San Diego officials are moving quickly to address a parking meter hazard after an elderly man said an exposed meter base caused a serious fall and prompted him to file a major claim against the city.
According to NBC 7, city crews covered the exposed metal base with pavement on Tuesday.
The 70-year-old man allegedly tripped over the base on May 11, sending him tumbling off the sidewalk. Security footage reportedly captured the incident as he walked toward a vehicle parked along a curb marked for a 30-minute limit.
As he approached, one of his feet struck the base of a meter that had been removed from the sidewalk more than a year earlier. He fell forward, hit a parked car, and suffered fractures to his neck and back.
The man has filed a $35 million claim against San Diego, a legal step that could become a lawsuit if the matter is not resolved.
Attorney William Berman told NBC San Diego the man and his wife had been leaving a sushi restaurant near Washington Street and Albatross Drive when the fall occurred in May.
Berman argues the city created a dangerous condition by taking out the parking meter while leaving the raised metal base and protruding bolts in the sidewalk. He also claims similar hazards can be found in other parts of San Diego.
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“They protrude about an inch to two inches from the sidewalk. The city needs to make sure they’re taking out these bases from the sidewalks,” Berman said.
The sidewalk tripper needed a hospital stay to recover from his injuries, but he requires 24-hour medical care every day at home, the attorney claimed.
Residents have claimed that sidewalks in the city are uneven and can be hazardous, especially to elderly people.
Local officials discussed a growing number of liability settlements last week. More than $100 million in settlements involved the San Diego Police Department, they said.
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