There is a big secret many
municipalities don’t want you to know!
In a big city or town
there may be a defect that is dangerous and can cause injuries. If you say this
you probably would want to report it to the proper authorities. You certainly
wouldn't want anyone to be injured. But how do you alert the correct people? You
might go on the appropriate municipalities website. You would be prompted to
make a phone call or send an email. If the municipality does not do a prompt
repair after you have alerted them, and someone is injured the municipality
could still claim they did not have proper notice. Why is this? In order to
properly notify a municipality of a dangerous defective condition, you must
send a certified letter to the appropriate party in the
municipality. This
letter should be sent return receipt requested. This is the way it must be done
to be a legal notice. If you follow the proper procedure and someone is injured
he or she would be entitled to make a claim for money damages against the
municipality.
The municipality is being
disingenuous when they tell you to phone in the complaint or to email it. The
notice requirement is draconian and shields the municipality from its
negligence in making proper and prompt repairs when necessary.
