Pavement Accident Claims
Pavement accident compensation
Raised, cracked, icy, and uneven pavements are a common and very serious cause of injuries in the UK. It can be hard to know whether you can claim for your injuries, as most UK pavements are owned by the public.
However, local councils (and sometimes landowners) are responsible for maintaining any pavements in their area, ensuring they are safe for pedestrians. With this in mind, many pavement injuries occur due to the negligence of a local council.
If you would like to claim against the council for your pavement injury, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team of personal injury claim solicitors. We work on a no-win, no-fee basis, so you’ll never have to pay a penny upfront for our legal services.
Start your fall or trip on pavement claim today by calling 0800 699 0079 or filling out our simple enquiry form.
What are the most common pavement injuries?
Uneven, broken, and icy pavements can cause a variety of minor to severe injuries, depending on how you fall and the force of the fall. The most common injuries we see in a claim for falling on pavement include:
Slip, trip, and fall injuries
- Broken bones, especially common in the wrists, arms, hips, and ankles
- Dislocations affecting the shoulders, knees, hips, and fingers
- Soft tissue injuriesto the ankles and knees, including sprains, strains, and ligament damage
- Bruises and skin abrasions
Head and face injuries
- Concussions
- Skull fractures
- Facial injuries, including broken noses, cheekbones, and jaws
- Lacerations
Back and spine injuries
- Chronic back issues
- Spine fractures
- Herniated discs
- Long term mobility issues
The injuries caused by pavements vary, so don’t worry if you don’t see your specific type of injury. We process tripped-on-a-pavement claims for all kinds of bodily injuries. For
extra peace of mind, don’t hesitate to contact our team on 0800 699 0079 or via our online contact form to discuss your case and injuries further.
How much can I claim?
What are the most common pavement injuries?
Most slips and trips on pavements (as well as any subsequent injuries) are caused by poor maintenance, bad weather, and a failed duty of care to repair any hazards. Liability typically falls on local councils, but in some cases, you may be able to claim against land or business owners if they own the pavement.
Some other causes and responsible parties include:
Uneven pavements
- Often caused by tree root uplift, wear and tear due to excessive use, or inadequate resurfacing.
- The local council would be liable under the Highways Act of 1980 for any injuries if it is a public footpath.
- If the uneven pavement is on private land, the landowner would be liable under the Occupiers’ Liability Act of 1957.
Icy pavements
- This could result from a lack of gritting, failure to clear any ice build-up, and blocked drains, causing the water on the pavement to freeze over.
- Councils are responsible for keeping major public footpaths safe in icy weather. However, it is not a legal requirement to grit every pavement, so they will not be liable for all icy pavement injuries.
- If the icy pavement is on a business entrance, car park, or private path, the owner would have breached their duty of care under the Occupiers’ Liability Act.
Raised pavement flags and slabs
- Caused by growing tree roots, poor maintenance, or utility/construction company error.
- If the raised pavement is on a public footpath, the council would be liable under the Highways Act of 1980.
- Utility and construction companies could also be held liable if they left any pavement work that posed an injury risk.
- Private landowners would be liable if the raised pavement is on their land under the Occupiers’ Liability Act.
Broken pavements
- Commonly caused by potholes, collapses due to poor maintenance, and cracked or missing paving slabs.
- If the broken pavement creates a hole deeper (or a raised surface higher) than 2.5cm, the local council could be deemed liable under the Highways Act of 1980.
- For broken pavements on private property, the landowner would be held responsible for any injury as they must prevent any foreseeable hazards as stated in the Occupiers’ Liability Act of 1957.
As you can see, claiming against the council — especially for slips, trips, and fall injuries caused by an icy pavement — can be quite complex.
When would the council be liable for an icy pavement injury?
For any icy pavement injury claims against the council, we will work with you and gather the necessary evidence to prove that they were liable. Your local council may be liable for your injury if:
- They did not grit the icy pavement even though it was in a high-risk area with high footfall
- They knew (or should have known) about the safety risks but neglected to take action
- They failed to follow their gritting schedule
- They failed to fix a drainage issue in sufficient time, which subsequently caused ice build-up
If you believe your injury was caused by the council and would like to make an icy pavement accident claim, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team for more information.
What evidence do you need to make a pavement accident claim?
We recommend gathering as much evidence as possible to prove liability. When you make your claim, our team will assess all your evidence and help you gather more if necessary.
- Photos and videos of the accident scene
- Photos of any injuries
- Doctor’s reports with a prognosis of your injury
- Witness statements
- CCTV camera footage
- Council gritting records
- Accident report logs
Pavement accident compensation amounts
What are the most common pavement injuries?
As with all personal injury claims, your compensation amount will depend on the severity of any financial, physical, and emotional damages caused by your pavement accident. The more serious your injuries, the more compensation you may be able to claim.
To find out how much compensation you could get for your pavement accident claim, take a look at the figures below from the latest Judicial College Guidelines.
Need more information? Don’t worry, one of our professional claims solicitors will advise you along the way
Contact us on 0800 699 0079 or via our online contact form to start your claim today!
Compensation for slip, trip, and fall injuries
Slipping, tripping, or falling on a faulty pavement can lead to a variety of injuries, ranging from soft tissue injuries to dislocations and severe fractures.
You could be eligible for compensation from £2,830 to £55,570.
Compensation for head and face injuries
If you land face first and strike the pavement during your fall, you could be left with injuries like concussions, skull fractures, and facial disfigurement in the worst cases.
You could be eligible for compensation from £1,710 to £267,340.
Compensation for back and spine injuries
Serious pavement falls could lead to spine damage, as well as fractures, slipped discs, and nerve damage, causing long term pain and mobility issues.
You could be eligible for compensation from £30,500 to £196,450.
Compensation for cuts and bruising
Due to the force of your fall, you could suffer from deep cuts, road rash, and bruising. In the worst cases, these injuries could lead to scarring or infections.
You could be eligible for compensation from £1,710 to £16,200.
Table of Contents
Pavement accident claims FAQs
Am I eligible for raised pavement flag compensation?
If you have been injured due to a raised pavement flag and the accident wasn’t your fault, you could be eligible for compensation. To start your pavement accident claim, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our expert team today.
How long do I have to claim for pavement trip compensation?
As with any personal injury claim, you have up to three years from the date of your accident to make a pavement injury claim. However, if you are claiming on behalf of a child, you will have until their 21st birthday to file a claim.
Is there a legal pavement trip hazard height in the UK?
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