Fort Lauderdale Sidewalk Slip & Fall Lawyer

Fort Lauderdale’s sidewalks often feature hazards which can upset even the most careful pedestrian. Tree roots pushing through the asphalt, cracks, and trash or debris can trip anyone up, leading to fall injuries. Accident victims often have many questions, but the main one is who is responsible for maintaining a safe sidewalk. Spencer Morgan Law can review the facts and identify the right defendant to sue or file a claim against. Call us to speak with a Fort Lauderdale sidewalk slip and fall lawyer.

Responsibility for Maintaining a Safe Sidewalk

Like roads, sidewalks can disintegrate with age, so they require regular maintenance. Humans can also create certain hazards, such as leaving a skateboard on the sidewalk which someone trips over. A key consideration is liability for the hazard.

Here are some potential defendants who owe a duty to keep a sidewalk safe:

• The municipality. The municipal government should maintain sidewalks. That means regularly inspecting them and fixing any defects they uncover. And the government should certainly act if they receive notice of a major hazard. We might sue the municipality when they had actual or constructive notice of a defect but failed to fix it.
• Business owner. The store fronting the sidewalk could have responsibility for keeping the area safe. This is particularly true where the sidewalk is part of the parking lot owned by the store. They should sweep up wet leaves and pick up trash which might cause someone to slip. If the defect isn’t easily fixed, then the store might need to set up cones or saw horses to funnel foot traffic around the hazard.
• Homeowners do not generally have responsibility for maintaining the sidewalk. However, they could certainly end up creating a hazard, such as by leaving items on the footpath or spilling oil or other slick substances which cause pedestrians to slip.
• Homeowner’s Association (HOA). If the sidewalk is in a shared use area, then the HOA likely has responsibility for maintaining it.

After a fall, try to photograph the hazard using your phone. If the phone was destroyed in the fall, or you don’t have a phone, ask witnesses to take a picture. Also get the names of any witnesses, because they can support your claim you didn’t trip over your own feet. Then reach out to Spencer Morgan Law for immediate assistance.

Call a Miami Sidewalk Slip and Fall Lawyer Today

Fall victims are usually entitled to an array of damages, including economic losses like medical bills and income loss, when a defendant’s negligence causes an accident. Bringing a claim is not easy, especially when trying to hold a municipality accountable. Florida law provides general immunity to the government, with narrow exceptions.

A lawyer can analyze the facts and sketch out a path for receiving compensation. Our Fort Lauderdale sidewalk slip and fall lawyer can demand full compensation for economic losses, and for pain and suffering. Call our firm today to schedule a free consultation with an attorney. Our objective is to seek justice for our clients while also protecting public safety.