Sidewalk accident cases often appear straightforward at first, but they can involve complicated questions about property ownership, public versus private responsibility, maintenance duties, construction activity, code compliance, weather-related hazards, and whether the dangerous condition existed long enough that it should have been corrected. At McArthur Law Firm, our team understands that a fall on a sidewalk can lead to far more than a temporary inconvenience. Uneven pavement, broken concrete, hidden drop-offs, slippery surfaces, poor lighting, and neglected walkway hazards can cause serious injuries that affect mobility, work, independence, and long-term health.

Across Georgia, sidewalk accidents occur in apartment complexes, shopping centers, office parks, schools, hotels, downtown corridors, neighborhoods, and public pedestrian routes. Although sidewalks are intended to provide a safe walking surface, they can become dangerous when owners, occupiers, contractors, or public entities fail to inspect, repair, warn of, or reasonably address known hazards. When a dangerous sidewalk condition causes preventable harm, the injured person may have the right to pursue compensation.

Georgia Sidewalk Accident Lawyer

Building a sidewalk accident case requires more than proving that someone fell. It often requires a detailed investigation into who controlled the walkway, what condition caused the fall, how long the hazard existed, whether repairs or warnings were required, and whether inspection or maintenance failures allowed the danger to continue. McArthur Law Firm investigates photographs, surveillance footage, maintenance records, incident reports, repair history, municipal or property records, witness statements, and medical evidence to determine whether the accident could have been prevented.

In this piece, McArthur Law Firm explains how sidewalk accidents happen, who may be responsible, what legal options may be available, the injuries these incidents commonly cause, and how a Georgia sidewalk accident lawyer can help injured individuals pursue accountability and fair compensation.

McArthur Law Firm serves the entire state of Georgia, including: Fulton County, Bibb County, Clayton County, Cherokee County, Forsyth County, and surrounding communities. For more information about the McArthur Law Firm or to set up a free consultation to learn what we may be able to do to help you with your sidewalk accident case, give us a call at one of our offices in Georgia or fill out our online contact form.


Overview of Sidewalk Accidents in Georgia


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What Is a Sidewalk Accident?

A sidewalk accident is an injury event that occurs while a person is walking, standing, turning, stepping over, or otherwise using a pedestrian walkway intended for foot traffic. These incidents often involve trips, slips, missteps, sudden loss of footing, or falls caused by cracked pavement, elevation changes, broken concrete, holes, pooled water, slippery growth, debris, poor lighting, or temporary obstructions. Because pedestrians generally expect sidewalks to provide a reasonably safe walking surface, even a seemingly modest defect can create a serious fall hazard.

In legal terms, sidewalk accidents may fall under Georgia premises liability law, general negligence principles, or in some cases rules involving public property or municipal responsibility. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-3-1, owners and occupiers generally have a duty to exercise ordinary care to keep premises and approaches safe for invitees. The key legal question is often whether the person or entity responsible for the walkway knew or should have known about the hazard and failed to correct it or provide an adequate warning.


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Main Types of Sidewalk Accidents in Georgia

Trip and Fall Sidewalk Accidents — These accidents occur when a pedestrian’s foot catches on a raised slab, cracked section, broken edge, pothole, exposed anchor, displaced brick, or other irregular walking surface. Because pedestrians rely on predictable surface continuity, even a modest height differential can interrupt a normal stride and cause the body to pitch forward without enough time to recover. These falls frequently result in injuries to the wrists, face, knees, shoulders, and head because the victim instinctively attempts to break the fall with their upper body.

Slip and Fall Sidewalk Accidents — Slip accidents typically involve substances or conditions that reduce traction, such as rain accumulation, algae, grease, mud, leaking irrigation, spilled drinks, soap residue, or ice in colder conditions. A sidewalk does not need to be visibly flooded to become dangerous; a thin, unexpected slick layer can be enough to cause a loss of footing. These incidents often turn on whether the condition was temporary but foreseeable, whether it had been present long enough to be addressed, and whether warnings or maintenance procedures were reasonable under the circumstances.

