Our expert claims against the council lawyers will handle your claim at no cost to you* and in the vast majority of cases you will receive 100% of your compensation**.
Expertise And Understanding From Irwin Mitchell
Councils and local authorities are obliged by law to protect our health and safety in a range of public places and facilities. When they fail to provide adequate protection, people can trip, fall or suffer other accidents.
At Irwin Mitchell we fight fearlessly to achieve the best outcome for your claim against a council or local authority. We’re renowned for our understanding of the issues affecting you and your family due to claims against councils, and we know what positive action to take to make a difference.
Our lawyers offer the highest level of professionalism and expertise, combined with dedication and sensitivity.
Above all, we put you first. To us, you are an individual not a case number.
Handling Claims Against Councils With Expertise And Sensitivity
If you have been injured as a result of a trip or fall in a public place, you may be able to bring a personal injury claim against the council or local authority for compensation.
Thousands of people every year suffer some form of personal injury in public for which they could claim. At Irwin Mitchell, we have a team of specialist solicitors who can help you make a claim against a local council.
Local authorities and councils have a legal responsibility to protect the safety of members of the public who live in, work in or are visiting the region controlled by the Local Authority. The Authority’s responsibilities include:
- The maintenance and upkeep of roads and pavements
- The maintenance and upkeep of public parks, play grounds, swimming pools and museums
- The maintenance, upkeep and running of schools
Should you sustain an injury whilst on the street or in a public area or building - or if your child is injured at school - you may be able to bring a compensation claim against the council, if it can be proved that they are responsible for the injury. We can help you seek compensation.
To help you make a claim against a local authority as a result of a pavement fall, your accident must have been caused by a pothole which is at least an inch deep on the pavement. If your accident was caused by a paving stone sticking up above the rest of the path by about 1 inch or more then please click on the link to the right to see how to take photographs of the scene of your accident.
To assist us in preparing your claim against the local authority you should:
1) Write down names and addresses of witnesses to your accident. If you do not have any witnesses to your accident but the defect is outside a particular house number it may be worth contacting that person to enquire as to how long the defect has been present prior to your accident and whether they have previously made a complaint.
2) Send us photographs of the defect which you allege caused your accident showing clear measurements on the photographs as the photographs may ultimately be used as evidence. Please sign and date the back of the photographs.
3) Keep all receipts for any out of pocket expenses you have incurred as a result of your injuries.
If the police have been involved please provide us with details of your incident number in order that we can make the relevant enquiries with them.
Proven Expertise In Claims Against The Council
Irwin Mitchell is also one of the largest and most experienced personal injury law firms in the country.
Our team includes many of the country’s finest personal injury lawyers. They operate in highly specialised teams, offering the highest level of legal expertise in council and local authority injury claims.
Irwin Mitchell’s Commitment To Making A Difference
Irwin Mitchell’s first commitment is to you, and to achieving the best outcome for your injury claim against a council or local authority.
We also have a long history of campaigning with leading organisations in numerous personal injury fields. Together with those organisations we seek improvements in health and safety, prevent accident and injury where possible, and improve the quality of life and levels of compensation for those who have suffered injury.
We have also pursued many leading legal cases in order to improve the prospects of success of claims for various forms of personal injury, and to obtain fairer compensation.
The above information relates to the law and procedures in England and Wales.
* Subject to entering a ‘No Win, No Fee’ agreement with us and complying with its terms.
** Does not apply to group actions, criminal injuries or accidents and illnesses outside England and Wales and is subject to compliance with the terms of your funding arrangements.
All Scottish cases will be handled by the Scottish law firm with which we are associated, Irwin Mitchell Scotland LLP. The law relating to funding is different in Scotland and you will receive separate advice about what that means as well as a separate funding agreement.