If you have suffered a personal injury due to a trip and fall on an uneven sidewalk in Philadelphia or one of its surrounding counties, contact Cooper Schall Levy for a free consultation to determine whether you are entitled to compensation.
Our attorneys have spent decades defending the rights of those injured by negligent property owners. It is often challenging to determine who bears responsibility for an uneven sidewalk accident, so working with lawyers with knowledge and skill in slip and fall personal injury law is essential.
Calling Cooper Schall Levy has an added advantage when you are suffering physical pain, emotional trauma, and financial worries in the wake of your uneven sidewalk accident. Our attorneys are compassionate people as well as skilled lawyers. We will take over all legal and logistical tasks so that you can rest and recover ,and we will charge you no attorneys’ fees until we recover the compensation you deserve.
How Philadelphia Sidewalks Become Uneven and Dangerous
Although the vast majority of sidewalks are initially laid smoothly and evenly, some may be composed of lower grades of concrete and therefore be more destructible. In addition, many, if not most, sidewalks are poorly maintained, becoming broken and uneven because:
- Concrete has deteriorated over time
- Tree roots have raised slabs, resulting in an uneven surface
- Ice and snow, freezing and melting in cracks, have caused further deterioration
- Pieces of concrete have broken off, due to nearby construction, car accidents, facades falling off high buildings or for other reasons
No matter what the underlying cause is, falling on an uneven sidewalk can be life-altering or even deadly.
Who Is Liable for Your Injuries in an Uneven Sidewalk Accident
Liability for uneven sidewalk accidents can be complicated. Pennsylvania law holds private property owners responsible for keeping their sidewalks safe and passable. But there are times when the city, state, or other government agency may be sued if a government agency is the property owner (of the sidewalk outside City Hall, for example). There are also situations in which a third party, such as a construction company, may be liable. These complexities make having a sharp attorney critical.
Common Injuries Suffered in Uneven Sidewalk Accidents
Depending on which part of your body is impacted by your fall, you may suffer one of the following injuries:
- Fractures or dislocations of the wrist, elbow, shoulder, ankle, knee, or hip
- Back, neck, and/or spinal cord injuries (e.g. paralysis)
- Head and/or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Neuromuscular injuries
- Facial injuries, e.g. fractures of the nose or cheek
Injuries that occur due to uneven sidewalks can involve prolonged recovery, permanent disability, or even wrongful death. At Cooper Schall & Levy, our lawyers believe that the victims of such accidents or their surviving kin are entitled to just compensation.
What Our Philadelphia Uneven Sidewalk Accident Attorneys Can Do to Help
You can count on us to take all the necessary steps to win your case. We will:
- Investigate and photograph the site of the accident
- Obtain and review police reports and medical records
- Identify and interview witnesses
- Consult with medical experts who may testify on your behalf
- Work hard to negotiate an out-of-court settlement to save time and money
- Go to trial if necessary to recover optimal damages
Damages We Will Fight For
After a bad fall on an uneven sidewalk, you may be entitled to compensatory damages which will consist of both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages will cover actual out-of-pocket expenses, including:
- Medical costs (past, current, and future)
- Lost income
- Lost earning capacity
- Replacement services
- Alterations to make your home accessible
Non-economic damages will compensate you for intangible losses, such as:
- Physical pain
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability
- Permanent disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
If you have lost a loved one in an uneven sidewalk accident, we will fight aggressively to recover damages for final medical costs, funeral and burial/cremation expenses, and loss of emotional and financial support, and restore your sense of justice.
What If You Are Partially at Fault for the Uneven Sidewalk Accident?
Pennsylvania follows the principle of modified comparative negligence. According to this rule, you may sue for damages even if the court finds that you were partly to blame for your injury, for example by being intoxicated or by looking at your cell phone just before you fall.
As long as the court finds that you were less than 51 percent at fault, you will be able to recover damages, though the amount you receive will be lessened by your percentage of fault. So,
if you are found to be 20 percent at fault, for example, and the court awards you $100,000, you will receive $80,000.
Contact Our Experienced Philadelphia Uneven Sidewalk Accident Attorneys Now
While trip and fall accidents can occur anywhere, when the sidewalk you are walking on is uneven, the cards are stacked against you. Contact our attorneys today to level the playing field and regain your emotional and financial balance. We will do everything in our power to make you safe now and secure in the future.
Cooper Schall & Levy’s uneven sidewalk fall lawyers serve Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as well as neighboring counties such as Montgomery County and Delaware County and cover neighborhoods such as Norristown and Drexel Hill.
