Many pedestrians in Atlanta consider city sidewalks to be safe places for them to walk. If the sidewalk is located on a publicly owned piece of property, it is the responsibility of the city to maintain it. This maintenance should be taken care of in a timely manner in order to reduce the risk of citizens becoming injured.
A couple who sustained injuries after tripping and falling on a raised piece of pavement on a sidewalk are blaming the city of Glendale, California. They filed a premises liability lawsuit against the city in which they alleged that the city did not provide a safe place to walk and was negligent in repairing a dangerous condition. The couple’s lawyer said that the pavement on the sidewalk was raised over an inch and that it had been there long enough for the city to know about it and take care of it.
The married couple, an 83 year old man and his 78-year-wife, were walking together with their arms linked when the man tripped on the raised portion of sidewalk and took his wife down with him. The woman sustained bruising o her elbows and knees and tore her rotator cuff. The man injured his back and displaced a finger. The city recently agreed on a $30,000 settlement with the couple.
If you have had a similar experience and would like to discuss your right to compensation for your injuries, you may want to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. Doing so may be the first step in moving toward a favorable outcome.
Source: Glendale News-Press, “City settles slip-and-fall case for $30K,” Brittany Levine, Jan. 25, 2014
