$850,000 Sidewalk Trip and Fall Settlement in Manhattan

The sidewalk had been cracked and raised for months. The city had issued a violation. The property owner did nothing. And a Manhattan pedestrian's hip paid the price.

Trip and Fall on a Defective Manhattan Sidewalk

Our client was walking along a Manhattan sidewalk when her foot caught on a section of raised, broken pavement — a height differential of nearly two inches where one slab had shifted above the adjacent one. The trip sent her to the ground, and she landed directly on her right hip. The impact fractured the femoral neck, requiring emergency hip replacement surgery.

For a client in her mid-60s, a hip fracture is not just an injury — it's a turning point. Post-surgical recovery required months of restricted mobility, in-home care, and physical therapy. Even after rehabilitation, she walks with a permanent limp and cannot navigate stairs without assistance.

Proving Prior Notice of a Dangerous Sidewalk in Manhattan

Under New York City Administrative Code §7-210, adjacent property owners are responsible for maintaining the sidewalk in a safe condition. Our attorneys obtained records from the Department of Transportation showing that a sidewalk violation had been issued for this exact location months before the accident. The property owner received the violation, acknowledged it, and took no corrective action.

We also documented a history of complaints from neighbors about the same sidewalk section, further establishing that the hazard was well-known and long-ignored.

"A DOT violation on file, neighbor complaints documented, and a two-inch height differential that anyone could see — this wasn't a hidden hazard. The property owner knew the sidewalk was dangerous and chose to do nothing until someone got hurt. The $850,000 settlement reflects the consequences of that choice." — Andrew Levine, Founding Partner

$850,000 Settlement for a Manhattan Sidewalk Fall

This settlement covers hip replacement surgery, post-operative care, months of physical therapy, in-home assistance, permanent mobility limitations, and the loss of independence our client now experiences daily. It holds the property owner accountable for a hazard they were officially notified about but refused to fix.

If you tripped and fell on a broken or uneven sidewalk in Manhattan, our sidewalk accident attorneys have decades of experience proving property owner negligence, and are ready to review your claim.