Slip and Fall on an Icy Sidewalk – Am I Entitled to Monetary Compensation?

Anyone can be in this situation – falling and slipping on an icy or uncleaned sidewalk can often lead to serious and painful injuries. Victims can claim compensation for the pain and suffering they have suffered.

Responsibility for the maintenance of sidewalks, with the exception of those located directly in front of condominiums, according to the Roads Act, lies with the municipality. Municipalities are also responsible for damages when someone is injured as a result of a dirty or icy sidewalk.

In which cases is the municipality responsible?

The municipality is liable for damages caused by slipping when:

• the sidewalk is located on a road that is part of the municipal road network;
• the sidewalk was icy;
• the sidewalk was unclean.

Very often, victims believe that the accident (slip, fall, etc.) is the result of their carelessness or their mistake, but statistics indicate that the vast majority of cases are the result of poor maintenance.

Can I claim slip and fall compensation if I fall on the roadway?

According to established case law, compensation can also be claimed if the fall is the result of a pothole or poor maintenance of the roadway, if the reason the injured person was driving on it was an uncleaned or icy sidewalk. Another common cause is improperly parked cars that have occupied the roadway.

How can I claim compensation for damages from slipping?

1. We will attempt to resolve the dispute amicably – we will hold a meeting with the responsible person/persons, where we will try to negotiate the best terms for you. After your approval of the parameters of this agreement, we can proceed to signing it.

2. We are filing a civil lawsuit to claim the compensation you are owed. In addition to not owing us any upfront fee, we will also do everything we can to exempt from paying fees and expenses to the court, if the prerequisites for this, provided for by law, are present.

3. If the case/cases are successful, we file an enforcement case and represent you before private bailiff, who will assist you in receiving the actual amount awarded by the court decision - through seizure of bank accounts or other appropriate actions.

Slips and falls can have serious consequences, but your rights are protected by law. If you have suffered such an incident, act immediately: gather evidence, seek medical attention, and contact the team of lawyers at Delikti.bg. Timely action is extremely important to ensure your successful claim for monetary compensation. Contact us for a consultation.