How Can a Pedestrian Get Hurt on a Sidewalk?

You might assume that you have encountered far more dangerous tasks in your lifetime than simply walking along a pedestrian-designated sidewalk. But unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond your reasonable control, you may find yourself seriously injured after doing so. If you are looking for answers and clarity, please read on to discover how a pedestrian can possibly get hurt while walking on a sidewalk and how a seasoned Passaic County sidewalk accident lawyer at the Law Offices of August R. Soltis can help you hold the appropriate party accountable for your slip and fall.

How can a pedestrian possibly get hurt on a sidewalk?

Even though you may practice an abundance of caution, and nothing is seemingly dangerous about the sidewalk you are walking on, you might still get hurt. Below are examples that may possibly resonate with you and your pedestrian accident:

• A pedestrian might slip and fall over large cracks and potholes present on a poorly maintained walking path.
• A pedestrian might slip and fall over an uneven surface due to a tree root, heaved slabs from weather damage, etc.
• A pedestrian might slip and fall sidestepping a path obstruction (i.e., construction equipment, weather-related debris, etc).
• A pedestrian might slip and fall from hazards on the path undetected due to poor overhead lighting in the early morning or nighttime.
• A pedestrian might slip and fall on a sidewalk undergoing repairs and construction without the proper warning signage and barricades.

Who can I possibly sue if I slip and fall on a sidewalk?

You may not have encountered anyone on your walk, and in the moments leading up to your pedestrian accident on a sidewalk. But even still, you may be assured that it was due to no fault of your own, but rather the negligence of a third party. Well, you may be correct with your suspicions.

For one, you may have slipped and fallen on a sidewalk part of private property. In this case, you may sue a property owner if you can prove that they knew or should have reasonably known about the sidewalk hazard; they failed to barricade it or fix it in a timely manner; and it ultimately caused you to get hurt and suffer damages.

Or, you may have slipped and fallen on a public sidewalk in a park, in a business district, or otherwise. For these locations, a city, county, or state government entity may be liable for this. Importantly, if you wish to sue a government entity, you may need to submit a notice of claim to them first.

Lastly, it is worth mentioning that in the state of New Jersey, the sidewalk adjacent to or in front of a residential property is considered public property. Therefore, if this was the site of your pedestrian accident, you must direct your claim towards a government entity, go through the notice of claim procedure, etc.

In conclusion, you should retain legal representation before you even get close to submitting your premises liability claim. So please, contact a competent Passaic County slip and fall lawyer from the Law Offices of August R. Soltis today.