How Safe Are the Sidewalks You Use Every Day?

When compared to other major cities in the U.S., New York City has some excellent stretches of sidewalk. This makes sense, as most residents rely on the city’s sidewalks to get from point A to point B. Still, the public walkways in NYC are far from perfect.

Even though you may not think much about the condition of the sidewalks you use every day, a slip, trip or fall might leave you with life-changing injuries. Sadly, some always in NYC are probably not as safe as you think.

The sidewalk’s width

According to the National Association of City Transportation Officials, sidewalk zones should leave sufficient space for at least two adults to walk side-by-side comfortably. Regrettably, though, vendors and brick-and-mortar shops can encroach on walkable space. Doing so, of course, creates trip, slip and fall hazards on walkways.

The sidewalk’s construction

Even though most sidewalks in the NYC area have concrete construction, you may encounter asphalt, pebble or even dirt walkways. As you may suspect, different materials wear differently. If construction crews do not plan for settling, water runoff and other contingencies, a sidewalk quickly can become treacherous.

The sidewalk’s maintenance

All sidewalks in NYC are vulnerable to the elements. When rain, snow or sleet falls, it is critical for property owners to take prompt action. Furthermore, someone should immediately repair cracks, sinkholes and other damaged parts of sidewalks.

While you can decrease your chances of suffering a catastrophic injury on a sidewalk, you never can eliminate them. Ultimately, by pursuing financial compensation for your injuries, you have the resources you need to recover completely.