The city of New York has about 13000 miles of sidewalks winding through that millions of pedestrians use daily. Heavy foot traffic and exposure to weather affect the sidewalks. These, combined with regular wear, cause the sidewalks to damage and deteriorate.
These damages need prompt attention to ensure pedestrian safety. NYC has designated sidewalk maintenance and repair to the property owners. The property owners are responsible for assuring sidewalk safety by keeping it free from hazards or defects. They are obligated to fix any physical damages or issues that could make a pedestrian slip, trip, or fall.
Sidewalk Repair Rules in NYC
According to New York State law, property owners are required to maintain their property and its safety. They are responsible for snow and ice removal, vegetation, debris, and any repairs to ensure sidewalk safety for pedestrians. The NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) examines the sidewalks throughout the city, and issues violations to those who are neglecting their sidewalk repairs.
Property owners can get a DOT violation for numerous reasons, such as cracked or loose concrete sections, potholes, faulty patchwork, or tripping hazards. If someone falls and gets an injury on the sidewalk, the property owner will be held liable for negligence and responsible for the injuries. Therefore, property owners must stay on top of sidewalk maintenance with the help of your local sidewalk repair contractor in NYC and promptly address any issue.
Your Role as a Property Owner
As a property owner, you must ensure that you timely repair any damages and make your sidewalk hazard-free. Your responsibilities should involve:
Regular Inspections
Establish a proper sidewalk inspection routine for timely identification and resolution of potential trip hazards.
Prompt Fixing of Minor Issues
You can ensure the safety and longevity of your sidewalk by being prompt in fixing any minor issues to prevent them from turning into major problems.
Tree Maintenance
Tree roots cause significant damage to sidewalks. Adopting a proactive approach in maintaining trees and controlling roots through barriers and trimming would keep the sidewalk safe while preserving greenery.
Neglecting sidewalk repairs could have grave consequences beyond temporary inconvenience. First of all, public safety is at risk as a trip or fall on an uneven sidewalk can lead to injuries. This also creates legal liabilities for property owners.
Apart from legal and safety concerns, poorly maintained sidewalks and damages also affect the aesthetics and the value of property.
Consequences if You Ignore Repairs
There are financial consequences to neglecting sidewalk repairs. Ignoring the repairs would increase the damage, thus increasing the repair costs. If the DOT inspects your sidewalk and finds it violating the safety rules, they will send a violation notification to the property owner.
Or the DOT will hire a contractor for sidewalk repair in NYC and send a bill to the property owner. However, due to consistent negligence regarding sidewalk repair, if someone gets injured, the property owners will be held responsible and have to deal with fines, penalties, and expensive lawsuits.
Therefore, property owners must ensure a well-maintained and safe sidewalk to avoid legal consequences.
Common Sidewalk Problems
It is crucial to address any damage or issue with the sidewalk as soon as it surfaces. Timely repairs can prevent small issues from escalating into extensive damage. It will cost less and ensure pedestrian safety.
Here are some things property owners can do to deal with common sidewalk problems:
Temporary Fixes
- If there is a potential trip hazard, placing warning signs and barriers could alert pedestrians and reduce the chances of accidents.
- For temporary repairing uneven sidewalks, fillers and patches are valuable in leveling the surface and reducing tripping hazards.
Permanent Fixes
- Slabjacking and mudjacking are effective techniques to repair sunken or displaced sections of the sidewalk.
- Replacing or removing damaged areas are ideal solutions in case of irreparable or extensive sidewalk damage.
It is best to hire professional repair services so they can assess the extent of damage and apply specialized techniques and materials to execute repairs. They are a reliable and lasting solution for sidewalk trip hazards.
Conclusion
Sidewalk repair is a key element of pedestrian safety. It is significant that property owners understand their responsibility and take timely action when sidewalk damage or repair is concerned. Following the steps above, they can ensure timely damage control and reduce the risk of accidents.
