Exploring Safety, Maintenance, and Responsibility Concerns in Sidewalk Accident Cases in Monmouth County and throughout Southern New Jersey
Anyone who has ever had to walk along a busy road knows just how beneficial sidewalks are, both for perceived and actual safety. In most cases, sidewalks allow us to commute safely on foot from point A to point B. However, there are some cases in which, paradoxically, the sidewalks themselves present safety hazards. If you have been injured in a sidewalk accident, you may be entitled to recover financial damages for your injuries. Contact Chamlin, Uliano & Walsh today to discuss your claim, and read on to learn more about some of the hidden hazards of sidewalks.
Top Sidewalk Accident Triggers in New Jersey
Some of the most common sidewalk accidents result from a person slipping or tripping and falling. Sidewalk slips often result from weather-related hazardous conditions such as ice, standing rain, or snow; however, many other types of slippery material can cause sidewalk slip hazards. Trips often occur due to uneven or cracked sidewalk pavement, such as sidewalk slabs that have been dislocated due to impending tree root systems. Stray materials, construction equipment, or other objects can also cause trips. Overgrown hedges alongside the sidewalk, as well, can cause accidents by hiding safety hazards. In construction zones, materials on, around, and above the sidewalk can cause an injury accident, such as falling objects, improperly installed scaffolding, and debris from the construction work.
Assessing Sidewalk Hazards Across Age Groups and Physical Conditions
While everyone is susceptible to sidewalk accidents, especially in this age in which we spend much of the time we are walking looking down at our phones, some populations are more vulnerable to being injured due to sidewalk discrepancies than others. Young children who move quickly are more likely to slip or trip and fall while running. Older individuals who have trouble lifting their feet as they walk are more likely to trip on uneven sidewalks; they are also less able to right themselves when they meet an uneven surface and lose balance. Also, those with physical disabilities may find it harder to navigate uneven or slippery surfaces on sidewalks.
Range of Injuries Arising from Sidewalk Accidents
Unfortunately, even a simple sidewalk accident can have severe physical consequences. Common injuries caused by such accidents are cuts and lacerations; bruises; fractured and broken bones; sprained joints such as wrists, ankles, and knees; concussions; spinal injury; head and back and neck injuries, among others.
Establishing Responsibility after Someone is Injured on a Sidewalk in NJ
To recover financial damages for a sidewalk accident injury, a plaintiff carries the burden of proving liability. The victim must prove that the negligence of the owner of the stretch of sidewalk, or an otherwise responsible party directly caused your accident and injury. This is shown by proving that the owner had a duty of care to maintain a safe space, breached that duty, and as a result of that breach, you were involved in an accident and were injured.
What if the Accident Happened on Public Land?
When an accident happens on public land, the government can be held responsible for the negligence that led to the injury accident. Many city sidewalks are public and thus fall under the purview of the local municipality. Filing an injury claim against a government entity is a different process than filing a claim against a private property owner, so having a sidewalk accident injury attorney on your side will greatly help you navigate that process.
What if the Accident Happened on Private Property?
What if the Accident Happened on Private Property?When a fall occurs on the sidewalk of a private property, you may be able to seek damages for injuries sustained based on premises liability law. However, because sidewalk liability on private property is more limited, it is important to seek the professional legal counsel of a personal injury attorney.
Recovering Financial and Non-Economic Damages after a Sidewalk Accident in NJ
If successful in your case, you have the right to recover financial and non-economic damages. This includes medical expenses, lost wages due to your injury, out-of-pocket costs, and pain and suffering. If your injury results in the need for long-term therapy or a long-term injury, your personal injury attorney can help you make sure that your settlement reflects this.
Find Out How the Attorneys at Chamlin, Uliano & Walsh Can Help Handle Your Sidewalk Injury Claim in NJ
When it comes to sidewalk accident injuries, having a personal injury lawyer on your side is a must. While you focus on recovering, your attorney will investigate the circumstances of your injury and manage medical and other documentation adding to your settlement claim. Our team at Chamlin, Uliano & Walsh prides itself on its successful and compassionate support of victims of sidewalk accidents in Tinton Falls, Freehold, Red Bank, Belmar, Manasquan, Point Pleasant, Seaside Heights, Wall, Howell, Colts Neck, South Brunswick, Woodbridge, Old Bridge, and across Monmouth and Middlesex Counties, and we look forward to getting to work for you. Contact us at 732-440-3950 today for a no-cost consultation to learn how we can help you get on your financial feet again while you are on the journey toward full physical and emotional wellness.