Whose Accountability?

[Medusa]

See I believe it is if its on private property. Like shoveling your driveway - no one says you HAVE to do it. I've never lived somewhere with a sidewalk in my front yard to know, but I do think that maybe you had to because of a neighborhood association? I know they "are law", so if they say you have to do it then you have to do it, but as far as legalities go outside of that, it just depends - WHO'S property is it on, public or private?

If someone slips on my sidewalk in my yard, then they were trespassing. If someone slips on walmart's sidewalk because they didn't ice it, that's a private property and I'm sure you could sue walmart. If someone slips on a sidewalk at the park, that's the city's duty.

I could be wrong, but this makes sense in my head.

There's such a thing as "easement" which grants the right from one property owner to another to use a portion of his land for a specific purpose, in this case, a sidewalk. I can't say that I totally understand the law, not being an attorney, but I do know from experience that it gives me the right to walk up to someone's door and, for example, attempt to sell my goods to the homeowner, unless there is an expressed law w/in the city limits stating otherwise. I'm probably not stating this correctly but you get my drift. So if a person slips on your sidewalk in your yard, s/he wasn't trespassing; s/he was using the easement, which is legal.

[Jessika]

There's such a thing as "easement" which grants the right from one property owner to another to use a portion of his land for a specific purpose, in this case, a sidewalk. I can't say that I totally understand the law, not being an attorney, but I do know from experience that it gives me the right to walk up to someone's door and, for example, attempt to sell my goods to the homeowner, unless there is an expressed law w/in the city limits stating otherwise. I'm probably not stating this correctly but you get my drift. So if a person slips on your sidewalk in your yard, s/he wasn't trespassing; s/he was using the easement, which is legal.

I understand that, it makes sense. I suppose it depends on the person's reason for being on your property in the first place; what if some kids were skipping across some yards (at my parents kids used to cut across through my parents' back yard all the time to get to the road) and if they got hurt that way. That isn't a sidewalk, but what if they tripped and fell and hurt themselves on something in my yard while they were just taking a shortcut? That type of scenario. OR maybe I have a sidewalk leading around to my fenced backyard and they slip on that. IDK, I'm sure there's all sorts of amendments and sublaws and whathave you, man I'm sure it can get really complicated!

[catnapper]

So, I was walking Callie tonight and we were going past McDonald's. She was trotting along looking at the cars at the drive-through and I was busy laughing at how she was basically dancing along.... not paying attention... and oops..... down I went. I wonder, how will McDonald's pay me now?

I've still been thinking of this situation. In the one I just personally experienced, I was completely at fault since I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. But what if a person WAS paying attention and still fell, like my friend? What if the business was negligent for the condition of their walk? I saw where they fell... actually I walked by it tonight after my McDonald's oops, and it's obvious that it's been like that for a long time and its hard to see unless you're looking for it. You have to hit it just right in order to get tripped up. I can actually SEE where they skidded!!!

This is basically a moot point because they didn't want to get into a fight... all they wanted was to not have Dr. bills. I can understand that -- been there myself! I was still intrigued by the concept, especially after my husband was sued 10 years ago for the same thing on our very own sidewalk. *shrug*