Unsafe sidewalk conditions such as cracked and uneven slabs can result in serious trip-and-fall injuries such as torn ligaments, broken bones and head injuries. Unfortunately, the injured person may not know where to turn for help.
Many people assume the local government will pay for damages such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering caused by unsafe sidewalk conditions. However, in many Florida communities, the owner of the adjacent property is responsible. It often takes a lawyer’s help to determine who is responsible and recover compensation.
Just because you injured yourself in a sidewalk fall does not mean you are entitled to compensation. To recover compensation, you must prove that your fall was caused by a defect in the sidewalk. A number of sidewalk conditions may be considered defects. Here are a few examples:
· A cracked or broken sidewalk
· A missing sidewalk slab
· A loose slab
· A difference in height between two adjoining slabs
· Improper sidewalk repairs
· A sidewalk that retrains water due to an improper slope
Injuries caused by unsafe sidewalk conditions may be covered by general liability insurance of a local government or a business. If the homeowner is responsible for maintaining the sidewalk, damages may be covered by homeowners insurance.
If you are injured due to an unsafe sidewalk condition, it’s important to seek prompt medical attention for your injuries. You should also take (or have someone else take) pictures of the unsafe condition.
Finally, you should seek advice from an experienced attorney who handles premises liability cases. You may have a limited amount of time in which to file a personal injury claim. The law firm of Dolan Dobrinsky Rosenblum Bluestein, LLP represents people in the Miami-Dade area and throughout Florida who have been injured in trip-and-fall accident cases.