If you fall down due to a dangerous sidewalk, you could face a variety of hardships. Sidewalk accidents can lead to debilitating physical pain, brain damage due to hitting your head and different financial consequences (such as missing work or dealing with medical costs). Sadly, some of these accidents occur as a direct result of the property owner’s negligence.
It is important to understand your options and hold a property owner answerable if their carelessness caused you to become hurt in an accident.
Property owners must keep sidewalks safe
In New York City, property owners have a responsibility to maintain sidewalks. The New York City Department of Transportation states that negligent property owners who fail to keep sidewalks abutting their property reasonably safe can find themselves held liable if someone becomes injured as a result of dangerous conditions on the sidewalk.
For example, a property owner must repair, replace or install sidewalk flags (squares) when necessary. Moreover, property owners must address dirt, snow, ice and other materials that make the sidewalk unsafe.
Recovering from a sidewalk accident
In the aftermath of a sidewalk accident, you could have serious and painful injuries, mental trauma and financial hardships. It is pivotal to prioritize all aspects of your recovery, not only from a physical viewpoint but also with respect to your finances. Unfortunately, some negligent property owners fail to address these hazards and injuries will continue to occur.
If you believe that a property owner’s carelessness caused you to become injured on a sidewalk, you need to take a look at your options immediately.