Sidewalk and walkway injuries happen as a result of uneven surfaces, debris, poor lighting, root damage and other reasons. These injuries are typically preventable with proper maintenance. Under California Law, a sidewalk injury occurs when you sustain any damage or harm while using a public sidewalk. The state mandates property owners maintain their part of the sidewalk. Enforcement of these mandates vary by venue and the State of California only accepts liability if a city approves an ordinance addressing it. There may also be a stipulation that a property owner is only if they are directly responsible for sidewalk defects.
In the City of Los Angeles most property owners refuse to pay to repair sidewalks and instead rely on city officials. It’s well known the sidewalks in Los Angeles are hazardous with a current backlog of over 50,000 complaints and neighboring San Diego has a complaint backlog exceeding 35,000 repairs. These cities settle lawsuits resulting from sidewalk accidents, often with millions of dollars in payouts. As recently as 2020 Los Angeles spent $12 million in sidewalk injury settlements.
Sidewalk injuries most commonly result from uneven surfaces, cracks, or other defects that pose a risk to pedestrians. These injuries include slips, trips, and falls, leading to various levels of harm, from sprains or fractures to head trauma. While these accidents are unintentional, the also tend to be severe. Injuries from accidents is one of the most common causes of death in the United States, with over 58,000 per year.
There are many types of sidewalk injury causes.
Slip and fall accidents – Uneven or slippery sidewalks can cause a person to slip and fall. These could result in broken bones if they try to catch themselves or head trauma if they tumble backward. Multiple fractures can severely impact a person’s daily activities and place them in considerable pain for a long time.
Bicycle accidents – Someone riding their bicycle on the sidewalk can be injured as a result of coming into contact with a crack, pothole, or other defects. Falling from a bike can result in broken bones and may put the cyclist in danger of falling onto the street and into traffic.
Back injuries – Slipping or falling can cause severe spinal cord injuries or even a herniated disc. Such damage can permanently alter a person’s ability to work or move. The risk increases significantly for older adults as they’re more fragile, and their injuries can take years to recover.
Cuts and wounds – A fall from a sidewalk defect can leave someone with deep wounds or cuts if they come in contact with an uneven surface or jagged edges. These injuries are common on the hands, legs, and face. If the victim couldn’t clean the wound properly due to the dirt and debris on the sidewalk, it could become infected or scarred.
Sprains – If someone’s in a rush, they could sprain or twist their ankle from a defect on the sidewalk. They could also injure their wrists if they attempt to catch themselves as they fall. A sprain can make everyday tasks more challenging, and the pain can be debilitating and may result in a permanent injury.
Sidewalks are made for walking and must be maintained. People use sidewalks every day to get where they need to go. However, accidents can still happen due to uneven surfaces, poor maintenance, inclement weather, poor lighting, and other reasons. It’s worth reiterating that the law places liability on the property owners whose establishments connect with the sidewalk and this may vary depending on the jurisdiction or municipality.
We represent people who are injured because of the careless and reckless acts of others. At the end of the day your case can only be settled one time and you need to know all of the facts beforehand. The reason that insurance companies have paid our clients in excess of $130,000,000.00 is that we get the facts and are not intimidated at the prospect of going to trial when insurance companies fail to offer full compensation. We help with serious injuries that require serious representation. We are the Law Offices of Guenard & Bozarth, LLP. Our attorneys have more than 60 years of experience specializing in only representing injured people. Call GB Legal 24/7/365 at 888-809-1075 or visit www.gblegal.com
