New York, NY – Trip-N-Fall Suits vs. City Dropping Since Making Property Owners Responsible

New York, NY – Sidewalk trip-and-fall cases filed against the city has been dropping dramatically over the past years, a phenomena alternately credited on good law – and good luck.

In 2007 there were 2,536 claims filed against the city for personal injuries related to broken sidewalks – the lowest number in a decade.
In the prior year there were 2,729 claims, the year before that 2,876 claims, and in 2004, 3,229.

The city attributes the declining number to a 2003 law change making property owners responsible for their sidewalks instead of the city.
The change has led to fewer claims being filed, as well as the dismissal of 1,226 claims this year. [nypost]