By: 6 September 2023
Revealed: Which UK councils are bearing the brunt of injury payouts?

Newly unveiled data from LegalExpert.co.uk has shed light on the top ten councils in England and Wales most significantly affected by personal injury payouts. The information offers insight into the extent of financial implications resulting from personal injury claims. 

The claims themselves were predominantly attributed to incidents such as slips, trips, falls, accidents related to potholes, individuals being struck by moving or falling objects, as well as issues related to subpar premises and equipment. 

Liverpool City Council stands at the forefront of the list, having disbursed more than £1.7 million between April 2022 and April 2023 in relation to personal injury claims. Following closely are Essex County Council and Hampshire County Council, both of which have issued payouts surpassing £1.2 million. 

Securing positions within the top five are Camden Council and Manchester City Council, with disbursements of £1.1 million and £1 million respectively. The full rundown of councils and their respective payouts is presented below: 

  1. Liverpool City Council – 311 claims – £1,743,423.43
  2. Essex County Council – 440 claims – £1,286,745.92
  3. Hampshire County Council – 217 claims – £1,256,506.82
  4. Camden Council – 92 claims – £1,108,472.57
  5. Manchester City Council – 341 claims – £1,081,522
  6. Birmingham City Council – 283 claims – £806,004
  7. Bury Council – 82 claims – £735,000
  8. Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council – 104 claims – £719,454.46
  9. Southampton City Council – 49 claims – £494,970
  10. Sheffield City Council – 79 claims – £481,351.32

The data highlights that regions in the northwest and southeast of England have shelled out the highest personal injury payouts from local authorities.  

In a recent press release, a spokesperson from JF Law, the parent company of the Legal Expert brand, commented on the findings, stating that “Claims against local highways authorities are more common than you may think.

“If a highway is maintainable at public expense then the local authority or council is responsible for ensuring that a reasonable system of inspection, maintenance and repair is implemented and adhered to.”

Local authorities are entrusted with the duty of ensuring the safety of their controlled premises, spaces, highways, and equipment for both visitors and employees, as reasonably feasible within their capacity. 

Image: © photoschmidt via Canva
Josie Geistfeld
Josie is an editor for Claims Media. She welcomes feedback, comments, and opinion at josie.geistfeld@barkerbrooks.co.uk