Government pledges to fix pothole ‘plague’

The new Labour Government has affirmed its pledge to fix “one million more potholes” a year to “deliver the roads drivers deserve”.

During a recent visit to Blackpool, the Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, praised Blackpool Council’s Project Amber scheme which uses cutting-edge technology to provide safer roads.  This technology uses high-definition imagery to take pictures of the highway, detect potholes and compile data on the areas in most need of repair.

Latest figures show last year Blackpool Council paid out only £719 in compensation for pothole related claims, down from £1.5 million in previous years.

Last year 630,000 potholes were reported to councils across England, Scotland and Wales, the highest it has been in the past five years.

Each one of these potholes pose a serious risk of danger to the safety of road users, cyclists and pedestrians alike. Between 2017 and 2021 potholes were the cause of 5,596 successful personal injury claims.

Whilst the latest pledge will no doubt be welcomed by the general public, after years of under-investment in the country’s roads, whether there will be improvement in the safety of our carriageways remains to be seen.

Can I make a claim for personal injury?

If you have suffered an injury as a result of a pothole, whether on the pavement or the road, you may have a claim for compensation.

Our experts are vastly experienced in supporting these type of injury claims – which involve taking legal action against the people or organisations at fault for injuries received in a public place.

Where an accident has occurred on a public road or pavement, the local authority may be liable if they have failed to take reasonable steps to ensure the area was sufficiently maintained.  Equally, where an accident occurs on private property, action may be taken against the owner or occupier of that land.

How we can help

At Fosters Solicitors, our specialist Personal Injury team are experts in pothole and tripping claims.

We want to work with you to achieve the best possible outcome for your claim.

We understand you will want to know how we can assist, so we offer a free of charge no obligation first meeting or chat, which we follow up with a full letter of advice. If you are in any doubt as to whether you have a claim, please do contact us, again completely without obligation.

We are also able to discuss how you can cover the cost of a claim, including through a ‘no win no fee’ agreement.

Our specialists have extensive experience and knowledge across a wide range of personal injury claims and cases. We understand the impact these injuries can have on your day-to-day life and your future, and are able to advise and guide you through every aspect of your claim.

For more information, please visit our personal injury service page.

If you would like to speak to a member of the Personal Injury team to discuss whether may have a claim, please call 01603 620508 or complete our online enquiry form.

This article was produced on the 1st October 2024 by our Personal Injury & Group Actions team for information purposes only and should not be construed or relied upon as specific legal advice.