I tripped and fell on a sidewalk in Philadelphia. Can I recover for my injuries?

Phil Blackman-Pennsylvania New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyer Published on behalf of Philip Blackman, an experienced personal injury lawyer who has devoted his entire career to helping individuals and families who have been injured due to medical malpractice, car accidents, fall accidents and more. FREE Consultations: 215.925.4451

A: Under Pennsylvania law, property owners are required to take reasonable care of their property, including sidewalks. If a defect caused the accident, you may be able to recover against the property owner.

In order to succeed in a Pennsylvania slip and fall case, you must prove negligence on the part of someone. The first party which could be held liable is the individual or business which owns the property abutting the sidewalk. In some instances, the City of Philadelphia may also be held liable.

The City of Philadelphia may bear secondary liability for the accident. Under a special law in Pennsylvania, local agencies, like the City of Philadelphia, may be held liable in sidewalk accident cases, so long as the agency has the right and authority to control the sidewalk. So in this situation, the City of Philadelphia may also bear liability.

It is very important to speak to a sidewalk accident lawyer immediately. Pennsylvania law requires that a special notice be filed within 180 days of the accident. Failure to do so may bar the claim.

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For more information, contact our Pennsylvania sidewalk accident lawyers at 215.925.4451. Our lawyers are available for a free, no obligation legal consultation.

The lawyers at Schwartz & Blackman handle sidewalk accident cases in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey area:

PA: Berks County, Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, Philadelphia County, Allentown, Lehigh Valley, Norristown, Philadelphia
NJ: Atlantic County, Burlington County, Camden County, Gloucester County, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Camden, Cherry Hill, New Jersey shore cities

*This website does not provide legal advice. Every case is unique and it is important to get a qualified, expert legal opinion prior to making any decisions about your case. See the full disclaimer at the bottom of this page.

Published: July 13, 2012

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