I wish to claim slip on pavement compensation after I severely injured my spine in an accident, who is liable for my injury?
Determining liability is essential before claiming slip on pavement compensation for your accident and injury. Compensation is generally awarded to those who have been the victims of the negligence of a third party who owed them a duty of care, and who should not expect to sustain an injury. Provided that you did not contribute to your own slipping on pavement accident in any way, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your injury after slipping on pavement. However liability for a claim for slipping on pavement is not always easy to determine, and for this reason you are strongly advised to consult a personal injury solicitor at the earliest opportunity to assess your claim and establish whether it is worth pursuing.
It may be possible that your slip on pavement compensation could be claimed against the authority responsible for the maintenance of the pavement in question. Particularly if outdoors, a pavement should be suitable for walking upon when wet in order to avert a potential slipping on pavement accident from occurring. In the situation that an injury after slipping on pavement was sustained, the circumstances of your accident would have to be assessed and if the material used for the pavement is determined to be unsuitable, you may be entitled to pursue compensation against the authority responsible for the pavement’s maintenance. For instance – a claim for slipping on pavement could be initiated against the local council if the accident occurred in a public place or against the owners of a shopping centre if you sustained your injury while on their grounds.
However you should also be prepared for the possibility that your slip on pavement compensation could be affected if your injury was sustained due to your own negligence. For instance, if your injury after slipping on pavement was sustained after you had taken unsafe actions – such as running in a “no running” area – you may be considered to be liable for your own accident due to your own negligence. It may also be possible that you did not seek immediate medical attention following your slipping on pavement accident and this resulted in a deterioration of your injuries. If contributory negligence is a factor in your injuries, this does not always disqualify you from making a claim for slipping on pavement – however the amount of compensation you can claim may be reduced to reflect your own carelessness.
After sustaining an injury after slipping on pavement, you should consult a solicitor at the earliest opportunity to discuss the circumstances surrounding your accident and injury. By conducting an assessment of your slipping on pavement accident a solicitor can determine which party is liable for your injuries, the amount of compensation you may be entitled to claim and whether your claim is worth pursuing further. As per the Statute of Limitations, there is a time limit of two years in which to make a claim for slipping on pavement in Ireland. For this reason, a personal injury solicitor should be contacted without delay regarding your slip on pavement compensation.
