Most pedestrians in California and other areas of the country know to be aware of certain hazards they may encounter while using city sidewalks. Unfortunately, even the most cautious of pedestrians can suffer a fall if business owners and cities do not sufficiently maintain sidewalks. In fact, a woman in another state claims that she was injured in a slip-and-fall accident that occurred as a result of negligence.
The woman fell in Oct. 2013, with reports indicating that she was “badly injured.” She reportedly made a purchase at a store before exiting it and tripping on an exposed bolt said to be used to secure a garbage can. As a result, she filed a lawsuit against both the city and the business.
The city argued that the business was responsible for maintaining a safe sidewalk. In April 2017, she was awarded $125,000 by an arbitrator who determined that the city was 10 percent responsible and the business was 90 percent responsible. Because of the costs associated with the case, the city ultimately decided to settle, agreeing to pay the woman $19,000. As of May when the city decided to settle, a settlement with the business had not been reached.
Though property owners and businesses have a legal obligation to ensure that sidewalks and other walkways are safe, some in California fail to do so, which can result in a slip-and-fall accident such as this woman experienced. Often, these incidents can result in serious injuries that require extensive medical treatment and can prevent a victim from working. As such, victims may choose to seek recompense by filing a personal injury lawsuit in a civil courtroom.
