Sidewalk Slip and Fall

In order to hold the owner of a property adjacent to a sidewalk liable for injuries caused by deviations in the elevation of the sidewalk slabs it is necessary to prove that the deviation is more than de minimus. Uniformly states throughout the United States who have addressed this issue through the litigation process have determined that the deviation, to be actionable, at a minimum, must exceed in some instances 1/2 inch and in other instances 3/4 of an inch. It is anticipated that the threshold requirements are the byproduct of expected variations that occur naturally during the construction process and are naturally expected to occur with the erosion of time. If you, your family member or friend has suffered a slip and fall injury as a result of a sidewalk deviation it is important first and foremost to secure photographs of the dangerous condition and to do so in the company of the measurement device to determine the actual configuration and size of the deviation. If you have questions regarding slip and fall injuries in Maryland please feel free to call my office at 1-888-760-7339