The city of San Diego has recently found itself plagued with injury payouts from slip and fall accidents and bicycle accidents, resulting from damaged, and often precarious sidewalks. The potential solution, currently being discussed, is possibly allotting up to $100 million for sidewalk repairs. The prospective sidewalk repairs could take a decade to complete with the current sidewalk repair backlog numbering more than 80,000!
The city first explored policy changes as a solution to the issue of dilapidated sidewalks, as the legal responsibility for sidewalk repair technically belongs to the adjacent property owners. Among the early policy solution’s suggested were permit fee waiver and property liens to encourage property owners to comply. It seems the city’s residents have influenced the new approach, along with the city’s liability of more than $11 million for sidewalk injury payouts.
The aggressive sidewalk restoration plan would include hiring new employees and budget increases. The gain would be a lessening of sidewalk injuries and payouts as well as a decrease in the disputes between property owners and the city of San Diego. In some cases, the city’s 50/50 cost share program for sidewalk repair could help as could waiving or eliminate the permit fees ($2,000) for owners who want to make the repairs themselves.
San Diego hopes that by funding the damage sidewalk repairs, would result in sharp decrease in trip and falls injuries, as well as bicycle crashes. In the past years, the city has seen slip and fall settlements of $1 million or more and bike crash injury settlements nearing the $5 million mark.
Bicycle Accidents on the Rise
Bicycle accidents are on the rise, not only in San Diego, but across the state and the country, as more and more people begin to commute by bike. The advantages are many as biking helps riders avoid traffic, lower expenses, and enhance health and wellness. The disadvantage comes when accidents happen, and cyclists are injured. Considering that 70 percent of fatal bicycle accidents occur in urban settings, the steps San Diego is making to repair sidewalks certainly makes sense from both a fiscal and a safety standpoint.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Among the most common causes of injury in the country, slip, trip, and fall accidents can cause serious injury and in some cases, even death. Crumbling or uneven sidewalks are a common cause behind slip and fall accidents, leaving, in the aforementioned cases, the city of San Diego potentially negligent and liable for injuries. Making repairs to the deteriorating sidewalks is a good start, but it will take time, leaving the city open to more liability and lawsuits as the work is completed.
Have a Question about an Injury on the Sidewalks of San Diego?
If you or your loved one has been injured as a result of a slip, trip, and fall incident or a bicycle crash on the crumbling sidewalks of San Diego, The Barnes Firm Personal Injury Attorneys in San Diego are ready to help, answering your questions and helping you get compensate for an injury. Call today for your free consultation.
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Bicycle Accidents , San Diego , Sidewalk Repair , Slip and Fall Accidents
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