As individuals travel on sidewalks and other properties, they should avoid hazards to diminish any chance of having an accident occur. If they are involved in an accident, they may become injured. On sidewalks and other properties, pedestrians may be involved in slip and fall accidents. These can range in seriousness based on each individual case. However, someone should be held accountable. Pedestrians can seek the responsibility of the adjacent property owner. This means that usually, store owners are responsible for clearing hazards on the sidewalk outside of their store. Property owners can include private citizens, a commercial property or municipality. When individuals fall victim to an incident on a sidewalk, they will have to prove negligence on behalf of the property owners. They can show that these individuals were supposed to keep a safe premises for pedestrians. In order to win your case, you may have to fulfill the burden of proof. This can be used to show that the property owner was responsible for your accident and must pay damages to help for your injuries.
What can cause sidewalk slip and fall accidents?
When individuals walk along a sidewalk, they must remain aware of their surroundings. They can be harmed if a hazard is in their way. When hazards are present on sidewalks, it can cause a slip and fall accident to occur where they become injured. This can hurt them physically and cause a financial disaster as well since they will have to pay for medical bills. Sidewalk accidents can happen due to a variety of factors that are present on these surfaces. This can include loose debris, hazardous materials and surface problems. These surfaces can become uneven due to these hazards. Weather conditions can also influence the safety of the sidewalk. Snow or ice can cause the sidewalks to become slippery and people can lose their footing quite easily. When weather conditions are involved in the accident, it can become more complicated. Weather conditions need to be addressed within an allotted time after a storm. If you took the risk and used the sidewalk before this period of time, then you may not be able to seek negligence on behalf of another party.
The law firm of Mattleman, Weinroth & Miller, P.C., is composed of experienced defense attorneys throughout the state of New Jersey. Please contact the office for a free initial consultation and get any questions answered regarding criminal charges and procedures.