At this point, Los Angeles sidewalks have more potholes than local freeways and boulevards. People who enjoy fully functioning feet and legs can easily be toppled over by tree root damage or broken concrete. The journey is even harder for those who walk with the assistance of a cane or for those who were born with a permanent disability.
A trip-and-fall injury on an L.A. sidewalk might cause broken bones, spinal cord and back damage, and even head trauma.
The City of Los Angeles is responsible for many of these accidents and injuries, but sometimes business owners and homeowners also share in the liability. Victims must make sure anyone responsible for their pain and medical bills contributes to an accident settlement.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Los Angeles Sidewalk Lawyer
If you or a loved one falls victim to an unsafe sidewalk in Los Angeles, don’t face your recovery costs alone. Allow Martin Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law, to investigate what happened and present a powerful case that clearly demonstrates who should be held accountable.
It’s important not to delay when considering filing a lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles. Matters involving city government usually involve strict deadlines placed on victims to file a claim. Contact Maison Law of Los Angeles for a free and confidential case evaluation to find out how much you should be expecting after a dangerous fall on a city sidewalk.
Los Angeles Sidewalk Injury Dangers
You may know all about the worst sidewalks in your L.A. neighborhood, and you may be well-practiced in avoiding them. But when you travel across Los Angeles, you can find yourself along unfamiliar streets and unexpectedly treacherous sidewalks.
The city receives plenty of complaints about Downtown Los Angeles and Boyle Heights sidewalks. But residential neighborhoods with lots of tree-lined streets can also be hazardous. Those roots raise sections of concrete and also sink some parts as well. There’s also plenty of damage to sidewalks caused by utility work and internet cable installation.
It’s a tangled mess that can leave pedestrians with little choice but to brave a run or a walk across a dangerous stretch of concrete pieces.
Common Sidewalk Injuries Caused by Los Angeles Sidewalks
When people suffer an L.A. trip-and-fall accident on local sidewalks they can hurt just about anything. Los Angeles emergency rooms at LAC + USC Medical Center and Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital see all sorts of injuries from falls on uneven sidewalks.
These are just a few of the most common sidewalk fall injuries:
- Knee injuries
- Ankle injuries.
- Broken Hip.
- Facial injuries.
- Oral injuries.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI).
- Concussions, a mild form of TBI.
- Back and spine injuries.
- Broken Arms.
- Wrist and hand fractures.
- Tailbone injuries.
- Cuts and skin abrasions.
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Prolonged pain and inflammation in an injured arm or leg.
- Traumatic Injuries. Injuries that require immediate care to save the life of a victim.
What Will I Need Compensation for If I’m Injured on an L.A. Sidewalk?
After a scary and painful fall on a busted Los Angeles sidewalk, you may face several surgeries in the months to come, not to mention the weeks of physical therapy you could need. It’s hard to say how long a recovery will take. With injuries that result in permanent disability, recovery won’t be possible and lifelong support should be provided.
Your Los Angeles Sidewalk Injury Lawyer works to make sure your damages now and those expected in the future are all clearly listed in an insurance claim. This claim is then filed against the City of Los Angeles or a property owner’s insurance provider.
These are just some of the factors that will earn you additional money in a sidewalk accident settlement check:
- Past and future medical bills in connection with the Los Angeles sidewalk accident.
- Past and future lost earnings or diminished earning capacity resulting from the accident.
- Pain and suffering. This includes the emotional trauma victims will endure in the accident and the loss of enjoyment of life during a difficult recovery.
- Support for permanent disfigurement or disability after a sidewalk fall.
- Support for travel costs while an L.A. sidewalk injury victim is unable to drive and may be on crutches or in a wheelchair.
- Financial support for the families of victims in the event of wrongful death. Victims can be rendered immobile and suffer other potentially deadly health issues while unable to get up and walk around. They can pass away in the hospital or directly from traumatic injuries suffered on a cracked sidewalk. Close relatives can receive money to help with funeral costs and remaining medical bills. They would also receive support for the income the deceased could no longer provide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a sidewalk injury claim against the City of Los Angeles?
Six months. You must file a claim within six months so that the city can decide if they’ll pay you or deny your claim. Your Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will be ready to file a lawsuit if the city refuses to help you.
Who can be sued after a fall on a Los Angeles Sidewalk?
Los Angeles can often be liable if you are injured by tree root damage or if a city employee does harm to the sidewalk. Property owners and business owners may also owe you support when they don’t maintain nearby sidewalks.
How many sidewalk injury claims does Los Angeles receive?
A report released by Los Angeles confirmed the city received more than 1,700 claims and 1,020 lawsuits for sidewalk injuries over a recent five-year period. Those cases resulted in $35 million in settlements.
Contact a Los Angeles Sidewalk Injury Lawyer
If you are hurt on an unsafe stretch of Los Angeles sidewalk talk to a Los Angeles Sidewalk Injury Lawyer before talking to lawyers for the city or for a property owner. There are benefits available to you that they won’t tell you about.
Contact Martin Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law, for a free case consultation. It’s a no-risk way to learn about the support you can demand from Los Angeles or a negligent business owner. You’ll also learn about the tactics government lawyers can use to rob you of the support you need.
Reach out to Maison Law to speak with a real Los Angeles attorney today.
