Sidewalks provide space for people to walk while shopping or just enjoying a stroll. However, sometimes that stroll can turn into a nightmare if you trip over a chunk of turned up sidewalk and fall.

Most fall-related injuries can be avoided with proper sidewalk maintenance. When an injury does occur, it can be serious. the victim will eventually want to know if they are going to get compensated for their medical bills, lost time from work and all the pain and difficulty that came with the injury.

Creation of a Hazard

Every retail outlet has a duty to keep its premises safe for those coming onto their property. This often includes the sidewalk in front of their store. California law states that a hazard to be created in two ways:

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  1. The owner created the hazard through negligent maintenance or other means, or
  2. The owner knew, or should have known of a hazard and did nothing (or did something inadequate) to fix the condition.

If the owner caused the problem by faulty or negligent repair, or they knew of the hazard and did nothing, then anyone hurt as a result will have a claim against the owner for negligence.

Defenses to a Negligent Maintenance

California law also allows the store owner to show that either they didn’t create the hazard, or the hazard came up and they fixed it a reasonable time. The key here is reasonable. How much time is reasonable? The law doesn’t specify, it just looks at what a typical, prudent landowner would do under the same or similar circumstances.

Sidewalk Injuries

Any fall can produce serious injuries, especially to the elderly or those in poor health to begin with.

Some of the common injuries that can happen from a sidewalk fall are:

  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Broken Wrists
  • Shattered Kneecaps
  • Broken Hip
  • Broken Collarbone
  • Twisted Ankle
  • Road Rash

Call a Premises Liability Attorney Today

The best thing to do when injured in a sidewalk fall accident is to talk to Premises Liability Attorney. Even if you don’t hire one, you owe it to yourself to be advised of the law by an impartial professional. If you decide to get representation, choose someone who is experienced and understands the law.

Call the Law Offices of Steers & Associates at 800 824 5416 or click here to contact us online. We have attorneys with years of experience dealing with premises liability accidents, and we get results against the insurance companies and their highly-paid lawyers. Call us now to even the playing field and get the compensation you deserve.

 

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