It is not uncommon to hear about people complain of slipping or tumbling while walking along the pavement. People tend to equate pavement slips and trips with minor injuries, such as a small cut or minor bruise, and most do not stop to think whether or not anyone should take responsibility for their injury. It is important to understand that slips and trips on the pavement can, and do, cause serious injury. Moreover, these injuries could attract financial compensation if they are the result of someone failing to take their responsibility to maintain pavements seriously.
Can you really get compensation for a pavement accident claim?
Contrary to what many people believe, a significant number of people suffer significant injuries as a result of a simple trip or fall as a result of an uneven or neglected pavement. Injuries can vary from minor sprains to the ankle through to, in severe cases, broken bones, deep wounds and trauma to the head. Further still, in some cases, people need immediate medical attention if they have been unfortunate enough to hurt themselves particularly badly. All of this is the possible result of a simple trip or fall on the pavement.
It should be pointed out that it is not always possible for an injury on the pavement to warrant compensation. Generally, there is a threshold that needs to be met before there is a likelihood of a personal injury claim being possible. If your injury was caused by a protruding piece of pavement less than an inch long or less than an inch deep, then it should be considered whether or not it is worth attempting to raise a claim. The law cannot require that a risk of injury be completely removed from daily life. It does, however, require that those with responsibility for maintaining pavements do so, and where they fail to take reasonable steps to do this, they may be obliged to provide compensation if they cause you to suffer injury as a result of their negligence.
Making a Compensation Claim Against a Supermarket, a Council or other body
If you do slip or trip on the pavement and suffer an injury, the first thing you should do is to report this to the organisation responsible for maintaining the pavement. In most cases, this will be the local authority, but it may be a private company, depending on the area where you had your accident. You should also take photographs of the area where you suffered your accident, and provide copies of these in your report, in order to show how significant the defect was. Our solicitors can help you present your report and represent you in any negotiations with the organisation to ensure they fully understand the gravity of your injuries.
The law requires that you allow the organisation responsible to have the opportunity to address the matter itself, before attempting to raise a personal injury action in the courts. The organisation responsible for the area will normally conduct an internal investigation of your situation, and determine whether or not they think they have breached their obligation to adequately maintain the pavement and caused you injury. If the organisation responsible does not deem your accident to be their fault, or think it isn’t worthy of compensation, then our personal injury solicitors will advise you on your options and whether or not you should commence legal action.
Speak to Kerr Brown's Specialist Personal Injury Solicitors Glasgow, Scotland
Skips and trips on the pavement are the cause of an increasing number of accidents, resulting in often significant injuries being suffered. In most cases, these injuries would have been avoidable if someone simply took their job seriously and kept the pavement in good condition. At Kerr Brown, our personal injury solicitors routinely secure compensation for slips and trips on the pavement. Our team understand how a simple stumble can so often result in a severe injury, causing a great deal of physical trauma and upset to people. If you would like to know if you are entitled to compensation, our team will be able to help you, contact us via our online contact form or call us now on 01412214880.