Even concrete and tarmac cannot withstand a battering from the weather – particularly in cold and wet conditions when potholes can be formed in a matter of weeks. It’s important that our roads and paths are well maintained to prevent injuries from trips and falls due to uneven surfaces or defects, and it’s equally as important for the safety of drivers as well.
But what if you are injured in an area that is being resurfaced because of the works that are being carried out?
Any area where building and construction work is being carried out can be fraught with numerous dangers. There may be open holes and trenches, uneven areas where the top layer of tarmac has been removed for resurfacing, stones and rubble on the ground, and even tripping hazards from tools and equipment in the area.
It’s therefore very important for those working in such areas to ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to prevent a member of the public being injured as a result of the resurfacing job.
Ultimately if you slip, trip, or fall as a direct result of a failure to properly secure and cordon off a dangerous area, or where rubble or equipment has been allowed to accumulate in public access routes, you may have a claim for personal injury compensation for negligence.
If this has happened to you, hopefully you have been able to take some photos – although its understandable if you were not able to at the time; especially if you needed urgent medical care. Reporting it to a worker in the area can help too. A really useful thing to do though is, if possible, find out who is working on the area. It may not be the council themselves as they regularly outsource such work to private contractors – so look out for a sign or a company name somewhere in the area as that can help us when it comes to making a claim.
If you have been the victim of an accident due to resurfacing works, call our free claims helpline on 0800 634 7575 today for help and advice. It’s normally a very easy process to get a claim set up and submitted to the opponent – in one simple call we can get the ball rolling for you, and get you seen by one of our private medical experts in a matter of weeks.