Sidewalk

Ultramarathon Runner Wins Over $13 Million After Devastating Fall on Seattle Sidewalk

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Seattle, WA – In a significant legal decision, a Seattle jury has awarded over $13 million to an ultramarathon athlete who suffered severe injuries from a fall on a poorly maintained city sidewalk. This verdict underscores the ongoing concerns about pedestrian safety and infrastructure upkeep in urban environments. The athlete, whose rigorous training and competitive spirit were cut short, encountered the hazardous sidewalk condition while on a training run in 2018. The fall resulted in extensive physical injuries, including multiple fractures and a traumatic brain injury, which necessitated several surgeries and prolonged medical treatment. Legal … Read more

Charlottesville Residents Demand Action as Misplaced Utility Poles Create Hazardous Sidewalk Conditions

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In Charlottesville, Virginia, concerns have emerged regarding ongoing violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) due to the placement of utility poles. These placements often force wheelchair users and other pedestrians to divert into the street, posing significant safety risks. Tom Vandever from the Independence Resource Center highlighted that some sidewalks are too narrow to meet ADA requirements, which stipulates a minimum pathway width of 36 inches, with a possible exception down to 32 inches under specific conditions. Vandever pointed out, “When you force people who use wheelchairs out into the street, you’re just … Read more

Seattle Jury Awards $13.1 Million to Ultramarathon Runner for Career-Ending Sidewalk Injury

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SEATTLE — A King County jury has awarded $13.1 million to Lesley Mettler Auld, an ultramarathon runner who suffered severe injuries after tripping on a neglected Seattle sidewalk. The verdict holds both the city of Seattle and the owners of a nearby apartment building liable for the accident that occurred in 2021. Auld, 53, a seasoned athlete and professional fitness coach, was navigating a sidewalk in the Queen Anne neighborhood when she encountered a section notoriously slick with algae and water. Her fall resulted in devastating injuries to her quadriceps, necessitating several surgeries and leaving … Read more

Seattle Jury Awards $13.1 Million to Injured Ultramarathon Runner in Sidewalk Fall Case

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SEATTLE — A verdict by a King County jury has resulted in a $13.1 million award to a former ultramarathon runner who sustained severe injuries from a fall caused by an unsafe sidewalk in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood in 2021. The city of Seattle along with the owners of a nearby apartment building are being held financially responsible for the incident. Lesley Mettler Auld, 53, who once thrived in the strenuous sport of ultramarathoning, expressed through a press statement from her legal team that the life-altering injuries have permanently sidelined her running career. She now … Read more