Help Make City Sidewalks Safer with SidewalkSnap presented by The Barnes Firm

The broken and cracked sidewalks that line our cities are not just eyesores; they are hazards to our community’s safety and accessibility. People of all ages rely on sidewalks as a means of transportation and recreation but neglecting to repair this vital channel within our transportation system can result in tragic consequences.

sidewalk snap logo, see it snap it send it, by the barnes firm

What Causes Broken Sidewalks? How are They a Risk to Our Communities?

Cracked, broken, and partially raised sidewalks are common no matter where you are in the world. Sidewalks can begin to lift and crack due to movement underneath the pavement, caused by water erosion, earthquakes, or tree root growth. Water and ice can also find their way into small cracks and cause chipping or widening of holes. Materials filling the expansion joints between concrete sidewalk panels can also degrade and leave a gap that could pose a safety risk to pedestrians.

Damaged walkways can easily cause a person’s shoe to get caught in a crack and send them falling face-first into unforgiving concrete. If sidewalk damage is significant enough, it can even cause someone to get their foot caught, twisting their ankle, or worse.

Sidewalks that are in good repair provide everyone, especially the elderly and people with disabilities, more access to our communities. People using wheelchairs, crutches, canes, or those who may have compromised vision require access to smooth, even pathways to have the same quality of life as their non-disabled peers. When a community’s walkways are not passable, pedestrians often end up walking in the road, frequently resulting in higher rates of pedestrian and traffic deaths.

How Can You Help Make Sidewalks Safer in Your Community?

After working with numerous innocent people who had sustained injuries from broken walkways, our team of skilled attorneys at The Barnes Firm decided something needed to be done. It was time to put the power back into the hands of the people for the safety of their communities – so we developed SidewalkSnap to help transform neighborhoods into the safer place it deserves to be.

SidewalkSnap, a new web-based application developed by The Barnes Firm, gives communities and the people that live and work in them, people like you, an opportunity to help put an end to dangerous city sidewalks. The ultimate goal? Making every city sidewalk accessible for people of all ages and abilities. In just three simple steps, you can make your community a safer and more desirable place to live and enjoy. Here’s how it works:

a raised, broken, and cracked sidewalk

SEE it.

Once you SEE a damaged or dangerous sidewalk, open your smart phone browser and go to www.SidewalkSnap.com to start the process of getting it repaired. Broken walkways can be found everywhere, but if property managers or community maintenance workers are not aware of the issue, it may never get fixed. SidewalkSnap is here to help change that.

SNAP it.

Take a photo of the broken sidewalk with your smart phone. If you have location services enabled on your phone, SidewalkSnap will be able to automatically record the location of the hazardous walkway and alert the owner of the issue. If you do not have location services enabled, no worries–just manually enter the location on the website.

hand holding a smartphone, taking a picture of a raised and broken sidewalk to submit to Sidewalksnap
hand holding a smartphone, taking a picture of a raised and broken sidewalk to submit to Sidewalksnap

SNAP it.

Take a photo of the broken sidewalk with your smart phone. If you have location services enabled on your phone, SidewalkSnap will be able to automatically record the location of the hazardous walkway and alert the owner of the issue. If you do not have location services enabled, no worries–just manually enter the location on the website.

cartoon of hand holding a smartphone with a paper plane design on the screen

SEND it.

Now, all you have to do is upload your photo of the broken sidewalk to www.SidewalkSnap.com, and we’ll handle the rest. Your photo will be used to help hold property owners accountable to repair their hazardous walkways–making your community a safer place to be.

Have You Sustained an Injury from a Damaged Sidewalk?

If you have been injured due to a damaged sidewalk, The Barnes Firm may be able to help. We take great pride in bettering the communities we serve by helping clients achieve the best result possible.

We help families across New York State and California, with locations in Manhattan, Long Island, Buffalo, Rochester, Los Angeles, San Diego, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Injured? Need help? Complete an online contact form today or call (800) 800-0000 for a free evaluation of your case – it could be the best call you make.