With the winter months almost upon us, we can still see the damage that last winter did to our roads and pavements. On our daily journeys to and from home, it sometimes feels as if we are driving on an obstacle course, weaving around the holes in the ground, trying to avoid damage to our vehicles.
There is not just the issue of what damage a poorly maintained road can do to our vehicles, but there is also the issue of public safety. A pothole can be a tripping hazard to pedestrians. Motorbikes, mopeds and bicycles are extremely vulnerable to these defects of the road. Any incidents involving these types of highway users could be catastrophic.
It is the duty of the Councils to keep our highways as safe as possible by carrying out regular inspections and maintenance checks. So – when are the counsels going to fix the holes properly and not just lay a bit of tar to cover the hole to get us through the next couple of months?
Unfortunately, the issue with carrying out work to fix our highways is the expensive involved. The current economic climate has seen cuts everywhere, and the councils are struggling to cope on a reduced money pot, which is constantly shrinking.
It was reported lately that in Coventry that the Council is in need of so much money that the concerns have been raised at a local debate with regards to care centres and the highways: Parents v Potholes.
The debate is whether the Council should continue to fund full-time day care at the council run children’s centres, which would provides places for children under the age of two, or whether they should spend the money elsewhere. To the annoyance of many parents, the council has decided to avoid cuts to its highway budget and spend £5m on fixing potholes, pavements and roads.
This is just one example of the many dilemmas that our councils are facing in trying to keep all the locals happy.
However, if you have suffered an injury involving a pothole and it was not your fault, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation. The compensation will cover your injury and any losses financial or other. You may have to be off work, or suffered serious injury which has disabled you either in the short or long term. Treatment may be necessary to assist in your recovery, and if your vehicle was also damaged, this will need repairing or replacing.
At The Injury Lawyers, we are here to provide you with free, no obligation advice. If you are unsure about making a claim or want to know more about what is involved, we are here to assist you.
As the dark nights draw in, be careful when you are out and about; there may not have been a pothole the last time you were on a particular road or pavement, but with the severe weather conditions we are experiencing means that it doesn’t take long for one to appear!
