Sidewalk Fall Accidents in Philadelphia – Do You Need a Lawyer?

If you’ve been injured in a fall accident on a sidewalk in Philadelphia, be sure to speak to a lawyer as soon as possible. Getting evidence of the defect that caused the accident is very important. This can help with legal issues later on.

Below, our accident and injury lawyers have provided access to legal articles about sidewalk fall accident law applicable to Philadelphia. These articles are for information only. For legal advice, talk to one of our lawyers. Combined, our lawyers have over 40 years of experience and have achieved over $150 million in verdicts and settlements for their clients.

Call our Philadelphia office, located on Ludlow Street in Center City, Philadelphia. (866) 641-0806

How to Succeed in Your Case

Winning a fall accident lawsuit is no easy task. There are many variables. First, you must identify the correct party within Pennsylvania’s general 2 year statute of limitations period (minors get until their 20th birthday). Second, you must have sufficient evidence of negligence. Third, the injuries and damages must be serious enough.

Identify the Correct Parties

In a typical sidewalk fall accident case in Philadelphia, multiple parties may be sued. In some instances, it is challenging to identify the correct parties. For instance, a pedestrian falls outside of a grocery store in Philadelphia due to a broken area of sidewalk. The grocery store subcontracts sidewalk maintenance to another party. Therefore, both the grocery store company and the maintenance company may be liable. If the maintenance company is not identified and sued or added as a party within the 2 year statute of limitations, the case may be lost. This is an example of the kind of complex legal issue which often arises in these kinds of lawsuits.

Evidence of Negligence

Evidence of negligence basically boils down to proving that the responsible party(s) had prior knowledge of the dangerous condition or should have had prior knowledge of the condition. Sufficient evidence of notice or knowledge depends on the circumstances of the case. Evidence in these cases often includes:

  • prior accidents,
  • prior complaints,
  • sidewalk maintenance procedures and protocols, and
  • employee maintenance logs.

Injuries & Damages

Most sidewalk fall accident cases will go the distance. Insurance companies often push these cases to trial, rather than negotiating a reasonable settlement. This increases the expenses involved in the case. Preparing a case for trial can easily cost $5,000 or more; most of these fees are costs of hiring experts, like medical experts or liability experts. Therefore, the injuries and damages which resulted from the accident must be serious enough to warrant proceeding to trial.

Philadelphia Sidewalk Fall Accident Articles

Philadelphia Store Fall Accidents – Financial Compensation, Pain & Suffering (April 28, 2015) Are you entitled to financial compensation for pain and suffering after a fall accident in Philadelphia?

Landlord Liability for Snow/Ice Accidents in Pennsylvania (January 23, 2014) Tenants and guests of tenants injured in snow/ice fall accidents often want to know whether the landlord is liable. What is PA law?

Icy Sidewalk Fall Accidents in PA – Basic Questions & Answers About Filing a Fall Accident Lawsuit (January 21, 2014) What’s involved in a sidewalk fall accident lawsuit in Pennsylvania? Learn the basics and what to expect.

Liability in Pennsylvania Snow/Ice Fall Accidents – Hills & Ridges of Snow and Ice (January 14, 2014) Learn about the hills and ridges doctrine which applies in snow/ice sidewalk fall accidents in Philadelphia.

Damages in a Pennsylvania Slip, Trip & Fall Accident Case (October 17, 2013) What claims for financial compensation may be made in a fall accident case? Learn about claims for medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.

Pennsylvania Slip & Fall Accidents – Evidence of Negligence is Key (October 15, 2013) Why are fall accident cases so tough to win? Our lawyers discuss how and why evidence of negligence is key to obtaining financial recovery in fall accident cases in Philadelphia.

PA Slip & Fall Accident Law – The Importance of Seeking a Lawyer Immediately (September 16, 2013) Do you need a lawyer? Probably, and it’s best to seek advice fast. Evidence of defects can disappear.

Did You Have a Slip & Fall Accident in Philadelphia? What You Should Know About Getting Medical Bills Paid (September 16, 2013) If you have medical bills after a fall accident, you’re probably concerned with how they get paid.

Pennsylvania Slip, Trip & Fall Accident Law – Sidewalk Fall Accidents (May 15, 2013) Defects of sidewalk like broken concrete, tree roots, etc., cause fall accidents.

Pennsylvania Snow & Ice Fall Accidents: Dangerous Property Conditions (January 25, 2013) Snow and ice accumulations cause many fall accidents during the winter. What’s considered dangerous?

Philadelphia Slip and Fall Law – How to Win a Slip and Fall Case in PA (March 31, 2012) How can you win your slip and fall accident case?

Related FAQS

I slipped on an icy sidewalk in the parking lot of my apartment complex in Philadelphia. Is my landlord liable? (January 23, 2014) Is the landlord liable? Proving that the landlord had sufficient notice of the icy conditions is key.

I tripped on a sidewalk at a mall in Philadelphia. Is the mall liable? (December 16, 2013) Can a shopping mall be held liable for a sidewalk fall accident? Learn about PA fall accident law here.

DISCLAIMER: This website does not create any attorney-client relationship or provide legal advice. It is crucial to speak to a qualified lawyer prior to making any decision about your case. Any discussion of results is no guarantee of the same or similar result in future cases because the success of a case depends on facts unique to each case. Read full disclaimer at the bottom of this page.

Last updated: April 28, 2015