MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM — (Marketwire) — 10/27/11 — Data released under the Freedom of Information Act has revealed that council have paid out GBP 75 million in compensation for in the past 5 years.
While this figure is highly likely to be met with anger by taxpayers, Charles Hadfield, General Manager at Personal Injury Group, believes this anger should be directed to councils rather than claimants. He comments:
“For a personal injury claim to result in a pay out to the claimant, the defendant, in this case the councils, either have to concede negligence or it has to have been found they were negligent in court. So the problem is really down to council failure to avoid preventable accidents and injuries.”
The figures also made available the sum each council has paid out in compensation. It emerged that Brighton Council was the hardest hit by compensation claims, spending GBP 4.9 million in the five year period. Manchester City Council paid out GBP 2.6 million in compensation over the same period.
Charles Hadfield believes this type of data being made public is good news for the taxpayer, adding that:
“Taxpayers have a right to know how much money negligence on the part of councils is costing them. This sort of information is valuable and should absolutely continue to be made public.”
If you have been injured in an accident that was not your fault and would like to find out if you could claim compensation, you can get in touch with Personal Injury Group at or on 0871 717 7171.
Contacts:
Personal Injury Group
Charles Hadfield
0871 717 7171