I tripped and fell over an uneven sidewalk outside of my neighbor’s home. I sustained a back injury which kept me out of work for two weeks. He is aware of my injury but says it is my fault because I was talking on my cell phone and not paying attention at the time I fell. Do I have a cause?

Your neighbor and all property owners have the responsibility to take reasonable steps to provide for the safety of visitors. However, the injured party must also show that he or she was exercising reasonable caution. If your neighbor can prove that you were being careless at the time of the accident, it may hinder your claim. To fully evaluate the situation and determine who is responsible and to what extent, you should contact our office as soon as possible. Sidewalk falls often involve a municipality, which means you must serve a Notice of Claim within 90 days! This is a very short time period.