The City of Glendale can be liable for bicycle accidents caused by damaged sidewalks in public areas.
But Glendale homeowners and business owners are often liable for accidents that happen on sidewalks in front of their properties. They must ensure that sidewalks don’t present dangerous hazards and must fix them before a rider can get hurt.
A skilled Glendale Bicycle Accident Lawyer can help you determine who should be responsible if a sidewalk crack causes you to crash. You can receive full compensation for your medical bills and for the time you are out of work. Contact Maison Law to set up an absolutely free case consultation. It’s a no-risk way to find out what your injury is worth and how to hold property owners and operators financially responsible.
Who Can Be Held Liable If I’m Hurt in a Bicycle Accident on a Glendale Sidewalk?
The City of Glendale can be liable for sidewalk accidents if they occur along public spaces, such as in Brand Park, or around the government buildings.
But likely more often, the city holds property owners accountable for keeping sidewalks safe and in good repair. This means riders who get hurt due to broken concrete and holes in sidewalks can seek support from homeowners insurance policies or commercial liability insurance that businesses will carry.
The liability extends to the landlords or owners of apartment complexes and community associations.
The City of Glendale Code of Ordinances goes over the responsibility that property owners bear for the sidewalk sections abutting their property.
- The owner, occupant or person having the control or care of any lot or premises fronting upon any public street, lane or alley in the city shall keep the sidewalk immediately in front of such property and the space between the curb line and the property line of such property free from all holes or obstructions dangerous to life or limb, except such holes or obstructions as may have been caused by parkway trees or city-owned vehicles.
Victims, with help from skilled attorneys, hopefully, would need to prove three things in a sidewalk accident claim:
- The government department, homeowner, or business owner was responsible for the maintenance of the sidewalk.
- The owner or operator knew or should have known about a sidewalk hazard and didn’t take action to fix it.
- The bicyclist was injured because of damage to the sidewalk.
Regarding liability for the City of Glendale, victims will do well if they show that an unsafe spot in a sidewalk had been reported previously. If someone else had been injured by the crack or gap in the sidewalk, the victim would have a much easier time proving the city’s liability.
The Added Difficulty of Suing the City After a Sidewalk Accident?
When homeowners or business owners are responsible for a bicycle accident, the case is handled like a normal personal injury case. Victims have up to two years to file a lawsuit and can usually draw from the owner’s homeowners insurance or commercial liability insurance.
But when you must seek compensation from a government agency or department, things get tricky. The City of Glendale, like most government entities, has special protections against lawsuits.
For starters, victims have much less time to file a claim. They might have only a few months, often just half a year, to file a claim or have their chance be erased.
There’s also complicated paperwork to fill out. Make a mistake, and lawyers for Glendale may use it as a reason to deny your claim.
You must also, basically, seek permission to file a claim against Glendale or Los Angeles County. Without strong evidence, government representatives may have an easy time tossing your claim out, even if the city was responsible.
Allow a Glendale bicycle accident attorney to stand up for your rights and handle the complex claim filing. Your lawyer can handle the frustrating filing and sneaky deadlines while you are allowed to focus on healing so you can get back on a bike.
What Kind of Accidents Can Bad Sidewalks Cause?
Experienced riders may not worry about sidewalk riding, but there are dangers along any stretch of sidewalk, especially older sections. Riders can end up caught in a crack or a gap between the sidewalk and the curb or gutter. Their tires can stick hard, while they fly off the bike and onto the concrete or onto the road surface.
Victims might hit a hole that leaves them unstable, only to veer off course and fall over.
These are just a few of the hazards that might send bicycle accident victims to Adventist Health Glendale:
- Cracks in sidewalks
- Large gaps between sidewalk segments and the curb
- Crumbling concrete
- Uneven surfaces
- Tree roots growing up through concrete
- Broken ADA ramps causing accidents for riders and others using wheeled medical devices
- Construction project damage to sidewalks
Capturing evidence of these hazards before a negligent city crew or homeowner can fix them can be key to your case. Right after a crash, see to your safety first. Call for an ambulance if you are hurt.
If you can manage to move around and it’s safe, get several pictures of the sidewalk crack or gap. Show the damage to your bike and clothing. Show any visible injuries. You can turn this evidence over to your lawyer, who will also contact any witnesses you got contact information from for testimony.
Can I Ride My Bike on Glendale Sidewalks?
Yes, in most parts of the city. There are so-called “business districts,” where bicycles on the sidewalk are forbidden, but these stretches should be clearly marked with street signs.
The Glendale Code of Ordinances goes over the responsibilities for riders on sidewalks:
No person shall ride or operate a bicycle upon any public sidewalk in any business district within the city except where such sidewalk is officially designated as part of an established bicycle route. Pedestrians shall have the right-of-way on sidewalks. The prohibition in this section shall not apply to peace officers on bicycle patrol.
(Ord. 5116 § 1, 1996)
Contact a Glendale Sidewalk Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today
To get started, Maison Law offers a free case consultation to all Glendale bike accident victims. It’s a confidential meeting, and there’s never any obligation.
If you need our help, your lawyer will immediately begin investigating your case. Maison Law files your claim on your behalf so you can focus on recovery, allowing you to return to your bike rides as soon as possible. We demand support for all of your medical expenses, your lost income at work, and much more. We can often secure much more for you than if you took on the City of Glendale and insurance companies yourself.
It’s important to note that you don’t have to stress about how you’ll afford to pay a lawyer. Maison Law doesn’t get paid unless we win your case. Then, our fee comes out of the settlement check that an insurance company must write for you.
