The Grand Rapids Press 02/28/12 Matt Vande Bunte
“City Taxpayers Foot Bill for trip-and-fall claims: Grand Rapids paid $125 K last week to settle case”
Of 12 roadway trip-and-fall claims filed with the city in 2011, three so far have been settled with public compensation, according to a city report.
Grand Rapids last week authorized a $125,000 payment to a Kentwood woman, Carmen Bollinger, who suffered an open fracture in her right arm from a May 2011 fall along Fulton Street near Van Andel Arena. The report shows Grand Rapids paid two other claimants $5,000 and $1,524.51.
“Trip-and-fall situations can come in as claims or litigation, or they can start as claims and end up as litigation,” City Attorney Catherine Mish said. “Beside the Bollinger matter, there are only two other trip-and-fall claims where the city made any payment, for files opened in 2011.”
Among the outstanding claims: a September 2011 trip and fall on uneven pavement on Crescent Street NE near the entrance to Grand Rapids Community College’s Calkins Science Center, resulting in injury that required surgeries; and a June 2011 bicycle crash allegedly caused by poor road conditions on State Street SE near Grand Rapids Pizza & Delivery.
Common Sense Review
When are we as a society going to be self-responsible? If you walk anywhere there is always a chance for you to trip and fall, but does that mean you have the right to sue for your inability to pay attention… NO!
In all my law classes, Tort law is what irritates me the most. Most accidents are simply accidents, where possible both parties are at fault. We need to stop looking at others for the fault of harm to ourselves but look inward to see if you could have prevented the incident.
Character Matters!
No comments:
Post a Comment