Falls Caused by Uneven or Heaved Sidewalk Panels — Tree roots, soil movement, settling, poor installation, erosion, and long-term wear can cause sidewalks to heave, sink, separate, or become misaligned. These defects are especially dangerous because they may blend into the normal appearance of the walkway until the pedestrian is already upon them. In areas with foot traffic, an uneven sidewalk may create a recurring hazard for months or years if no inspection or repair process is in place.

Sidewalk Obstruction Accidents — A pedestrian may be injured when construction materials, cords, hoses, merchandise displays, outdoor seating, tools, signage bases, or debris block a normal walking path. These cases often involve the question of whether the obstruction was necessary, whether safer placement was possible, and whether the walkway remained reasonably navigable. Obstruction cases can be particularly strong when the hazard was man-made, visible to the responsible party, and easy to remove.

Lighting-Related Sidewalk Accidents — Some sidewalk hazards become especially dangerous at night or in low-light conditions because broken pavement, elevation changes, holes, and obstructions cannot be seen in time to avoid them. Poor exterior lighting around apartment complexes, retail centers, parking lot walkways, hotels, office parks, and public corridors can transform an existing walkway defect into a much more serious danger. These cases often involve combined negligence: the defect itself and the failure to illuminate it.

Construction Zone and Temporary Walkway Accidents — Sidewalks near active construction or renovation areas may contain uneven transitions, temporary coverings, missing sections, fencing intrusions, open trenches, loose gravel, or poorly marked detours. When contractors or property operators reroute pedestrians without creating a safe alternative path, preventable injuries can occur. These cases often require close examination of who controlled the site, what barriers or warnings were used, and whether the pedestrian route complied with basic safety expectations.

Sidewalk Ramp and Curb Transition Accidents — Falls may also occur where sidewalks meet driveways, ramps, curb cuts, drainage openings, or accessibility transitions. Poorly designed or deteriorated transitions can create subtle but dangerous elevation changes that catch a pedestrian off guard, particularly where the surface angle shifts abruptly. These cases are common in commercial entrances, parking areas, and urban pedestrian corridors where heavy use accelerates surface wear.


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Causes of Sidewalk Accidents in Georgia

Poor Maintenance and Deferred Repairs — One of the most common causes of sidewalk accidents is the failure to inspect and repair damaged walking surfaces in a timely manner. Over time, minor cracks can widen, slabs can separate, drainage can fail, and surface materials can break down into serious hazards. When a responsible party allows these conditions to persist despite regular pedestrian use, the walkway may become unreasonably dangerous.

Weather Exposure and Environmental Deterioration — Sidewalks are constantly exposed to rain, heat, runoff, plant growth, dirt accumulation, and shifting ground conditions. Without regular maintenance, those natural effects can lead to slick surfaces, erosion, root heaving, crumbling edges, and water accumulation. A property owner cannot always prevent weather, but they may still be responsible for failing to respond reasonably to the conditions it creates.

Tree Root Uplift and Ground Movement — Tree roots often push concrete upward from below, causing sudden elevation changes between adjacent slabs. Similarly, settling soil and drainage problems can create depressions or unstable sidewalk sections. These hazards may develop gradually, which often strengthens the argument that the person responsible for the walkway had ample opportunity to discover and fix the defect.

Unsafe Construction Activity or Temporary Conditions — Construction work near sidewalks often introduces new hazards, including loose materials, unfinished surfaces, detours, cords, barricades, uncovered openings, and debris. If contractors or property operators fail to maintain a safe pedestrian route, or if they leave an area partially completed without proper warnings, the resulting injuries may be entirely preventable. Temporary conditions can still create full legal responsibility when they are managed carelessly.

Inadequate Lighting and Visibility — A sidewalk that might be navigable in daylight can become hazardous after dark if the area lacks adequate illumination. Low visibility prevents pedestrians from recognizing cracks, pooled water, obstructions, and height changes before stepping into danger. Poor lighting can also make it harder to show that the hazard was truly “open and obvious,” which is often a major defense argument in premises cases.

Obstructions, Debris, and Improper Use of Walkways — Sidewalks are meant for safe pedestrian passage, but they are often cluttered by business operations, landscaping equipment, temporary signs, or carelessly stored materials. When a walkway is narrowed or blocked by objects that do not belong there, the risk of tripping or forced missteps increases significantly. These cases frequently involve a straightforward question: why was the object there at all, and why was it not removed before someone got hurt?

