You may be able to claim compensation for personal injury or property damage due to a highway defect.
The presence of a defect doesn't automatically mean the responsible council is liable. Seek independent legal advice if needed.
Before you claim
It's important check who is responsible and direct your claim to the correct authority:
- Oxfordshire County Council is responsible for main (classified) roads within the city and roads outside the city but within Oxfordshire county - see their web page Compensation claims as a result of highway defects.
- National Highways is responsible for incidents on the A34 or M40 - see their web page Network Claims.
- Oxford City Council and Oxford Direct Services (ODS) are responsible for unclassified roads (usually side and estate roads) within the Oxford city boundaries - follow the steps on this page.
Claims against Oxford City Council
Under the Highways Act 1980, we are required to take ‘reasonable steps’ to make the highway safe. The Act also provides defences against claims when a council has acted reasonably and complied with its duty. Reasonable action includes regular inspections and timely repairs once a defect is known. This means your claim may not be successful if we have fulfilled our duty.
Your information may be shared with contractors or law enforcement agencies if necessary. For more details, please read Oxford City Council’s Data Protection Policy.
Step 1 - Report the defect
See How to report a highway maintenance issue in Oxford.
Step 2 - Request a claim form
Information you must provide includes:
- the FixMyStreet report reference
- the specific time, date and location of the incident
- a brief description of the incident
Request a highway defect claim form
Step 3 - Complete the form and start your claim
We'll send a detailed claim form to the email or postal address you provided.
Complete the detailed claim form and return it to us
What happens next
Your claim will be formalised when we receive your completed detailed claim form.
We pass all details to our insurers (Zurich Municipal). If the issue was caused by a contractor or utility company, your claim may be passed to them.
The aim is to decide on claims within three months, although complex cases may take longer. Our insurer will inform you of the decision.
