Slip and falls can happen anywhere, including on sidewalks. When this type of accident results from an act of negligence, it could be possible to recover a monetary award.
Speaking with experienced legal counsel after you are hurt in a sidewalk slip and fall accident in Memphis is crucial to understanding and protecting your legal right to compensation. Handling your injury claim on your own is risky and could result in you walking away with nothing. Let a dedicated slip and fall attorney from the Law Offices of David E. Gordon advise you on your legal options.
How Sidewalk Falls Happen
A slip, trip, or fall could happen on a sidewalk for a wide variety of reasons. Sidewalks are often in various states of disrepair, which is a common cause of an accident. This includes sidewalks that are missing paving stones, have warped over time, or are heavily cracked or broken. Other factors that might lead to a sidewalk fall include:
- Overgrowth
- Spilled liquid
- Debris or trash
- Uneven concrete
- Dim or inadequate lighting
Attorney David E. Gordon can carefully investigate a sidewalk fall accident in Memphis to determine what factors are responsible.
Pursuing a Slip and Fall Case Against a Property Owner
The same legal standard—negligence—applies to Memphis sidewalk slip and fall cases as any other personal injury claims. If the owner of the sidewalk fails to adequately protect the public from harm, they could be liable for any falls that occur.
Negligence can lead to a sidewalk fall in countless ways. In the winter, a property owner that fails to address accumulated snow and ice in a reasonable amount of time could be liable for a fall. The same applies if the sidewalk is cracked, uneven, or slippery.
The most important question in these cases is whether the property owner acted reasonably. After all, the property owner is not always at fault for sidewalk slip and fall injuries. They are only on the hook for damages if they fail to act reasonably when it is time to protect a visitor from harm.
Pursuing Legal Action Against the Government
Many of the sidewalks throughout Memphis are public property. This can add a layer of complexity to a sidewalk slip and fall injury claim. State and local governments have a form of legal immunity that protects them from many personal injury claims. However, holding the government accountable for its negligence is not impossible.
Claims against the city are challenging, but they are not insurmountable. This is especially true when an injured victim relies on the guidance of an experienced attorney.
Talk to a Memphis Attorney About Sidewalk Slip and Fall Accidents
When you suffer an injury in a fall, you might have a viable case for compensation. However, proving negligence requires showing the property owner failed to take reasonable steps to protect you from harm. Reach out to the Law Offices of David E. Gordon today to discuss your legal options when it comes to sidewalk slip and fall accidents in Memphis.
