Sidewalk Falls

Knowledgeable Sidewalk Fall Liability Attorneys in NYC

If you suffer an injury caused by a dangerous sidewalk, you might not know who was responsible for the accident. The New York City attorneys at Barasch & McGarry have assisted with numerous sidewalk fall liability cases, so we know how to handle this very specific type of personal injury claim. Our team has nearly 100 years of combined experience, and we all share a deep passion for helping people across our city with their personal injury claims. Don’t wait to seek the advice of a law firm with an outstanding track record of success.

An incredibly professional law firm that gets results. They are very accessible and quick to address any and all questions or concerns. I am very thankful for all that Mike and his firm has done for me and my family.

R.G.
Personal Injury Client

Common Causes Of Sidewalk Injuries

Sidewalks might not seem especially dangerous, but defects and neglected maintenance can cause serious accidents leading to injuries. Determining who is responsible for maintaining the sidewalk is not always easy. Sometimes, private property owners are at fault. But, many sidewalk injury claims are against the city or government agency responsible for sidewalk upkeep.

Some of the most common problems include the following:

• Cracks – Large cracks in sidewalks can cause pedestrians to trip and fall, leading to broken bones, fractures, knee and back injuries, and other conditions.
• Debris – Objects like gravel, construction debris, trash or abandoned items may create a dangerous situation on sidewalks, causing people to trip or slip.
• Ice – In the wintertime, it’s up to property owners to ensure sidewalks are properly shoveled and salted. The city requires that you make sidewalks passable within a few hours after the weather conditions first hit.
• Cellar doors – If a business or property owner leaves a sidewalk cellar door open or fails to properly maintain these doors, it’s easy for pedestrians to fall and hurt themselves. Be sure to speak with an attorney immediately if you’ve been injured by a cellar door.

Our attorneys can guide you through the legal process after you suffer an injury due to a dangerous sidewalk.

Filing A Claim After You’ve Been Injured

If you have been injured on a sidewalk, you may need to take legal action to cover your medical expenses, loss of wages, rehabilitation and other costs. It may be possible to file a claim against the city for breach of duty in its requirement to keep you, as a citizen, reasonably safe. You may also decide to sue for inadequate notice of any hazard that resulted in your injury. It’s important to note that if you are seeking compensation from a municipal or government agency, you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the injury. This is much shorter than the standard statute of limitations of three years for personal injury claims in New York against non-municipal defendants.

In other situations, you may need to take action against property owners, especially if the sidewalk was in front of the owners’ house or on their property, such as at a store or restaurant.