NYC Personal Injury Lawyer » Bronx Broken Sidewalk Accident Lawyer

Bronx Broken Sidewalk Accident Lawyer

Walking is the most common form of transportation for busy Bronx residents. While most residents are vigilant and navigate the streets and sidewalks with care and awareness, it’s not always possible to watch every step—especially when carrying packages, or walking children and pets.

Instead, Bronx residents and visitors have a right to a reasonable expectation of safe sidewalks. If a broken sidewalk caused your trip-and-fall accident with injuries, you don’t have to be left responsible for the economic consequences as well as the pain.

Instead, reach out to a Bronx premises liability lawyer from the Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers at (212) 564-2800 for a free consultation to learn your legal rights.

Common Causes of Bronx Sidewalk Accidents

Sidewalks require regular routine maintenance and repairs. As soil below the concrete sidewalk settles, shifts, or forms moisture and ice causing expansion and contraction, the sidewalk’s surface may lift, crack, crumble, or break. Common causes of sidewalk accidents include the following:

• Uneven sidewalks
• Large cracks
• Broken or crumbled sidewalk pieces form debris underfoot
• Roots below the sidewalk cause lifted areas
• Vegetation overgrowth presents a trip-and-fall hazard
• Holes or indentations on broken sidewalks allow rainwater to pool, causing a slip-and-fall hazard
• Slippery snow and ice accumulate in broken or cracked areas

Broken sidewalks are a serious fall hazard, particularly for the elderly or children, but Bronx residents of any age can experience a dangerous fall.

Who Is Liable for Damages In a Bronx Sidewalk Slip-and-Fall Accident?

City officials in The Bronx are responsible for maintaining and repairing some sections of Bronx sidewalks in public areas such as parks, schools, and city transit areas. The city also maintains sidewalks adjacent to residents housing less than three families, In other cases, private and commercial property owners have a legal responsibility to safely maintain the sidewalks adjacent to their property. New York’s City Code states the following:

“Property owners are responsible for maintaining, repairing, and installing sidewalks next to their property. Sidewalks are often composed of concrete squares, known as flags.”

Under this law, a private or commercial property owner must routinely inspect the sidewalks bordering their property and have a duty to warn pedestrians of problems and promptly attend to repairs to prevent injuries.

What Types of Injuries Occur In Bronx Broken Sidewalk Accidents?

When a pedestrian’s footfall is interrupted by unstable, uneven, or cluttered ground, it sends the body abruptly off-balance, often resulting in a hard fall. Common injuries in broken sidewalk claims in The Bronx include:

• Fractures of the limbs, hips, pelvis, and vertebrae
• Back injuries
• Neck injuries
• Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries
• Soft-tissue injuries such as sprains and torn ligaments in knees, shoulders, ankles, wrists, and elbows
• Facial and dental trauma
• Bruises, abrasions, and lacerations

Injuries are more than just painful, they are also expensive, often leading to medical bills at the same time you are unable to return to work while you’re recovering. A Bronx slip and fall attorney can assist you with all of your legal needs in the event of an accident.

How Can the Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Help My Case?

Insurance companies in broken sidewalk injury claims often point fingers at other entities and dispute claims. If you’ve suffered a serious injury due to a cracked or broken sidewalk in The Bronx, you need an attorney with valuable insight into the New York insurance system due to his early years defending insurers before turning his knowledge and experience to the benefit of injury victims.

Call the Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel at (212) 564-2800 or contact us online for experienced legal counsel so you can recover damages such as medical expenses, lost earnings, and compensation for pain and suffering.