Compensation from the Council?

Question

One of my dogs is currently at a private vet undergoing surgery for a very nasty cut to one of his hind legs, this cut was caused by walking on broken glass embedded in mud in an area that the Council road sweepers (three of them) recently picked up litter. I'm wondering if I could seek compensation from the Council to cover the vets fees? Nothing else, just the cost of veterinary treatment. The cost is £263 (of which £83 was just for the consultation fee as it was after surgery hours when we went to the vet). Would I be wasting my time to go ahead with trying to get compensation just for the cost of treatment?

greybeard, you're an ignorant ****. Go and irritatate someone else.

And it's not about "compensation culture", it's about the Council taking responsibility for failing to do the job (which WE pay them to do) properly. If it was just about compensation I'd want more than vets fees, wouldn't I?

Answer 1

Unless you can prove it was their fault - forget it! You would have to prove that the glass was left behind by the clean up crew and not done after the clean up! The council will always deny it!

Answer 2

You could, but ultimately it would cost you more to pursue a claim of this nature than you would get in damages. The difficulty you face is firstly proving that that Council was negligent and secondly, that the Council had a duty off care. I think you would have problems on both counts.

Firstly, the Council have a duty to exercise 'reasonable' diligence in sweeping the roads. Reasonable care would not encompass picking up all rubbish or pieces of glass as the burden on the Council would be too great.

Secondly, you would have to show that the Council were negligent. Unless you can show that the road sweepers were inadequately trained or that the way in which they went about their task was inadequate, then you would have difficulty. At best all you could show is that "they missed a bit".

It would certainly be worth making a complaint using the council's complaints procedure, and asking for a copy of the "training manual" from the council under the freedom of information act. If either are not to your satisfaction, you can complain (for free) to the local government ombudsman, who can, in some cases, award compensation, if the Council's procedures are deficient in some way.

Answer 3

sorry this sounds extremely unlikely, you cannot proove where the glass came from or how long it was there plus trying to get the council to fix a tennants windows or doors can take years nevermind trying to get a few quid out of them!! it will be cheaper for you to insure your pet, a dog, around £4 a month, saves the worry of vet fees, i wouldnt waste your time trying to claim of these, it will cost probaly more than you are trying to get back and be stressful if it falls through

Answer 4

go & take some pictures of the glass straight away & put a newspaper in the photo to prove the date
if you are going to try & get your vet costs back pursue it straight away - the more time passes the harder it will be

Answer 5

The problem may not be considered as the council not picking up litter but the persons who throw it down. Please stop anyone you see throwing down litter. I don't think you will get it from the council but do try but don't go to court

Answer 6

You may have a job on there but anything is worth a try.You have nothing to lose so go for it.

Answer 7

no go for it.
if in doubt contact the citerzins advice or your local mp

Answer 8

Give it a go, it is certainly is worth a try.

Answer 9

OH MY GOD! it's that COMPENSATION CULTURE again! why didn't you have the dog put down, cost about £50 then buy a new one, better still get one from the RSPCA, it would work out a lot cheaper!