on a no win no fee basis. This means that there will be no upfront cost to you. If your case is successful, most of your legal fees will be covered by your opponent, with any other fees left to be paid out of your settlement. If your case is unsuccessful then you won’t have to pay anything*.
Why Choose Us?
As one of the largest personal injury law firms in the country we have an experienced and dedicated team of solicitors ready to help you.
We’ve represented thousands of clients who have been harmed due to negligence by their council or local authority. Our experts will support you throughout your claim and will work to get you the best possible compensation settlement.
Contact Us
If you or a loved one wish to make a claim against the council then you can get in touch on 0800 056 4110 or contact us online and we’ll call you back.
Call us for a free initial consultation
0800 056 4110Or we can call you back at a time of your choice