Sterling Heights Public Park Slip and Fall

On a sunny afternoon, Dodge Park is alive with families grilling under the pavilions, kids racing toward the splash pad, and cyclists gliding along the Clinton River Trail. Nearby, the tranquil paths of the Sterling Heights Nature Center and the open fields of Delia Park draw residents from every corner of Macomb County. But sometimes, what begins as a peaceful day in the park can change everything in a single step.

A cracked sidewalk hidden under leaves, an unmarked pothole near a walking trail, or a patch of black ice left untreated can send a person tumbling to the ground. These hazards might seem like minor oversights — until they cause life-altering injuries such as fractured hips, spinal cord damage, or traumatic brain injuries. According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), traumatic brain injuries can lead to long-term cognitive, emotional, and physical impairments that change the course of a victim’s life.

Slip and fall injuries in public parks are more than accidents — they’re preventable tragedies. When city officials or maintenance crews fail to do their jobs, innocent people pay the price.

At Marko Law, our Detroit-based trial team fights for injured residents across Macomb County, including Sterling Heights. We’ve taken on cities, counties, and major government entities — and won. Our goal is simple: to get you justice and compensation for what you’ve lost.

The Law: Can You Sue for a Slip and Fall in a Public Park?

Public property cases are often more complicated than accidents that happen on private land — and that’s because of governmental immunity. Under Michigan’s Governmental Tort Liability Act (MCL 691.1401 et seq.), cities, counties, and state agencies are generally protected from lawsuits. However, this immunity isn’t absolute.

There are several key exceptions that open the door to justice for injury victims:

• MCL 691.1406 – The Public Building Exception:
  If your injury occurred inside or near a public building (such as a park restroom, pavilion, or recreation center) due to unsafe conditions, the government may be liable if it failed to maintain the property in reasonable repair.
• MCL 691.1403 – The Highway Exception:
  If the fall happened on a trail, sidewalk, or access road maintained by the city or county, and the surface was unsafe due to neglect, the government may also be responsible.
• MCL 691.1413 – Proprietary Function Exception:
  If the park or facility charges admission or earns revenue (like event spaces at Freedom Hill County Park), the immunity shield may not apply.

Who’s Liable in a Sterling Heights Public Park Slip and Fall?

Determining who’s responsible for your injuries isn’t always straightforward — especially when multiple public or private entities are involved. In Sterling Heights, liability could rest with:

• City of Sterling Heights Parks & Recreation Department:
  Responsible for maintenance, repair, and safety inspections of local parks such as Dodge Park, Delia Park, and Farmstead Park.
• Macomb County Parks Commission:
  Oversees certain regional facilities and may share maintenance duties depending on the property’s jurisdiction.
• Private Contractors or Snow Removal Companies:
  Many municipalities outsource landscaping, snow removal, or event setup to private firms. If a contractor’s negligence created or failed to correct a dangerous condition, they can also be held accountable.

Under the legal principle of “respondeat superior” (Britannica), employers — including municipalities or contractors — can be vicariously liable for the negligent actions of their employees. This means that if a park worker, maintenance crew, or groundskeeper failed to correct a known hazard, the organization employing them could be on the hook for your damages.

What You Must Prove in a Public Park Slip and Fall Claim

To win a slip and fall case against the City of Sterling Heights or another government entity, your attorney must prove that negligence occurred. In Michigan, negligence means someone failed to act with the level of care that a reasonable person—or in this case, a municipality—should have exercised.

According to the legal definition of negligence from Cornell Law School, every claim must show four essential elements:

1. Duty:
   The city or property manager had a duty to keep the public park reasonably safe for visitors. This includes maintaining walkways, lighting, and equipment, removing snow and ice in a timely manner, and warning the public of hazards.
2. Breach:
   They failed to fulfill that duty. Maybe the city ignored a broken step at a pavilion for months or failed to salt an icy pathway despite repeated complaints. That failure constitutes a breach of duty.
3. Causation:
   The city’s failure to act directly caused your fall and resulting injury. In other words, you must show that you wouldn’t have been hurt but for their negligence.
4. Damages:
   You suffered measurable harm—physical, emotional, or financial—as a result of the incident. This can include medical bills, pain and suffering, time off work, or even long-term disability.

