Upper Darby Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers
If you were injured in a slip and fall on someone else’s property in Upper Darby, you may have a claim against the property owner or business. Pennsylvania law requires property owners and businesses to take reasonable steps to address dangerous conditions on floors, stairs, entrances, and other areas open to visitors. Depending on the circumstances, a personal injury claim may include medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
At Rand Spear – The Accident Lawyer, our attorneys bring 200+ years of combined experience and over $1 billion recovered in settlements and verdicts. Our Upper Darby slip and fall accident lawyers serve clients across Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and we know the walking routes around Terminal Square.
What Upper Darby’s Transit Boom Left for People on Foot
Builders filled Terminal Square with four-story terra-cotta blocks in the 1920s, after the Market Street Elevated reached a new 69th Street terminal in 1907. Department stores, banks, and a movie palace moved in. Those buildings keep taking new tenants, so stairways built decades ago carry daily use without always being updated to match. If a step wears down or a railing works loose, a visitor can fall.
Those blocks were built for shopping crowds who came on foot, so the storefronts are placed flush against narrow sidewalks. That leaves walkers a few feet of pavement and little room to move when the surface is uneven.
The 69th Street Transportation Center sends commuters onto these blocks in waves, morning and evening. Riders finish those trips on foot, so the sidewalks, curb ramps, and store entrances take the wear that causes falls.
H Mart draws grocery shoppers to Terminal Square, Pho & Cafe Anh Hong serves the same stretch, and the Tower Theater has anchored 69th and Ludlow Streets since 1927. Walkers headed to all three use the same aging sidewalk, where a raised slab is easy to miss.
The Friends of the Tower Theater District promotes these blocks for the township, and walkers of every age use them. A fall does more damage to an older person. CDC figures show the fall death rate among adults 85 and older rose from about 110 to about 292 per 100,000 between 1999 and 2020.
At Rand Spear – The Accident Lawyer, we start an Upper Darby fall case by identifying who was responsible for maintaining the area where the accident occurred. A fall on a 69th Street sidewalk can involve different legal questions than a fall inside a Terminal Square store or on the steps of a Market Street building.
Storefronts, Second-Floor Markets, and Other Upper Darby Slip and Fall Scenarios
Pennsylvania law calls this premises liability, which means the owner in control of a space has to keep it reasonably safe for visitors. On a public sidewalk, that duty usually falls on the owner of the property next to the walk. Responsibility also depends on notice, so we look at who created the hazard, who reported it, and how long it was there. We handle a variety of different slip and fall cases, including:
- Transit Hubs and Bus Stops: Riders step off at stops along 69th Street and Market Street and walk right into storefront entries. The first feet past the curb belong to private owners.
- Apartment Buildings: The rowhouses and apartment buildings near the terminal went up in the same boom. Tenants fall in vestibules, shared halls, and stair landings a landlord maintains.
- Stairwells: Many storefronts around Terminal Square are situated a step or two above the sidewalk, and some have their selling floor a flight up. A loose handrail or a worn tread there causes real injuries.
- Restaurants and Corner Stores: Small restaurants, bakeries, and takeout counters fill the ground floors along Market Street. Rain comes in on shoes, so tile inside the door can stay wet for hours.
- Supermarkets and Grocery Stores: Grocery trips here can mean climbing to a second-floor market and carrying bags down. A spill in a produce aisle can cause a fall before anyone posts a warning.
- Sidewalks and Curbs: Sidewalks here are narrow and old, and they carry more walkers than most suburban blocks. Raised slabs, broken curb corners, and driveway gaps cause falls.
Upper Darby Fall Risks From Terminal Square to Garrett Road
Falls here happen on the walk and on private ground beside it:
- 69th Street: Stores on this block have little room for a loading zone, so deliveries cross the walk. Boxes and carts sit in the path until someone moves them.
- Terminal Square: Shelters and waiting riders take up part of the walk, so shoppers cut around them at the curb. A shelter frame sits low on the pavement, and a shopper in a hurry can trip on it.
- Market Street: Buildings here come from different decades, and so does the walk out front. Footing changes where the patches meet.
- Garrett Road: Farther north, storefronts give way to strip malls, so shoppers cross a parking lot to reach the door. A dip in that lot is the store’s to fix.
Two conditions affect the walk and the lots:
- Rain and Runoff: Awnings and overhangs drain a storm onto the walk, not the street. Water sits at the curb line, where people step down.
- Peak Crowds: Thousands of people pack these sidewalks within an hour, and a theater night adds hundreds more. Nobody sees a broken slab under that many feet.
Demand Rand When an Upper Darby Fall Was Not Your Fault
A dangerous condition may be gone by the time you return to the scene. At Rand Spear – The Accident Lawyer, our attorneys investigate Upper Darby fall cases by documenting the location, requesting repair and maintenance records, and identifying witnesses who saw what happened. When a Terminal Square fall leaves you injured and facing medical bills or missed work, our Upper Darby slip and fall lawyers can explain your legal options and help you take the next step. Demand more out of your claim – Demand Rand!
Common Questions About Upper Darby Slip and Fall Claims
- What Can I Recover After a Fall Inside an Upper Darby Store or Restaurant?
A claim usually covers medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you miss months of work, future earnings and further treatment can be affected.
- How Long Does a Slip and Fall Case Take in Upper Darby?
That depends mostly on your treatment. Most claims wait until your doctors can describe the full injury, and the pace after that depends on the insurer.
- What Does It Cost to Hire an Upper Darby Slip and Fall Accident Attorney?
Rand Spear – The Accident Lawyer handles these claims on a “no fee until victory” basis. The first meeting is free, and our fee comes out of the recovery.
Did You Fall and Get Hurt? Talk to Upper Darby Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers at Rand Spear – The Accident Lawyer
Property insurers often argue that a hazard was obvious, or that no one had time to fix it. The Upper Darby slip and fall accident lawyers at Rand Spear – The Accident Lawyer answer with photographs, repair records, and witness accounts. Call 215-985-0138 or contact us online to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. Located in Philadelphia, as well as Cherry Hill and Marlton, NJ, we assist clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
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