USA – Ann Arbor, Michigan, is home to the University of Michigan and a host of businesses that attract a highly educated population. It is therefore surprising to learn that the city recently settled with a man who injured his ankle by stepping in a pothole while jogging in the roadway. The city agreed to an R281,752.80 ($15,000) payout without an admission of liability, in exchange for the release of all claims against the city.
The man said he was running on a street called Brooks in the Water Hill neighbourhood northwest of downtown due to a lack of sidewalks. He claimed that he couldn’t see the pothole because it was covered in leaves. This has prompted a discussion of whether or not you should be able to see something that you’re about to step onto or into. The city, however, disputes the claim and the liability for the injury.
Ann Arbor has a history of pothole-related injury claims, as it settled a similar claim for R460,196.24 ($24,500) last year when a woman was injured stepping in a pothole on Sunset Road. The city is planning to undertake a project this year to resurface Brooks street and add sidewalks where there are none. The man who was out running argued that Ann Arbor could be doing a better job of taking care of its streets. The city’s last pavement ratings showed that nearly 40% of the streets are in poor or failing condition.
The city plans to do more street repairs than usual in the next few years with a one-time road bond of $15 million, but the average pavement rating of neighbourhood streets is only expected to go from 4.5 to 5.5 on a 10-point scale. The city’s goal is to have 45% of its streets rated good or better (6-10 on the scale).
The city is also struggling with limited funding to fill the many gaps in the city’s sidewalk network. There are currently 142 miles of sidewalk gaps, and the city has only filled 13 miles since 2013. City officials have yet to seriously discuss asking voters to increase the city’s street millage to more aggressively ramp up repairs.
Ultimately, this case demonstrates the importance of taking care of our roads and sidewalks. Even though the city of Ann Arbor has been forced to pay out a substantial amount of money, it is still working to improve its streets and sidewalks. The city is hoping to fill its sidewalk gaps and increase the quality of its roads in the coming years, but it will be a challenge due to limited funding.