Claim compensation due to a road or street problem

Before you start

There has been a significant increase in the number of claims received recently by DfI Roads Claims Unit, meaning claims processing times have been affected.

While your claim will be dealt with as quickly as possible, the Unit may not be able to make a decision on your claim within the average timescales for dealing with roads-related public liability claims outlined in the ‘Timescales for claim decisions’ section below.

Report the problem that you believe caused damage

If you have not yet reported the problem that you believe caused the property damage, vehicle damage, or personal injury, do this by choosing one of the pages in the following section:

• Problems with roads and streets

Keep a note of the 'W' reference number you're given after reporting it, as you will be asked for this when completing a claim form.

Providing clear, dated photographs and/ or photographs of the damaged property are essential for the processing of your claim. This includes:

•  close-up shots of the defect - that is, the problem on the road/street that caused the damage/injury

and

• the defect at a distance and in the context of the surrounding area

Property damage claim

If it is a claim for property damage you will need:

• photographs showing the damage to your property
• receipts or estimates for the repair of your property (see 'Things to note' section)
• details of your insurance company if you're claiming off them for the same incident

Vehicle damage claim

If it's a claim for vehicle damage, you will need:

• a copy of Vehicle Test certificate
• a copy of the first page of certificate V5C (log book) showing the name of the registered keeper and vehicle registration mark
• the date that your motor tax expires
• photographs of the damage to your vehicle
• photographs of the same defect at a distance showing the surrounding area and any identifiable landmarks (these are crucial to allow for the precise identification of the accident location and failure to provide these could significantly delay the investigation of your claim)
• receipts or estimates for the repair of the vehicle (see 'Things to note' section)
• details of your insurance company if you're claiming off them for the same incident
• proof of insurance excess (if applicable)

Personal injury claim

If it's a claim for personal injury, you will need:

• photographs showing a close-up of the defect that caused your injury and the same defect at a distance showing the surrounding area
• name and address of your doctor’s surgery or the hospital you attended
• names and addresses of any witnesses to your accident

Things to note

You should keep the damaged parts/ items as these may need to be inspected by a representative acting on behalf of the Department for Infrastructure (DfI).

You must keep all original receipts/ estimates about the claim, as the originals may be needed by DfI to complete your claim.

If you're unable to scan copies of the requested documents, clear and readable photographs will be accepted by DfI for the initial assessment of your claim.

If the claim is for personal injury and you are the claimant and are under 18 years of age (a minor), you must nominate a parent or other representative to make this claim on your behalf.

Register an account

When you first open the online claims form below you will need to register an account. To do so you will have to use your email address and then the 'Create an Account' button. 

An email will then be sent to you with details of how to set your password.  Check your email junk/ spam folder if you believe you have not received the email.

Privacy notice

You can find out how any personal information you send to the DfI Roads Claims Unit when using this service will be handled by viewing its privacy notice.

Additional information

Tracking the progress of a claim

If you have made a claim online you can check its progress at the following link:

• Track progress of a compensation claim

You will need your login details and the unique claim reference number that you will be given by the DfI Roads Claims Unit after it registers your claim.

Getting compensation

Compensation is not automatically guaranteed. DfI must thoroughly investigate every claim to see if it has a defence to the allegations made.

When its investigations are complete, you will be told of its decision in writing.

Property and vehicle damage

If the decision is taken to pay compensation, the amount offered will be the amount estimated to return your property or vehicle to the condition it was in immediately before the damage.

There is no legal entitlement to provide 'new for old', therefore the amount of compensation paid may be less than the amount claimed.

Personal injury only

If DfI makes an offer of compensation for an injury to a minor, the matter will be referred to a judge to assess if the compensation is fair.

Any compensation paid will be held by the court until the minor reaches the age of 18.

Timescales for claim decisions

The average timescale for a decision to be taken on vehicle damage claims is four months. For personal injury claims it is six months.

For internal flooding of living accommodation, the target is six weeks.

The average timescale for a decision on all other property damage claims is six months.

To investigate your claim thoroughly, DfI Roads Claims Unit may have to check the following:

• highway inspection and repair records
• other records held by DfI (for example, public complaints)
• whether a contractor or other organisation is involved

Once your claim has been thoroughly investigated, a decision is taken to either pay compensation, reject it, or refer it to another party.

Why another party might be involved

From investigations, it may be established that a contractor, utility company, or another person or organisation was responsible for the incident.

In those circumstances, details will be passed to that person or organisation to investigate your claim further.

Meeting at the accident site

Personal injury and vehicle damage only 

Providing clear, dated photographs as mentioned in the 'Report the problem that you believe caused damage' section above may mean that a meeting on site might not be necessary.

If DfI can't identity the exact location from the photographs, a meeting may be arranged with a member of its staff so that you can show the exact location.  

Alternatively, and particularly if there are health and safety concerns, you may be asked to provide better quality photographs.

Property damage and vehicle damage

During its investigation, it may be necessary for a DfI staff member to find the cause of and inspect the damage to your property or vehicle.

In some cases DfI may use the services of a loss adjuster to inspect the damage to your property or vehicle and to advise on the financial aspects of a claim.

Such visits form part of DfI's investigations and do not mean that it is accepting liability.

If you have already carried out the repairs, keep evidence of the damage by either keeping the damaged item(s), where possible, or providing photographs of the damage.

If a claim relates to the sewerage and water 

Northern Ireland Water Ltd is responsible for supplying water and sewerage services, and the company has its own claims-handling procedures.

If your claim is as a result of flooding or any other actions or operations taken by or on behalf of NI Water, you should contact Waterline to ask for a claim form.

• Waterline: 0345 744 0088
• Contacting 08 and 03 telephone numbers

Further information may be found at this link:

• Flooding in your area

Making a complaint about how a claim was handled

If you wish to complain about any aspect of how a claim was handled, you can find out what to do on the Complaining about how a claim was handled page.

Claiming compensation by email

If you prefer, you can download a claim form, which can be filled in using your device/ computer and then emailed to claimsunit@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk together with your supporting documentation. 

You can find the forms at these links:

• Property damage compensation claim form
• Vehicle damage compensation claim form
• Personal injury compensation claim form

Contact DfI Roads Claims Unit if you're unable to use either the online claim forms or use email to send your claim form.  

• DfI Roads Claims Unit - Belfast Office