Sidewalk falls come with a responsibility puzzle pedestrians shouldn’t have to solve mid-injury: the property owner? the city? Philadelphia’s answer is mostly the abutting owner — city ordinance places sidewalk maintenance on the adjacent property — with the city itself in the frame for its own defects and, always, the six-month notice trap when it is.
- The Philadelphia rule: owners maintain their frontage (phila.gov codes) — cracked slabs, root heaves, and missing bricks are their duty, and commercial owners defend these claims constantly.
- The government wrinkle: city-owned stretches and defects invoke immunity rules and the six-month written notice — the deadline that quietly ends unadvised sidewalk claims.
- Proving the defect: photograph with scale (a coin, a ruler) immediately — defect dimensions matter, repairs happen fast after falls, and the notice playbook (how long was it broken?) carries the rest. Google Street View history often timestamps years of neglect.
- The injuries: wrist and hip fractures, head strikes — sidewalk falls punch above their reputation, especially in historic districts.
Frequently Asked Questions
The homeowner says the city owns the sidewalk. The city says it’s the homeowner. Meanwhile?
Both get noticed and the ordinance sorts it — the finger-pointing is common and answerable. What can’t wait is the six-month clock if any government path exists.
The crack was ‘only’ an inch or so. Too small to matter?
Defect-size arguments exist, which is exactly why scaled photos matter — height differentials, lighting, and location context decide them, not adjuster rulers after repair.
What does hiring you cost?
No attorney’s fee unless we recover; percentage and cost handling are in the written fee agreement. Consultations are free.
Questions about your situation? Call (215) 464-4600 or contact us online — free, confidential consultations, contingency-fee representation.