Sidewalk Hazards Lead to Serious Injuries

Case Overview

This case revolves around an individual who sustained injuries while traversing a commercially owned sidewalk. The incident occurred when the individual allegedly tripped on cracked concrete, raising questions about the maintenance of public walkways and the liability of property owners. The need for expert analysis is critical to determine the contributing factors to the alleged hazardous condition, including potential construction defects, adherence to safety codes, and the responsibilities of various parties involved.

Questions to the Civil Engineering expert and their responses

Please describe your professional background in civil engineering, specifically as it pertains to your experience working on commercially owned sidewalks.

I've produced numerous engineering expert reports related to fall downs on sidewalks and other walking surfaces. I have over 30 years of extensive experience in matters related to infrastructure construction codes and standards, testifying experience, and experience teaching construction techniques at a university level.

Have you ever reviewed a similar case? If yes, please elaborate.

There are multiple parties with potential liability including the injured party, the owner of the sidewalk-adjacent property owner, and public utility owners should utility appurtenances be present on the sidewalk. Consideration must also be given to any potential construction defects that may have created the alleged hazardous condition. In those construction-related cases, OSHA's multi-employer workplace policy typically forms the framework for my analysis.

About the expert

This expert has over thirty years of experience in the field of civil and forensic engineering. He earned his BS in petroleum engineering from the University of Texas followed by his MS in civil engineering from Columbia University. Currently, this expert is a board-certified forensic engineer as well as a certified project management professional, forensic claims consultant, planning and scheduling professional, and construction auditor. Additionally, this expert is a licensed registered professional engineer in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Alabama, New York, Texas, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Florida. He also stays very active in his field as a member of many professional societies including the National Academy of Forensic Engineers, the National Society of Professional Engineers, and the American Society of Civil Engineers. Formerly, this expert was a production engineer at Texaco and later a senior project engineer at ExxonMobil. He also previously worked as the vice president and management consultant at Marsh Risk Consulting before working as an adjunct professor of engineering at Columbia University. Today, this experienced expert is the founder and managing principal consultant of an engineering consultancy located in New Jersey.

E-800657

Specialties:

Civil Engineering

Zach Barreto is a distinguished professional in the legal industry, currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Research at the Expert Institute. With a deep understanding of a broad range of legal practice areas, Zach's expertise encompasses personal injury, medical malpractice, mass torts, defective products, and many other sectors. His skills are particularly evident in handling complex litigation matters, including high-profile cases like the Opioids litigation, NFL Concussion Litigation, California Wildfires, 3M earplugs, Elmiron, Transvaginal Mesh, NFL Concussion Litigation, Roundup, Camp Lejeune, Hernia Mesh, IVC filters, Paraquat, Paragard, Talcum Powder, Zantac, and many others.

Under his leadership, the Expert Institute’s research team has expanded impressively from a single member to a robust team of 100 professionals over the last decade. This growth reflects his ability to navigate the intricate and demanding landscape of legal research and expert recruitment effectively. Zach has been instrumental in working on nationally significant litigation matters, including cases involving pharmaceuticals, medical devices, toxic chemical exposure, and wrongful death, among others.

At the Expert Institute, Zach is responsible for managing all aspects of the research department and developing strategic institutional relationships. He plays a key role in equipping attorneys for success through expert consulting, case management, strategic research, and expert due diligence provided by the Institute’s cloud-based legal services platform, Expert iQ.

Educationally, Zach holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and European History from Vanderbilt University.