Tree Wells and Trip and Fall Accidents

Seattle’s urban forest canopy covers 23% of the city according to the American Forests rankings. That places Seattle in the top 10 for urban tree coverage. While all these trees provide many benefits, such the removal of air pollutants and making the city more attractive, they can cause safety issues if they are not Properly maintained.

When a tree well is properly maintained it will look something like this:

Tree wells and trip and fall accidents Seattle’s urban forest canopy covers 23% of the city according to the American Forests rankings. That places Seattle in the top 10 for urban tree coverage. While all these trees provide many benefits, such the removal of air pollutants and making the city more attractive, they can cause safety issues if they are not Properly maintained. When a tree well is properly maintained it will look something like this: Pedestrians are commonly injured when they trip and fall in the artificial tree wells housing Seattle’s street trees. The City of Seattle has many different types of tree wells, from those covered with metal grates, to wells filled in with dirt or porous synthetic filler. The purpose of the grates and fillers is to keep the tree well and the surrounding sidewalk flush, thus creating a safe walking surface and preventing trip and falls. The City of Seattle has numerous self-imposed standards for maintaining sidewalks and the tree wells built into them, but doesn’t always mean the City follows its own standards. When it fails to follow its standards for maintaining sidewalks and tree wells, injuries can result. We have experienced attorneys who can evaluate your case should you trip and fall due to an improperly maintained tree.

Here’s what happens when a tree well is not properly maintained. As you can see, conditions like this can pose a serious trip and fall hazard.