How Marko Law Proves Negligence in Park Injury Cases

Slip and fall cases involving public parks are complex because government agencies rarely admit fault. That’s why at Marko Law, we build each case like it’s going to trial. Our attorneys and investigators meticulously gather evidence to establish negligence beyond dispute.

We use powerful investigative tools, including:

• Site Inspections & Photographs: We document the hazard from every angle—before it’s repaired or altered—to preserve proof.
• Weather Reports & Maintenance Logs: These records reveal whether the city failed to clear snow or repair a known defect.
• Witness & Employee Testimony: We interview bystanders, city workers, or maintenance contractors to expose failures in protocol.
• Medical Documentation: Detailed hospital records and doctor’s reports help connect your injuries directly to the fall.
• Expert Opinions: Engineers, safety experts, and medical professionals provide credible testimony about what went wrong—and how it could have been prevented.

Compensation You May Be Entitled To

After a Sterling Heights public park slip and fall, your injuries can ripple through every part of your life—physically, financially, and emotionally. Michigan law allows victims to seek compensation for a wide range of damages, depending on the extent of their injuries and the defendant’s negligence.

Here are the most common types of compensation available:

• Medical Bills and Future Treatment:
  Coverage for emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, and any ongoing rehabilitation.
• Lost Wages or Loss of Earning Capacity:
  Compensation for missed work and long-term loss of income if your injury prevents you from returning to your job.
• Pain and Suffering:
  Payment for chronic pain, limited mobility, or ongoing discomfort that affects your daily life.
• Emotional Distress:
  Compensation for anxiety, depression, PTSD, or other mental health struggles following the accident.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life:
  Recovery for activities or hobbies you can no longer enjoy because of your injuries.
• Loss of Consortium:
  Damages for the impact your injuries have on your relationship or family life (Cornell Law – Loss of Consortium).
• Punitive Damages:
  Awarded in rare cases involving egregious negligence or reckless disregard for public safety (Cornell Law – Punitive Damages).

Protect Yourself After a Park Injury

Report the Fall Immediately

Notify the City of Sterling Heights Parks & Recreation Department or the park staff on site. Insist on creating an incident report and request a copy for your records. This establishes the timing and location of your injury — two key elements in a government liability case.

Take Photos of the Hazard and Your Injuries

Use your phone to photograph the exact spot where you fell, the condition of the ground, any warning signs (or lack thereof), and your injuries. This visual evidence is crucial, especially if the city attempts to repair the area later.

Get Medical Care Right Away

Even if you feel “okay” after the fall, internal injuries — such as traumatic brain injuries or spinal trauma — may not show immediate symptoms. Visit an emergency room or urgent care facility in Sterling Heights or nearby hospitals like Beaumont Hospital Troy for evaluation and documentation.

Keep Receipts, Records, and Witness Names

Save all receipts related to your injury (hospital bills, medications, transportation). Write down the names and contact information of anyone who witnessed your fall or helped you afterward.

Contact Marko Law Before Talking to the City’s Insurance Adjusters

City insurance representatives may reach out quickly, often under the pretense of helping you. In reality, their goal is to limit the city’s liability. Never provide a recorded statement or accept a quick payout without speaking to a lawyer first.

Get Legal Help After a Sterling Heights Park Injury

If you or someone you love was hurt in a Sterling Heights public park, you don’t have to take on the city or its insurers alone. These cases can be complex, but with Marko Law on your side, you gain a relentless advocate who knows how to navigate Michigan’s governmental immunity laws — and how to win against powerful defendants.

Every injury matters. Every voice deserves to be heard. And every negligent party must be held accountable.

Our firm has taken on government agencies, major corporations, and insurance giants — and we’ve delivered results. From multimillion-dollar verdicts to landmark civil rights cases, our team fights for real people who’ve been wronged.

📞 Contact Marko Law for a Free Case Evaluation
Phone: +1-313-777-7777
Office: 220 W. Congress, 4th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226
Website: www.markolaw.com

You deserve more than a settlement. You deserve justice. Let’s get to work.