Sidewalk Accident Attorneys in Louisville, Kentucky

When Walking on A Sidewalk Is Unsafe

A sidewalk trip and fall come suddenly, and there may be little or no time to react and prevent an injury. While many are lucky to escape with only cuts and bruises and maybe some soreness, others are not so fortunate.

Sprains, fractures, back injury, and head injury are not uncommon results of a slip and fall on hard concrete, and long-term injuries or even permanent disability can sometimes result. In Louisville, business owners or the city are required to maintain sidewalks in good condition, and they can be held liable for injuries caused by failures to keep sidewalks safe and in good repair.

In such cases, the premises liability attorneys at the Slechter Law Firm step in to hold the responsible parties accountable for their negligence and to make sure injury victims get the care and compensation they need.

Do Business Owners Have to Keep Their Sidewalks Safe?

A business owner who has knowledge of a dangerous condition on the sidewalk outside the business must either fix the danger or put up an adequate warning until the problem can be fixed. Sidewalk hazards can be created in many different ways, including:

• Snow or ice accumulation

• Oil or other liquid spills

• Cracked or broken pavement

• Uneven slabs

• Holes

• Buckling or uplift from tree roots

• Loose paving stones

• Loose gravel surfaces

• Inadequate lighting

• Obstacles placed in the pedestrian’s path

• A drop-off between the sidewalk and the grass

When a sidewalk is in disrepair, it may be easy to prove the owner had knowledge of the danger yet neglected to fix it. When the hazard is temporary or transitory, such as from a spill or an icy or slippery surface, it may be more difficult to prove that the owner either knew about the danger or would have known about it had the owner been reasonably diligent in inspecting and maintaining the property.

In fact, premises liability cases are often some of the most challenging to prove. At the Slechter Law Firm, our experienced premises liability attorneys understand how to investigate a slip and fall and to build a strong case that proves the owner’s actual or constructive knowledge and failure to fix or warn in a reasonable period of time.

What About City Sidewalks?

The city government can also be held liable for negligence when a slip and fall occurs on property owned or maintained by the city. For claims against a municipality, Kentucky law imposes strict procedures that must be followed in order to secure your claim.

These procedures include providing notice of the injury to the mayor, city clerk, or clerk of the board of aldermen within 90 days of the sidewalk accident. This notice should state the time and place of the accident, the character, and circumstances of the injury, and provide notice that you are claiming damages from the city for your injuries.

This notice must be filed in accordance with the Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure, which requires knowledge of and familiarity with the law and court rules. If you try to file the notice on your own or with the help of someone unfamiliar with the Rules of Civil Procedure, you risk having your claim denied for even a minor technical error.

We Can Help You with Your Sidewalk Accident Claim

If you or a loved one has been injured in a trip and fall or slip and fall on a hazardous sidewalk in Louisville, contact the Slechter Law Firm or email, for a no-cost, confidential consultation regarding your potential claims and how our attorneys may be able to help you get the compensation you need for your injuries.