Council compensation for ice injury

[Justjoinedforthis]

I fractures my wrist walking very carefully down my iced over road, this is in London and it was a well used residential street. I saw so many other people have bad falls, and this was after three days of solid ice.

I honestly hate the culture of compensation, it’s not about the money - I could donate that (or use it to buy a grit box for our street!) but I feel I really want them to do a better job next icy period. I had emailed about how icy it was and got palmed off.

Does anyone have experience of this, in regards to ice? Or should I just let it go. For the record I am not one of these ‘anti council’ types who are always complaining, I generally love the council bit this was really lethal.

Have you requested that they install a grit bin nearby?

How do you want them to ‘do better’? Do you really think the council have the capacity and funds to grit every single residential street in London? We all know ice is slippy, so we all just need to be careful. For compensation you would need to prove the council was neglectful and I can’t see how they were.

Every street in Britain was the same. Are you prepared to pay the council tax necessary to achieve ice free pavements? You do your own risk assessment when you go out and deal with the consequences of falling over if you decide to risk it.
It would be cheaper for you to just buy special ice walking boots 😏

Councils only grit main roads. It's rare they do side streets OP. The onus is on you to keep yourself safe on ice.

You're supposed to walk like a penguin on ice anyway according to a really funny workshop work provided once

There's no law that requires ice to be cleared from pavements. Sue away, very unlikely you will get anywhere.
The only legal thing councils are required to do is remove excess snow from roads. As long as they have done that - plus have policies around priorities and roads which don't get gritted or ploughed they have fulfilled their duties.

Worth buying some YakTrax to keep in storage. They make walking on ice an absolute breeze. I have merrily strode past many a person slipping and sliding on ice with them. Not attractive but do the job!

The council cannot control what nature throws at us. Where does the gritting stop? Do they grit the whole country? What about your own personal responsibility? Buy a pair of snow grippers if you are concerned about falling. I can highly recommend

You would need to show that the Council were negligent by not clearing the ice.

Ask the Council for a copy of their policy regarding clearing ice from pavements and see if they have adhered to the policy.
Due to funding, most local authorities do not clear residential streets, they target their limited resources at high streets and key shopping areas.
Unless their policy states they will clear ice from the place where you fell, and they gave not done so within their stated timeframe, I think it's highly unlikely that you will succeed with a claim.
I hope you are on the mend.

Thanks for the replies.
They didn’t remove excess snow, it was an unavoidable journey, I was walking very carefully in my snow boots taking my kids home from school. If it’s not their responsibility then fair enough, but I thought it is their duty to ensure walkways are safe. It’s a well used road on the school route home.
I will ask for a grit box, they seem to have removed them all, there used to be so many!

In Germany they have worked out a different system. The pavement outside each building or property is the responsibility of the property owner to keep clean and free of ice and snow. People regularly sue private individuals for liability. It's a bonanza for liability insurance, which nearly everyone takes out - but it does mean no ice!

The elderly folks on my road were literally trapped inside it was brutal. I know funding is tight but surely people’s health and safety is worth spending a bit - they’ve pretty much shut all the local roads to cars (Enfield) so making it safe for pedestrians I don’t think is too much to ask. It was solid ice home pretty much all the way back from school, half a mile, roads and pavements. Everyone would have helped grit if we had any.

You would have to show that the council were negligent, and that their negligence caused your injury.

So if it really isn't about the money then you would be better off emailing your local councillors.

And your MP. Because council's are cash strapped like never before.

In at least some parts of Scotland and Sweden pavements get gritted and cleared by the council

In England they don't

It will be partly a cost thing - and also a frequency thing

Sweden started clearing them when they realised it was women who were bearing the brunt of the injuries as men are more likely to be in their cars ( on treated roads ) so it was viewed as sexist to clear roads and not pavements

What is it you'd need compensation for OP? You broke your wrist, but what extra expenses have you incurred because of that? Have you had to employ a cook, driver, someone to help you dress? Any loss of earnings?
By all means complain (though constructive feedback would be better), but let the council spend the money on something useful.

Perhaps approach your local MP and ask for a better response from your local council and bring to their attention how it prevent the elderly particularly from being able to venture out. In years gone by I remember there used to be grit boxes here and there - maybe you could organise something in your street to have some 'on standby' and a couple of volunteers from the street could at least grit your street's pavements.

In my area (inner London) non essential gritting is done by volunteer snow wardens like me. They supply you with grit and a shovel and you help.

Perhaps you could consider volunteering in future if a similar scheme. I find that when I go out others come and help. Helping your fellow citizen rather than suing an already cash strapped council is a much better way forward IMO.

You think the councils need to make every single walk way in the UK easily walkable at every single moment? So it gets icey, they (who exactly?) grit every pavement in the country no matter where, instantly, and then when it melts and reices they rush back and do it again, in a moment, before anyone anywhere wants to walk a step? Or, since you mention you are in London, do you just expect London to be constantly deiced?

What fucking planet are you on, OP? And what compensation do you imagine you would be due anyway?

Has Enfield been badly affected by 'deep' snow and thick ice? My cousin lives in Wembley and he hasn't. He's been out running every day.

I'm in the same area, and I noticed this year that with much lower traffic on the side streets, the roads and pavements were much slippier than they have been in previous winters.
There was also minimal lighting which makes it even more of a hazard getting around on foot.

Yes.

Sorry about your fracture and hopefully you are more comfortable now, but councils are very short of money now so don't get your hopes up.

ColadhSamh · Today 10:42
The council cannot control what nature throws at us. Where does the gritting stop? Do they grit the whole country? What about your own personal responsibility? Buy a pair of snow grippers if you are concerned about falling. I can highly recommend“

This. You need to take reasonable personal responsibility. I failed to take suitable care a few years ago, slipped dramatically, landed hard on backside and coccyx too nearly a year to stop hurting.
entirely my fault. I wear appropriate footwear for conditions now, lesson learned.

I saw lots of videos of people putting socks over their shoes, seemingly this also prevents slipping, but does look daft!

Unfortunately it’s impossible for councils to grit every pavement and footpath across the UK and injuries from falls are likely. YakTrax are game changers - for around £15.

Your local council should have a map of local grit bins for public use on public paths. If it's empty there should also be a report option to request a re-fill.