Failure to Inspect or Respond to Complaints — Many sidewalk hazards exist long enough that someone has previously noticed them, complained about them, or attempted a partial repair. If the responsible party failed to conduct reasonable inspections or ignored reports of damage, that evidence can be very important in proving notice. A dangerous sidewalk condition often becomes legally significant not merely because it existed, but because it was allowed to continue after someone should have acted.


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Injuries Commonly Caused by Sidewalk Accidents

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) — A sidewalk fall can result in direct impact to the head against concrete, asphalt, brick, curbing, or nearby fixed objects. Victims may suffer concussions, skull fractures, brain bleeding, or longer-term cognitive and neurological impairment depending on the force and angle of the fall. Even when there is no immediate loss of consciousness, symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, confusion, light sensitivity, nausea, and memory problems may indicate a serious brain injury that requires prompt medical evaluation.

Facial and Dental Injuries — Because many sidewalk trips cause the body to fall forward, the face and mouth are often exposed to direct impact. A person may suffer broken teeth, jaw fractures, orbital injuries, nasal fractures, deep lacerations, or permanent facial scarring. These injuries are frequently painful, cosmetically significant, and expensive to treat, particularly when reconstructive or dental work is needed.

Broken Bones and Fractures — Sidewalk accidents commonly cause fractures of the wrist, hand, elbow, arm, shoulder, ankle, hip, and kneecap, especially when the victim throws out an arm to stop the fall or lands awkwardly. Some fractures heal with immobilization, while others require surgery, hardware placement, and extensive rehabilitation. Hip fractures and upper-extremity fractures can be especially disruptive because they affect both mobility and the ability to manage basic daily activities.

Spinal Cord and Back Injuries — A hard fall onto concrete can place substantial force on the neck, back, and spine, particularly when the victim twists during the fall or lands on the back or side. These injuries may include herniated discs, vertebral fractures, pinched nerves, chronic pain, limited mobility, or in more severe cases spinal cord trauma. For some victims, the sidewalk fall becomes the beginning of years of treatment, pain management, and physical limitation.

Soft Tissue and Joint Injuries — Ligament tears, sprains, strains, meniscus injuries, rotator cuff damage, and shoulder dislocations are common in sidewalk accidents. Although these injuries are sometimes dismissed as minor compared to fractures, they can cause substantial pain, instability, and long-term impairment. Recovery often requires physical therapy, injections, bracing, or surgery, and some victims never regain their prior level of function.

Internal Injuries and Organ Damage — Severe falls can also cause chest and abdominal trauma, including internal bleeding or injury to organs if the body strikes the ground or a nearby object with enough force. These injuries may not be obvious at the scene, especially if the victim is focused on visible cuts or fractures. Prompt medical care matters because internal injuries can worsen quickly if not diagnosed early.

Psychological Trauma and Loss of Confidence — A serious sidewalk fall can produce more than physical harm. Many victims, especially older adults or those with mobility limitations, develop anxiety about walking outdoors, fear of falling again, reduced independence, or embarrassment about visible injury. These emotional effects may interfere with normal movement, social activity, work, and daily confidence in ways that should not be ignored in the legal claim.


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Where Sidewalk Accidents Are Most Likely to Occur in Georgia

Apartment Complexes and Residential Communities — Sidewalks in apartment properties are heavily used by tenants, guests, delivery drivers, and maintenance workers, often at all hours of the day and night. These walkways may become dangerous because of broken concrete, poor lighting, drainage failures, tree root uplift, loose handrails near connected steps, or neglected common-area maintenance. Property owners and management companies are frequently central to these cases because they control inspection, repair, and upkeep of the common pedestrian routes.

Shopping Centers, Retail Plazas, and Storefront Walkways — Commercial sidewalk areas often face constant foot traffic, deliveries, carts, signage placement, and weather exposure, all of which increase wear and the likelihood of hazardous conditions. Cracked pavement, loose bricks, slippery entrances, blocked walkways, and poor drainage are recurring issues in these settings. Retail cases often involve surveillance footage, maintenance logs, cleaning schedules, and incident reporting procedures that can help establish what the business knew and when.

