Can a case be brought against a city if their broken sidewalk causes injury?
Yes, a case can be brought against a municipality if it can be proven that they were negligent in their maintenance of the sidewalk. However, filing a case against a city involves a different set of deadlines and conditions, which is why it is important to hire an experienced slip and fall attorney.
If the city’s negligence causes your injuries, due to improperly maintained sidewalks, highways, roadways, or bridge abutments, the city or town can be held liable. You should be aware that there are very strict and short timelines to file a petition putting the city on notice as well as caps on damages depending on where the injury occurs. As an example of timelines, if the injury occurred in RI, you must put the town or city on notice within 60 days. In MA, you must put the town or city on notice within 30 days. In MA, if you are injured as a result of a defective sidewalk, which the town is responsible for, there may be a cap on damages at $5,000. Contact Rob Levine & Associates immediately to preserve your rights against the town.
