Uneven Sidewalks in Manhattan Can Lead to Devastating Injuries
Injuries caused by trips or stumbles on uneven pavement could lead to legal action
Many different parties share responsibility for maintaining the miles of pavement and sidewalks in New York City. When damage to those sidewalks leads to injuries, the hardest part of recovering rightful compensation may be determining just who is legally responsible for the patch of sidewalk that caused the injury. Fortunately, the experienced personal injury attorneys at the New York City law firm of Segan, Nemerov, Singer, Sonin & Tancer, P.C. can guide you through the injury claims process from start to finish.
Just who is responsible for maintaining this sidewalk?
Uneven sidewalks, broken sidewalks and raised flagstones plague New York City for many reasons:
- Poor design or construction of sidewalks
- Water damage
- Abutting tree roots
- Settling of the sidewalk and concrete
- Environmental factors
But the question of responsibility for a safe sidewalk has more to do with the nature of the adjacent property than the reason for the damage.
In just about any personal injury case stemming from a broken or uneven sidewalk, the liable party is either the city or the owner of the adjoining property as follows:
- The city is responsible for a sidewalk when the adjoining property is a one-, two- or three-family residential dwelling occupied by its owner and used only for residential purposes.
- For all other properties, the adjacent property owner shoulders sidewalk maintenance responsibility. This includes any commercial building or residential structure that houses more than three families.
New York City courts have also ruled that the owner of a building cannot delegate or defer responsibility for their sidewalks to any other party, including the city.
What types of compensation can an attorney help recover in an uneven sidewalk injury case?
To file a premises liability case for compensation involving an accident caused by uneven or broken sidewalks, you must do more than simply identify the responsible party. You must also prove that:
- The responsible party knew about the hazardous sidewalk and failed to repair it within a reasonable timeframe.
- The hazardous sidewalk directly caused your injury.
- You suffered financially due to your injury.
At Segan, Nemerov, Singer, Sonin & Tancer, P.C., our experienced personal injury lawyers can help you review your case to determine its validity. And if we find your case to be solid, we fight tooth and nail to help you recover compensation for:
- All medical bills related to the accident
- Lost past, present and future wages
- Rehabilitation costs
- Transportation costs
- Pain and suffering
Contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible
If you or someone you love has been injured by a fall on broken or uneven pavement, time is not on your side. This is especially true when the liable party in your case is the city of New York. Contact the experienced injury lawyers at Segan, Nemerov, Singer, Sonin & Tancer, P.C. today to arrange a free consultation. You can reach us online or at (212) 696-9100.
