Bolton Council paid out more than £400,000 in injury compensation claims last year, The Bolton News can reveal.
The payouts, uncovered following a Freedom of Information request, are made up of a string of claims made by members of the public amounting to £360,000 as well as £50,000 compensation awarded to council staff.
The council made 71 payouts to Bolton residents, ranging from £850 to £27,000, for slips, trips and falls on council footpaths and pavements. One of the payments was for an accident involving a child.
There were a further 15 payments made to council employees, including teachers and school staff, ranging from £1,000 to £13,750.
Accidents included a fall from a chair, slipping on polythene wrapping, a trip on a pothole and someone who tripped over a picnic table. One woman worker received £13,750 for a fall in a car park while another member of staff was awarded £4,500 after injuring his back while caring for someone.
The previous year, almost £600,000 in compensation was paid out to people who tripped and fell on pavements, but this was a reduction of more than £200,000 for 2008/09, when Bolton Council paid out £804,124.
The council says it does not pay out on 75 per cent of claims it receives.
The council stated it paid out early on claims where it believes it is responsible to avoid costly legal battles.
A spokesman added: “If we think the case is defendable then we will not pay out and contest the claim in court.”
Nearly £2 million is currently being invested in the borough’s road network, but the council said the claims relating to potholes were not a significant proportion.
The TaxPayers’ Alliance blamed a growing “compensation culture” in the UK.
Research director John O’Connell said: “Taxpayers will be shocked to hear what huge sums are being paid out. Sadly there is a growing compensation culture and while some claims are unavoidable, it’s disappointing that big payments are often made for seemingly little more than everyday accidents, wasting taxpayers’ cash and making council staff paranoid about carrying out their jobs.”
Personal injury specialist Michael Hardacre, Partner at Manchester law firm Pannone, said there is no such thing as a compensation culture.
He said: “Try telling the widow of someone who has just died from asbestos related cancer that she is a greedy compensation seeker because she is looking for justice for her husband.
“Even on a less dramatic scale, the principles remain the same for someone who slips and injures themselves on a pavement that has not been properly maintained by a council.
“They should also be able to seek recompense from that council for their injuries and very often loss of earnings.
“Over the last few years, many councils have improved their standards enormously and have as a result reduced the amount they pay out in compensation.
Some councils simply take the view that it’s easier to pay out compensation than to spend the money improving standards.
Ultimately the point of claimants having the right to sue, is to hold the failing councils to account and make them do the simple things we pay our council tax for, like filling potholes in the road, more quickly and properly.”
Lancashire Claims
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