It’s a business or homeowner’s nightmare and a lawyer’s dream – someone trips on the sidewalk in front of your home or business.

If you’re a business or homeowner, you know the nightmare. You have a beautiful shop or home marred by the ugly sidewalks of Los Angeles. Cracked, uplifted and crumbling, the sidewalks are a labyrinth of trip hazards just waiting to catch the foot of that distracted pedestrian.

Now, you would think the city of Los Angeles is supposed to be responsible for the maintenance of their 11,000 miles of sidewalk. Just wait until you get sued by a personal injury attorney and see how fast the city divests itself of any responsibility. The best thing to do to avoid any of the headaches of a trip and fall lawsuit is to fix the problem at the source – the sidewalk.

How did my sidewalk become a trip hazard?

There are so many ways a sidewalk becomes a trip hazard. Remember, the city of Los Angeles has newer and older sections – all of which were built at blazing speed at the time.

For example, most sidewalks in the San Fernando Valley were poured from the 1940s to the 1960s, when the area was converted from farmland to planned communities. That means, the sidewalks out in the Valley are at least 60 years old! Older sections of the city, like Highland Park and Leimert Park, were developed in the 1920s. Think of how old those sidewalks must be. Most sidewalks have a lifespan of about 30 years. Our concrete sidewalks are far far older.

And when you look down our city streets, you may notice our lovely shady trees. Many of those trees (especially in the Valley) were planted because they are fast-growing. Well, guess what? Those trees and their roots are wreaking havoc on your sidewalk. Over time, the roots increase in size and lift up the concrete, creating those uplifts you likely see in your sidewalk. In extreme cases, the sidewalk eventually cracks and crumbles.

Should I repair my sidewalk trip hazard?

The answer to this question is a resounding yes.

The question of who is responsible for the maintenance of the sidewalks in Los Angeles is so murky that even the city’s own website will tell you to consult an attorney. In fact, a quick search on the Internet will reveal the dozens and dozens of attorneys out there to help out a pedestrian who tripped. And remember, personal injury attorneys generally do not get paid until they get a settlement for their client, which means they’ll be gunning for your home or business.

Not only do you have to worry about pedestrians tripping on your sidewalk, but you also have to worry about your insurance. If you are a business owner, you will find that most insurance companies are hesitant or just plain won’t insure you if your sidewalk has trip hazards. It’s the same thing if you’re a homeowner or an apartment building owner. It doesn’t matter that the sidewalk is technically owned by the city. You have to fix it before you can get insurance.

So, should you repair your trip hazard of a sidewalk? If you want to avoid lawsuits and get insured, the answer is yes.

Pedestrian walkway/sidewalk maintenance in Los Angeles

If you’re just looking at a small uplift in your sidewalk, it’s actually easier than you may think to repair the sidewalk. You may be thinking that you have to replace the entire sidewalk. While the city does have a rebate program to promote that, you will have to pay upfront for the repairs. That can cost anywhere from $8,000 to $12,000. Do you have that kind of cash lying around?

If you want a quick and wallet-friendly solution to the sidewalk problem, concrete grinding is the way to go. I know, you probably see those uplifted sidewalks that people have tried to fix with asphalt. Believe me, concrete grinding is a much better, and more aesthetically pleasing option.

What is concrete grinding? Simple. Hire a concrete contractor who has a concrete grinding machine. This machine will shave down the uplifted section of concrete to make it even with the concrete around it. This solution is quick and simple. In one day, you’ll have a smooth sidewalk.

Concrete Grinding Versus Replacement in Los Angeles

By now you may have heard about Los Angeles’ Safe Sidewalks LA rebate program. The city will pay you up to $12,000 to replace your sidewalk. There are cases in which this is the best option. If your sidewalk has major uplift or is crumbling, you’ll want to get that replaced. However, you may not need to do all that work.

If you have a simple, small uplift in your concrete, you are likely a good candidate for concrete grinding. It usually runs about $1000 to complete. We have the specialized equipment and trained technicians to quickly fix that pesky sidewalk. The work will be done in about a day, rather than the week-long process required to replace your sidewalk. You don’t have to worry about permits or inspections or someone stepping on your newly poured concrete.

Ready to fix that trip hazard lurking outside your property? Give us a call today! We are a licensed concrete contractor with 20+ years of experience in repairing and replacing concrete sidewalks. With the specialized equipment and trained techs, we have the know-how to fix your sidewalk and be easy on your wallet.