Could Your Sidewalk Become a Legal Issue?

Could Your Sidewalk Become a Legal Issue?

It’s probably not the first thing you think about in the morning, but that cracked and crumbling sidewalk outside of your house could become a legal issue if it continues to sit in disrepair. If a pedestrian trips, slips, or falls and hurts himself on your portion of the sidewalk, it could become your liability issue in a personal injury lawsuit. It may sound unlikely, but crazier things have happened. After reading this, you may want to call up a concrete company and begin those repairs.

Depending on where you live, the sidewalk in front of your house could be private or public property. Most public sidewalks connect residential houses from public streets, while most private sidewalks are located within communities and neighborhoods on residential streets. Local laws define sidewalk maintenance rules, so you probably want to learn your local regulations if you haven’t already.

In most neighborhoods, the homeowner adjacent to the sidewalk is responsible for clearing snow and debris from the sidewalk and paying for any repairs the sidewalk might need. If your sidewalk is indeed under your responsibility and you neglect to fix issues that ultimately lead to someone else’s injury, you could be held responsible for paying medical bills, lost income, and other forms of compensation.

The good news is that sidewalk repair is very simple when you find a reliable construction company. Concrete is a relatively affordable and simple material that can be installed in no time at all. Taking the time to make any repairs could even inspire you to update the appearance of your sidewalk with some stamped concrete instead. Stamped concrete is still concrete but can be formed and colored to look like any expensive stone or material you desire. It’s a great way to eliminate sidewalk liability, keep yourself out of court, and spruce up your home’s curb appeal simultaneously!