Lyndhurst

Paulozzi LPA fought long and hard (understatement) for me to get the best outcome possible after my car accident. Joe Paulozzi and Amy Higgins were wonderful… dedicated, persevering, and honest. I cannot thank them enough, and I highly recommend them to anyone who wants excellent and proactive representation.

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What happens if you slip and fall on a public sidewalk? Who is responsible?

To hold a property owner liable, two conditions must be met:

  • The sidewalk must have been unreasonably unsafe.
  • The property owner must have known about the unsafe condition and failed to take reasonable steps to address it.

Depending on the state you live in, different parties may be responsible for maintaining public sidewalks. In some states, it may even be the homeowner’s responsibility. If a municipality is liable, there are important rules you need to be aware of.

  1. There are typically strict deadlines for making a personal injury claim against a municipality or state. The time frame for notifying the correct department can be as short as 30 days. Additionally, the deadline for filing a lawsuit is often shorter than in other personal injury cases. It’s important to ensure you are filing your claim against the correct governmental entity, whether it’s the state or city responsible for maintaining the sidewalk where you fell.
  2. There is usually a cap on how much you can recover from a municipality or state if you win your case. This limit can be quite low, sometimes well under $100,000.

As with all slip and fall cases, it’s essential to take photos and document what happened when you fell. For example, if you slipped on an icy sidewalk and the ice melts the next day, it may be difficult to prove that the municipality or property owner was negligent.

Also, pay attention to hazards that have been present for a long time. For instance, if there have been multiple potholes in the sidewalk for months and the city has not repaired them, you may have a stronger case against the city and a better chance of recovering damages.

If you’ve been injured in a sidewalk accident, don’t hesitate to reach out to Paulozzi LPA Injury Lawyers. We are ready to assist you with your case and help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Call us now

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