$950K Sidewalk Cellar Door Injury Settlement, Bronx

Defective sidewalk cellar doors outside a Bronx building at 1025 Longwood Avenue had been a known hazard for months before our client tripped over the crumbling concrete surrounding them and fell. The building's own staff had repeatedly warned the landlord about the dangerous condition — warnings that went ignored until a pedestrian was seriously hurt.

Repeated Warnings About Dangerous Cellar Doors Went Ignored in the Bronx

Our premises liability attorneys investigated the sidewalk conditions at 1025 Longwood Avenue and found that the concrete around the cellar doors had been deteriorating for an extended period. The entire sidewalk section was broken and uneven, creating a trip hazard that was visible to anyone walking by. Staff at a nearby office confirmed they had told the landlord to fix the cellar door area "over and over" — and that the landlord consistently refused to act.

Security cameras positioned directly in front of the location captured the fall. The footage showed our client walking at a normal pace on a clear day when she caught her foot on the raised, broken concrete and went down. There was nothing she could have done to avoid the hazard — the sidewalk condition made a fall foreseeable for any pedestrian passing through.

$950K for Injuries from a Bronx Sidewalk Cellar Door Defect

The $950,000 settlement compensates our client for cervical and lumbar spine injuries, bilateral knee and shoulder damage, emergency medical treatment, ongoing rehabilitation, lost wages, and the pain caused by a sidewalk defect that the property owner knew about and chose to ignore.

"The staff next door told us they had complained about those cellar doors repeatedly. The landlord knew the sidewalk was broken, knew pedestrians walked over it every day, and still did nothing. When you have that much notice and refuse to act, you own the consequences."

— Dario Martinez, Attorney at Raphaelson & Levine

If you've been injured by a defective sidewalk, broken cellar doors, or any premises hazard in the Bronx, our attorneys handle complex property owner negligence claims and can evaluate your case. Contact us for a free consultation.