Trip & Fall Accident Attorneys

Is it possible for an athlete who engages in extreme sports such as rock climbing or extreme mountain biking to sustain broken bones from a sidewalk accident? While this seems improbable, it can happen because of the person’s expectations says Arkady Frekhtman, one of the trip & fall accident attorneys at the F&A injury law firm in New York City. When using a sidewalk, it’s natural to assume that it’s a perfectly safe activity. Walking on sidewalks is not an extreme sport and shouldn’t require the same intense focus of spotting fall hazards. It’s a reasonable expectation that it’s safe to let your guard down.

Defective sidewalks are hazardous for everyone using them. Sidewalks must be safe for all pedestrians including joggers, children, the elderly, and the disabled. Good sidewalks are essential for delivery workers, who can’t always look at their feet when they’re carrying packages in their arms.

When a sidewalk causes a trip and fall injury that sets you back, you shouldn’t have to bear the hardships on your own. Trip & Fall accident attorneys are available to help you.

Common Sidewalk Hazards

• Tilted concrete slabs. Settling soil, erosion, and tree root growth are common reasons for uneven and tilted sidewalk slabs. Their elevated vertical edges present a trip and fall hazard for the unwary. In the winter, snow or ice cover on their tilted surfaces makes them a slip and fall hazard. While you can negotiate (using great care) a slippery level surface without falling, the same isn’t true for a slippery sloped surface. Unless you’re wearing ice cleats, standing on a slope requires friction.
• Potholes. Potholes are both a trip and fall, and a slip and fall hazard. In warm and cold weather it causes tripping. In cold weather, water in the pothole can freeze into slippery ice.
• Construction areas. Construction work areas that overlap sidewalks should block off pedestrian access. Safe alternative routes for pedestrians should be provided.
• Cracks. Cracks have a way of spreading and getting larger. This is caused by repeated freezing and thawing of entrapped water. Cracked and broken up pavement no longer provides a smooth and level walking surface for the public.

If a defective sidewalk accident injured you, get the legal help of experienced accident attorneys who can get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us today at Frekhtman & Associates.