Compensation culture apparently to blame for the falling standard in the condition of Britain's pavements and highways

In what has to be a truly remarkable attempt to delegate responsibility GMTV today reported that local councils are unable to maintain pavements because of money being drained away by over zealous personal injury claimants and their lawyers.

The argument seems to be that because they are having to spend time and money defending claims brought by injured parties, they could not divert the funds appropriately. This has led to a downturn in repair work and maintenance generally which of course merely serves to increase the deterioration of the pathways and roads which cause the injuries in the first place.

An impassioned defence of the legal process was offered by David Wingate (Manchester PI lawyer) who quite rightly pointed out that in fact the Councils of England & Wales have had a statutory duty to maintain the highways to a certain standard for two decades. The fact that they are failing to do so is not a new or modern phenomenon, its is a long standing issue.

To illustrate the problem, GMTV also interviewed a pensioner who had tripped on her way to the shop and suffered a fractured pelvis. Her life had altered completely since the accident. People in her position are entitled to make a compensation claim following a slipping accident. It is only right that Councils are brought to account for their failing standards in this crucial area. Not least because the are flouting their statutory obligations.

APIL support new Bill allowing workers to claim from independent body where no other employers liability insurance can be traced - 17th March 2009