Pedestrians claim nearly £117k from Blackburn with Darwen Council after injuries from potholes over five years.
A study looked at pedestrian accident claims since 2020. The council paid £116,964.67 in that time. Most of the money was paid in 2022; it equaled £47,459.79.
Only 12 of 153 claims got money. The average payment was £9,704 per claim.
People filed thirty-three claims in 2020. It was the third highest number in five years. The number rose to 37 in 2022. Claims dropped last year to twenty.
The Highways Act of 1980 says local groups must care for roads. They need to check roads regularly. They also must fix any problems they find.
A 2018 study showed payment of £2.1M for trips on pavements. Over ten thousand people claimed. Only 859 claims succeeded in the UK. That is only about eight percent.
An official stated the figures relate to claims from people on foot. This includes streets the Council handles. It is not just potholes they are responsible for.
The council tries hard to prevent accidents. They pay only if they are at fault. They assess claims fairly. They protect funds but pay legitimate cases.