Countless pedestrians use sidewalks each day hoping to travel safely to their destinations. And yet for victims of trip and falls on sidewalks, a normal walk can turn into a lifelong disability.
But there’s help and powerful legal options available to these victims, and if you find yourself in this situation, our team can help you pursue justice, too.
PA Sidewalk Accident Lawyers
Victims of these injuries can count on our experienced sidewalk accident lawyers to defend their rights. Contact us today to discuss your options in a free, no-obligation consultation.
Contact The Justice Guardians
When property owners are not vigilant about the hazards that exist on their premises, or if they are not quick to mitigate any dangers, victims of their negligence have the right to seek justice.
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Who Is Responsible For Sidewalk Injuries?
In the State of Pennsylvania, if someone trips and falls on a sidewalk and they chose to pursue a lawsuit in hopes of recovering damages, they will likely have to prove negligence to have a successful claim.
The defendant in this type of case will usually be the owner of the property to which the sidewalk belongs. They can be a private individual or even a local government. Whatever the case, sidewalk injury cases can be very complicated. If victims don’t have an experienced injury attorney by their side, the maximum compensation may not be achieved.
Different time limits can come into play depending on the nature of a sidewalk accident, and it is important to act quickly. Once time limits for lawsuits and claims expire, it is almost impossible to win a case. This is exactly why we recommend that, if you suffered a trip and fall accident on an unsafe sidewalk, contact us today to receive more information on all of the legal options at your disposal.
Causes Of Falls On Sidewalks
There’s an extensive list of situations which can lead unsuspecting pedestrians to suffer falls on sidewalks. Some of the most common ones that our team of legal professionals have encountered include:
- Uncleared snow and ice
- Obstructions
- Trash and debris
- Uneven segments or slabs
- Large cracks
In addition to the above, there are also many cases in which the natural wear and tear of the sidewalk’s surface and a lack of maintenance or restoration can also prove hazardous.
Trip And Fall Injury Lawsuits
Determining who the responsible party is can be a complicated step in a sidewalk injury claim.
It seems reasonable that the segment of the sidewalk in front of a particular property is the responsibility of the property’s owner, and in many instances, this is true. However, trip and fall claims will also consider how much blame can be attributed to the victim themselves.
For instance, there could indeed be a dangerous crack in a cement sidewalk that causes a person to trip, fall, and suffer an injury upon impact. In this case, the property owner could be found negligent for now fixing the fault in the sidewalk, but they may also argue that the victim should have been more vigilant about where they were walking. Some blame may be attributed to the victim, and the total compensation could be diminished by the percentage of fault that is ultimately deemed to be on behalf of the victim.
If nothing else, the previous example should demonstrate how complicated the laws around sidewalk accidents can be. It also emphasizes the importance of finding an experienced lawyer who will be able to build the most robust case for their client. Our team of Pennsylvania sidewalk accident lawyers have fought and won these types of cases in the past, they know how to bring forth compelling legal claims on behalf of victims, and they can do the same for you.
Can You Sue The City For Tripping On A Sidewalk?
Victims of injuries on public property or areas considered to be City property face legal challenges that are much more complex. Cities in the State of Pennsylvania have established some stringent guidelines that must be followed when claims of negligence are brought forth against them.
In fact, the relevant laws and statutes which deal with these cases are different to those used to argue a civil claim against a private property owner. Similarly, the time limit to bring the claim forth is also different – much shorter – than in civil court claims.
To ensure that the time threshold for filing a sidewalk accident lawsuit does not run out, and you are left without the compensation you deserve, get in touch with our legal team as soon as possible. Via our free legal consultations, we will analyze the facts of your case and determine all of the parties that can be held responsible for the damages you have suffered.
Most important is the fact that our team only works on a contingency basis. This is to say, if we are not able to secure a compensation for our clients, we do not charge any legal fees. We want our clients to know that their best interest is ours as well. We will not settle if we believe there is a chance to obtain a better result for our clients, and we have the resources necessary to see cases all the way through to the end.