Naturally, when you step into a vehicle, you may acknowledge the small percentage of chance that you may enter a collision and get injured. However, it may not be as obvious that some risk is still posed to pedestrians on the Florida roads and sidewalks. This is to say that you should not let your guard completely down, even when navigating a seemingly safe, pedestrian-designated walkway. Without further ado, please continue reading to learn why pedestrian accidents might frequently occur and how an experienced Tampa sidewalk accident lawyer at Merricks Law Group, P.A. can help in the event you encounter one.
Why might sidewalk accidents frequently occur amongst pedestrians?
Sidewalks may be or become dangerous for varying reasons. For one, they may have initially been designed or installed poorly by contracted construction workers. In one case, they may not have compacted the soil beneath the sidewalk properly, and over time, it may crack, cave in, or sink. Otherwise, a poor installation may cause premature wear and tear, which translates into large cracks and greatly uneven surfaces that can be easily tripped over.
Or, sidewalks may be poorly maintained by whichever party owns or is responsible for them. This may be especially seen after a heavy storm that creates standing water. Or, that causes debris to be blown onto them. Either way, this may obstruct the sidewalk, which then drives pedestrians to walk onto a traffic-ridden road or uneven grass with overgrown foliage and other potential hazards.
What should I do if I spot a dangerous sidewalk in my area?
If you spot a potentially hazardous condition on the area of sidewalk ahead of you, it is in your best interest to find a safe alternative route and simply turn around. This is not before taking photos of the sidewalk and reporting it to a city or state entity, such as the Department of Public Works or the Department of Transportation. Or, to the private property owner who is responsible for this area. Before entering their property and knocking on their door, though, you may be better off notifying your local law enforcement and having them handle it from here. Hopefully, your early notification will help other innocent pedestrians avoid being made victims of slip and fall accidents at this spot.
Most unfortunately, though, the hazardous condition may not have been visible to your naked eye or it was simply unavoidable. And so, if you ultimately slip and fall and incur serious injuries and damages, you may have a personal injury claim on your hands. At this time, please properly identify whether the at-fault party of your claim is a government entity or a private property owner; there may be contrasting procedures depending on who you are filing against.
At any rate, if you are ready to start your personal injury case or otherwise, now is a better time than ever to contact a skilled Tampa slip and fall lawyer. Merricks Law Group, P.A. is here to help.
