A North London council has paid out almost £600,000 in compensation over five years for pedestrian accidents. Most of claims brought against it related to injuries caused by potholes and defects in pavements.
Figures obtained following a Freedom of Information request showed that Brent Council has settled 55 claims involving accidents suffered by pedestrians since 2020. A total of 374 such claims were made: most of these related to pavement defects, with trips on potholes being the next most common reason for making a claim. The success rate of claims was 14 per cent, and 69 claims are still ongoing.
In 2023, a 36-year-old man was seriously injured when he tripped over a cracked pavement. He sustained a fractured ankle and was left needing to use crutches.
Councils have a legal duty to maintain public spaces such as highways and ensure they are safe for people using them. If they fail to do so, they can be held liable for any accidents or injuries that occur as a result of their breach of duty.