Office Parks and Commercial Campuses — Sidewalks around office buildings, professional centers, and business campuses may appear orderly but still contain dangerous defects that employees, visitors, and vendors encounter every day. Inadequate maintenance, hidden elevation changes, poor lighting, and landscaping-related walkway damage can all contribute to falls. Because these areas are usually under organized property management, inspection and repair history often become important evidence.

Hotels, Restaurants, and Hospitality Properties — Guests at hotels and hospitality venues often use unfamiliar sidewalks near parking areas, entrances, pools, outdoor seating, and event spaces. Poorly marked transitions, dim lighting, water runoff, decorative paving defects, and crowd-related obstructions can create serious pedestrian hazards. In these cases, the owner’s duty to maintain a safe guest environment is often a major issue.

Downtown Sidewalks and Urban Corridors — Sidewalk accidents in urban settings may involve cracked concrete, construction detours, utility covers, crowded pedestrian traffic, or defects near transit access points and public storefronts. These cases can become more complex because responsibility may be divided among private businesses, adjacent owners, contractors, or public entities depending on the exact location and cause of the hazard. Careful site-specific investigation is usually essential.

Schools, Parks, and Public Facilities — Public walkways serving schools, government buildings, parks, libraries, and civic facilities may expose pedestrians to deteriorated pavement, poor drainage, broken ramps, and insufficient lighting. These incidents can involve additional notice rules or governmental defenses depending on who controlled the area. Even so, serious injuries in these settings still require close legal analysis because public-property cases are not automatically barred.


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Who May Be Liable for Sidewalk Accidents in Georgia

Property Owners and Occupiers — Under Georgia premises liability law, property owners and occupiers may be liable when they fail to exercise ordinary care in keeping premises and approaches safe for invitees. If the sidewalk was under their control and they knew or should have known about a dangerous condition that was not corrected or warned about, they may bear responsibility for the injury. These cases often focus on notice, inspection practices, prior complaints, and the length of time the hazard existed.

Landlords and Property Management Companies — In apartment complexes, residential developments, shopping centers, and office properties, sidewalk maintenance may be handled by a management company rather than the titled owner. If management controlled repairs, lighting, landscaping, drainage, or common-area inspections and failed to address an unsafe walkway condition, it may be liable. Emails, work orders, tenant complaints, and vendor contracts often help determine the true scope of management responsibility.

Businesses and Commercial Operators — A business may be responsible when the hazard was created by its operations, such as merchandise displays, hoses, mats, spills, delivery activity, or sidewalk obstructions near its entrance. Liability may also arise when a business controls the adjacent walkway and fails to maintain it reasonably. These cases often involve the business’s cleaning, opening, and inspection procedures as well as the conduct of employees on the day of the accident.

Contractors, Construction Companies, and Maintenance Providers — If the sidewalk hazard was caused or worsened by landscaping work, cleaning activity, repair work, construction staging, or negligent temporary traffic control, outside contractors may share liability. Construction-related sidewalk cases often involve barricades, unfinished surfaces, dangerous detours, or materials left in the pedestrian path. Maintenance contractors may also be relevant when poor cleaning or repair practices created slick surfaces or unstable walkways.

Government Entities — Some sidewalk accidents occur on public walkways controlled by a city, county, school district, or other governmental body. Claims involving public entities can be subject to special notice requirements, shorter deadlines, and immunity issues depending on the circumstances. Because these rules are technical and time-sensitive, prompt legal review is especially important in any case involving a municipal or public sidewalk.

Adjacent Owners in Certain Situations — In some cases, an adjacent property owner may have specific duties under local rules, lease obligations, or maintenance arrangements affecting the sidewalk bordering the property. While liability always depends on the exact facts, an adjacent owner may become relevant if their landscaping, drainage, tree roots, business activity, or negligent repairs contributed to the dangerous condition. These cases require careful review of who created the hazard and who had the ability to fix it.


