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Pedestrians make 10,000 claims in one year for trips and slips on pavements

<em>Compensation – pedestrians made more than 10,000 claims for trips and slips on pavements in a year (Picture: Getty)</em>
Compensation – pedestrians made more than 10,000 claims for trips and slips on pavements in a year (Picture: Getty)

More than 10,000 compensation claims were made by pedestrians for trips and slips on pavements in just one year, an investigation has revealed.

Research by the AA found that UK councils received 10,572 claims in the 12 months to the end of May – with a total of £2.1 million paid out to successful claimants.

AA president Edmund King said the figures showed that “walking can be like negotiating a minefield”.

According to Freedom of Information research carried out by the AA, which saw 365 of 421 local authorities respond, Hillingdon Council in London had the most successful claims, paying out in 115 out of 148 cases.

Liverpool City Council made no payouts despite receiving 448 claims and Shetland Islands Council was the only one which reported receiving no claims.

<em>Concern – a separate survey showed 73% of people are concerned about uneven pavements (Picture: Getty)</em>
Concern – a separate survey showed 73% of people are concerned about uneven pavements (Picture: Getty)

A separate AA survey of 16,000 motorists found that 73% are concerned about uneven pavements.

One in four (25%) have encountered damaged ironwork such as drain covers, while two-thirds (64%) have seen paths encroached by overgrown trees and hedges.

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Mr King said: “The Government and local authorities repeatedly encourage drivers to leave their cars at home and take to their feet or to two wheels for short journeys.

“But the state of the pavements means walkers are expected to run the gauntlet of pavement hazards that are just as dangerous as the potholes that can injure or kill cyclists and damage cars.”

A Local Government Association spokesman said: “Councils know that the condition of pavements is a key priority for residents and want to make sure they are safe to use by all pedestrians.

“Councils do a huge amount to maintain pavements with the resources available.

“Any deterioration of our roads and pavements is down to decades of underfunding from successive governments and recent severe winters. Councils want to bring them fully up to scratch but need a fairer funding deal and greater government investment to allow this to happen.”