Our client was riding his bicycle on the public sidewalks and trails within a planned residential community. These were common areas maintained by a property management company. They should have been safe for residents to use. They should have been properly maintained.
He was navigating through an area when he encountered standing water on the sidewalk. As he applied his brakes, his bicycle lost traction on the wet surface, and he crashed.
What seemed like a simple fall from a bicycle was anything but simple. The impact devastated his knee. Medical evaluation revealed catastrophic damage to multiple structures within the knee joint. He had sustained tears of the patellar tendon, tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), tears of the medial collateral ligament (MCL), and meniscus tears.
Multiple serious injuries from a single crash. And at the root of it all was a location that should never have been in the condition it was in.
The standing water on that sidewalk was not a temporary puddle from recent rain. This was a longstanding drainage issue that had plagued that location for months or possibly years.
Homeowners in the community had complained repeatedly about the problem. Water accumulated there regularly. Algae and silt built up in the standing water, creating a thick, slimy, dangerously slick surface that was nothing like normal wet pavement.
When he applied his brakes, the bicycle tires could not maintain traction on that unusually slick surface created by algae and silt buildup. He lost control. He crashed. His knee was destroyed. The injuries were severe enough to require at least two surgeries to address the damage.
All of this was preventable. All of it could have been avoided with proper drainage maintenance.
Negligent Property Maintenance That Caused Serious Injury
Matthew Broderick represented this cyclist in his premises liability claim against the property management company.
Our legal team understood the facts: the property management company maintained public sidewalks and trails within the residential community. They had a legal responsibility to maintain those common areas in a safe condition or warn residents about hazards. A longstanding drainage issue creating standing water and algae buildup was a hazard. Repeated complaints from homeowners indicated that the problem was known. The property management company had a duty to fix it or, at minimum, warn residents to avoid the area.
They did neither. Instead, they allowed the dangerous condition to persist. Water accumulated. Algae and silt built up. The surface became dangerously slick. A cyclist navigating the sidewalk could not anticipate or prevent a crash in those conditions.
We built our case on clear evidence of negligence: a known hazard that persisted due to the property management company’s inaction, and an injury that resulted directly from that hazard.
But during the lawsuit, our investigation uncovered something crucial: the property management company had known about this drainage problem for over a year. Over a year. They had documented knowledge that this wet patch of sidewalk was a problem. They had information that it needed to be fixed. And they chose not to do anything about it.
Accountability for Negligence
This $450,000 settlement is recognition that property management companies cannot ignore known hazards. They cannot document that a condition is problematic and then do nothing about it. They cannot allow drainage issues to persist, creating dangerous surfaces, and escape accountability when residents are injured.
This settlement sends a clear message to property managers: maintain common areas. Fix known problems. Warn residents about hazards you haven’t fixed. When you fail to do these things, and when a resident is injured as a result, you will be held accountable.
Property management companies often argue that they cannot control all weather and water accumulation. They suggest that wet sidewalks are inevitable. They hope that injured residents won’t have the determination to pursue litigation or won’t be able to prove that the condition was dangerous.
We proved otherwise. We demonstrated that this was not a temporary puddle from recent rain. This was a documented, longstanding problem that the property management company knew about but chose to ignore.
Whether it’s unsafe walkways, falling objects, or inadequate security, hazardous conditions can lead to serious injuries. We’re here to fight for your rights.
Property Maintenance Responsibilities in Residential Communities
Property management companies that maintain common areas within planned residential communities have legal responsibilities to residents. Common areas include sidewalks, trails, walkways, parking areas, and other spaces that residents use regularly. These areas must be maintained in a safe condition.
Maintenance includes addressing drainage issues, removing standing water, filling potholes, repairing cracked pavement, trimming vegetation, and generally ensuring that common areas are safe for pedestrians and cyclists.
When a property management company becomes aware of a problem in a common area, they have a responsibility to act. If the problem can be fixed, it should be fixed. If the problem cannot be immediately fixed, residents should be warned about it. Documentation of complaints should trigger investigation and remediation.
A drainage issue that creates standing water is a known hazard. Water in itself can be slippery. The buildup of algae and silt makes a surface even more slippery. A cyclist navigating such a surface faces increased risk of losing traction and crashing.
When a property management company documents that such a condition exists and then fails to fix it or warn residents about it, that is negligence.
Serious Knee Injuries from Bicycle Crashes
Knee injuries from bicycle crashes can be among the most serious and debilitating injuries a cyclist can sustain. The forces involved in a crash can cause tears to multiple structures within the knee, including ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and bone.
In this case, the cyclist sustained tears to the patellar tendon, ACL, MCL, and meniscus. These are not minor injuries. Each of these structures plays a critical role in knee function, stability, and movement. Tears to multiple structures require surgical repair. Recovery is long and painful. Some injuries result in permanent damage or chronic pain.
This cyclist required at least two surgeries to address the damage from a single crash on a slippery sidewalk created by the property management company’s negligence.
Protect Yourself and Pursue Accountability for Bicycle Accidents
If you have been injured in a bicycle crash on a poorly maintained sidewalk, trail, or other property due to negligence or hazardous conditions, you deserve accountability. Premises liability cases require proving that the property owner or manager knew or should have known about the hazardous condition, failed to fix it or warn residents, and that the hazard caused your injury.
Discovery in these cases often reveals damaging information. Property management companies frequently document problems but fail to address them. Email communications, maintenance records, and complaint logs can show that they knew about conditions and chose not to act.
Our legal team has experience pursuing premises liability claims against property management companies, HOAs, businesses, and property owners who fail to maintain safe conditions.
Get Fair Compensation for Premises Liability Injuries
If you have been injured due to a property owner’s or manager’s negligence, don’t delay. The legal process in premises liability cases takes time, and evidence must be preserved. Maintenance records, complaints, photographs of the hazardous condition, and other documentation may not be retained indefinitely.
We work on a Zero Fee Guarantee: no win, no fee. Schedule your free consultation today and discuss your case with our legal team. We’ll investigate the property conditions, review maintenance records, and explain what your case is worth.
