I tripped on a city sidewalk and broke two ribs. Can I sue the city?

If a municipality doesn’t take reasonable steps to ensure its sidewalks are safe for people to use, it can be liable when someone’s injured in a fall. But a municipality isn’t automatically responsible. Under this law, you have to prove all of the following:

• the sidewalk was in an unsafe condition, 

• the municipality did not make reasonable efforts to keep the sidewalk safe for people to use (including following their policies to fix any problems), and

• you were injured because of the municipality’s negligence.

With a claim against a municipality, an important piece will be looking at the policies the municipality has in place to maintain, inspect, and repair city property. Are those policies reasonable? Was the city following them with respect to this sidewalk? If the answer to those questions is yes, the city won’t be liable for your injuries. 

We have more on what you have to show to prove a slip and fall claim.

Note that if you want to sue the city for damages, you have to act fast. You must notify the city in writing within two months from the date of your fall, and start an action for negligence within two years.