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Recovering Damages for Sidewalk Accident Victims

Recovering damages after a sidewalk accident requires proof that the dangerous condition caused a real injury and that another party’s negligence allowed that condition to exist. Insurance companies often try to minimize these cases by arguing that the defect was trivial, the victim was distracted, or the injuries were not severe. A strong claim responds with photographs, measurements, notice evidence, witness testimony, medical documentation, and a clear record of how the fall changed the person’s physical, financial, and daily life.

Medical Expenses and Treatment Costs — Sidewalk falls can require emergency room care, imaging, orthopedic treatment, surgery, physical therapy, neurological evaluation, dental reconstruction, and long-term pain management. Some victims also require follow-up care for balance problems, head injury symptoms, or mobility limitations. Compensation may include both the costs already incurred and the expected future treatment made necessary by the accident.

Lost Wages and Reduced Earning Capacity — Many sidewalk accident victims miss work because of fractures, surgeries, concussion symptoms, restricted mobility, or medical appointments. In more serious cases, the injury may permanently affect the person’s ability to perform physical labor, commute reliably, or continue in the same line of work. Damages can include both past income loss and future diminished earning ability.

Pain and Suffering — A sidewalk accident can cause immediate pain as well as months or years of discomfort, limited movement, sleep problems, and reduced function. Pain and suffering damages are meant to reflect the physical burden of living with those effects. In serious fall cases, these damages are often substantial because the injury interferes with basic movement and independence.

Emotional Distress and Loss of Enjoyment of Life — Many victims become fearful of walking outdoors, lose confidence in their balance, or stop participating in normal activities because of the accident. Others experience frustration, embarrassment, or isolation because their injuries affect their appearance, mobility, or independence. These losses are real and may be reflected in the value of the claim.

Future Care and Long-Term Support Needs — Severe sidewalk falls can result in permanent limitations that require future medical treatment, mobility aids, home modifications, assistance with daily tasks, or ongoing therapy. These future needs must be considered carefully before a claim is resolved. A settlement that accounts only for the initial treatment may be inadequate if long-term complications continue.

Wrongful Death Damages in Fatal Cases — In some cases, a sidewalk fall leads to fatal head trauma, internal injuries, surgical complications, or other deadly outcomes. Surviving family members may have wrongful death and estate-related claims under Georgia law if the fall was caused by a dangerous condition that should have been addressed. These cases require a thorough investigation into both the hazard and the medical course that followed.


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Role of a Georgia Sidewalk Accident Lawyer

Investigating the Sidewalk Hazard — A Georgia sidewalk accident lawyer begins by identifying exactly what made the walkway unsafe and whether that condition can still be documented before it changes. That may involve photographs, site inspections, measurements, video preservation, weather records, property records, maintenance documents, and witness interviews. Early investigation is particularly important because sidewalk conditions are often repaired after an injury, which can make later proof far more difficult.

Determining Who Controlled the Walkway — One of the most important questions in a sidewalk case is who had responsibility for the area where the fall occurred. Depending on the location, that may be a landlord, business, management company, contractor, private owner, or public entity. A lawyer reviews deeds, leases, maintenance contracts, municipal records, and operational arrangements to identify every party who may have had a duty to keep the walkway reasonably safe.

Proving Notice and Preventability — Many sidewalk cases succeed or fail based on whether the responsible party knew or should have known about the defect. A lawyer looks for prior complaints, repair attempts, recurring drainage problems, visible wear patterns, staff knowledge, and evidence that the condition had existed long enough to be discovered through reasonable inspection. The objective is to show not merely that the hazard existed, but that it was preventable.

Working With Experts When Necessary — Some sidewalk cases require engineers, safety experts, construction professionals, or medical specialists to explain why the defect was dangerous and how it caused the injury. Expert review may be especially important in cases involving sidewalk design, root heaving, code issues, construction detours, slope transitions, or claims that the defect was too minor to matter. Strong expert support can be critical when insurers or defense counsel try to trivialize the hazard.

Handling Insurance Companies and Defense Tactics — Insurers commonly argue that the pedestrian should have seen the hazard, that the condition was obvious, or that the person was inattentive. A lawyer prepares the case to answer those arguments with evidence about lighting, walkway design, visibility, crowding, distraction, and the true seriousness of the defect. The same is true for defenses that minimize the injury itself or attempt to blame preexisting conditions.

