Footpath Injury Claims

WiWalking is a pastime enjoyed by millions of people across the country. In fact, according to the Ramblers Association, 9.1 million adults in England alone enjoy going on walks at least once a month. This is almost double the amount who either go swimming or to the gym each month.

Although hitting the pavement for a long walk can be fun, you really can’t beat a stroll across the great British countryside. But doing this can pose a greater risk of injury, as country footpaths are likely to be a lot more uneven when compared to pavements, even with the huge number of potholes around.

The potential dangers and hazards on public footpaths can include fallen trees, broken stiles, damaged gates, blocked footpaths, barbed wire and other obstructions.

If you have had an accident on a footpath and suffered a personal injury, you could be entitled to claim compensation. Injury solicitors provide a no win no fee service which means you don’t pay a penny if they can’t win your claim.

If you would like to find out if you have a valid claim for compensation, call free on 0800 678 1410 or request a call back. This service is provided completely free of charge and without any pressure or obligation to proceed.

Who is responsible for footpath accidents?

Accidents on footpaths are treated in a similar way to those that take place in shops, restaurants, on pavements or in other public areas. These are known as public liability claims.

To be eligible to make a claim, you must first be able to prove that you were owed a duty of care by whoever owns the footpath. You must then be able to prove that it was a breach of this duty of care that resulted in your injury.

There is a duty of care owed by property owners to all people who lawfully use or visit their premises. Therefore, if you are walking on a public footpath, the owner of this path, which could be the local council or a private landowner, has a duty of care to make sure the footpath is safe and useable.

If they breach their duty of care and you are injured as a consequence, you should have valid grounds to pursue a claim for injury compensation.

How much compensation can I claim?

How much compensation you are entitled to claim will depend on your injuries and any financial losses you have incurred. In terms of your injuries, the amount of compensation you receive will take into account the type of injury, the severity and the impact it has had or will continue to have on your day-to-day life.

In addition to the pain and suffering of being injured, you may also have incurred some financial losses. You may have had to take time off work to recover, pay for prescriptions or medical treatment or had travel expenses to get to and from hospital appointments.

You should not be left out of pocket if you are the victim of an accident caused by somebody else’s negligence. So all of your financial losses can and will be taken into account by your solicitor when negotiating a fair and just settlement for your claim.

How to make a footpath accident claim

The first stage is to get in contact with an injury solicitor to discuss your accident and injuries. During a free consultation, they will assess whether or not you have a valid claim, which is a service provided without any obligation or pressure.

If you do have a valid claim and would like to proceed, your experienced injury lawyer will begin the process of gathering the evidence required to support your claim.

The details of your accident claim will be set out in a letter of claim, which will be sent to the council or landowner of the footpath where you suffered your injury.

If liability for the accident is accepted, your solicitor will then begin negotiating the amount of compensation you should receive. The aim is always to secure for you the maximum amount of compensation possible that takes into account all of your pain and losses.

The vast majority of cases are settled outside of court. But if liability is denied or a suitable settlement cannot be reached, court proceedings will be issued.

If you would like to find out more about making a claim for an accident on a footpath, call free on 0800 678 1410 or request a call back for a friendly chat with an experienced solicitor.