Compensation for Woman After Tripping in Public Place

Tripping in a Public Place

03/06/2008

A Sheffield woman has received £2750 compensation in a claim against the council, after tripping in a public place.

Ms X stepped up a kerb off the road onto an area that should have been a grass verge. Unfortunately all of the grass had been worn away to leave mud and a drop in height between the verge and the edging stones leading to the pavement.

As a result, Ms X tripped and fell over one of the edging stones, sustaining injuries to her knees.

The claim was brought against Sheffield City Council by Helen Price of Irwin Mitchell's Public Liability Team who have specialist experience in dealing with claims against councils.

She said, "This case highlights the need for Councils to not only inspect roads and footpaths but also the grass verges adjacent to them.

"If the grass is not to be replaced then these verges should be levelled off so as not to cause a hazard to pedestrians."