Pursuing Full Compensation Through Settlement or Litigation — A Georgia sidewalk accident lawyer seeks damages for medical bills, lost income, future care, pain, emotional harm, and long-term disability where appropriate. If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair resolution, the case may need to proceed into litigation with formal discovery and trial preparation. Preparing the case from the beginning as if it may need to be tried often puts the victim in a stronger position during negotiations.


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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can someone sue after tripping or slipping on a sidewalk in Georgia?

    Yes, but a successful claim usually depends on showing more than the fact that a fall occurred. The injured person must typically prove that a dangerous condition existed, that the responsible party knew or should have known about it, and that the condition caused real injury. Sidewalk cases are often very fact-specific, which is why documentation of the hazard and the injuries matters so much.

  • Who is responsible for maintaining a sidewalk in Georgia

    That depends on the location. In some cases, the sidewalk is maintained by a private property owner, landlord, business, or management company, while in others the responsibility may rest with a city, county, contractor, or some combination of entities. Because legal responsibility does not always match what the pedestrian sees from the street, determining control over the walkway is one of the first and most important steps in the case.

  • Can a sidewalk injury case involve a city or other government entity?

    Yes. If the sidewalk is on public property or under municipal control, a public entity may be involved. These claims can be more complicated because they may require ante litem notice or involve immunity issues, so they should be reviewed quickly by a lawyer familiar with Georgia timing requirements.

  • What damages may be available in a Georgia sidewalk accident case?

    Potential damages may include medical expenses, future treatment costs, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and long-term support needs. In fatal cases, wrongful death damages may also be available. The amount depends on the seriousness of the injury and its effect on the person’s life.

  • How long do you have to file a sidewalk accident claim in Georgia?

    Most personal injury claims in Georgia are generally subject to a two-year statute of limitations under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, but public-entity cases may involve shorter notice rules. Because timing can vary depending on who controls the sidewalk, prompt legal review is important. Waiting too long can damage or even prevent the claim.


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Additional Resources

Fall Prevention and Walking Surface Safety – National Safety Council (NSC) — The National Safety Council offers educational materials about fall hazards, walking surfaces, and injury prevention in everyday environments. Its guidance helps explain how routine walking areas become dangerous when maintenance, visibility, or surface conditions are ignored. This resource is helpful for understanding how seemingly ordinary walkway defects can produce significant harm.

Walking-Working Surfaces – Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) — OSHA provides standards and guidance related to walkway safety, surface conditions, and fall prevention in work environments. While OSHA rules do not govern every private sidewalk case, they provide useful context for how dangerous walking surfaces are evaluated and why maintenance and inspection matter. These materials are especially relevant in cases involving commercial properties or work-related pedestrian paths.

Georgia Premises Liability Law – O.C.G.A. § 51-3-1 — Georgia’s premises liability framework is important in many sidewalk accident cases because it addresses the duty of owners and occupiers to keep premises and approaches safe for invitees. Reviewing the legal principles behind these cases can help injured people understand why notice, inspection, and maintenance are so central to recovery. This statutory foundation is often the starting point for analyzing liability in sidewalk fall claims.


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Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer for Sidewalk Accidents in Atlanta, Georgia

McArthur Law Firm serves the cities of Atlanta in Fulton County, Macon in Bibb County, Kathleen in Houston County, Peachtree Corners and Lawrenceville in Gwinnett County, Marietta and Smyrna in Cobb County, Stonecrest, Brookhaven and Dunwoody in Dekalb County, Albany in Dougherty County, Columbus in Muscogee County and throughout the surrounding areas of the state of Georgia.

A sidewalk accident can leave a person dealing with far more than a bruised knee or temporary embarrassment. Serious pedestrian falls often lead to surgery, rehabilitation, missed work, chronic pain, mobility limitations, and a lasting loss of confidence in everyday movement. McArthur Law Firm works to identify the hazardous condition that caused the fall, determine who was responsible for correcting it, and pursue compensation that reflects the full medical, financial, and personal impact of the injury.

Contact one of our offices at the following numbers or fill out an online contact form to start building your case.