An East Alton resident has sued the village for injuries she said she suffered when she fell on a defective sidewalk bridge.
The lawsuit by Susan Wilson says that on the morning of May 31, 2022, she was walking on the sidewalk on the north side of East Main Street near its intersection with Lakeside Avenue. The sidewalk's bridge area west of Lakeside Avenue was in gross disrepair, the lawsuit says, and Wilson violently fell and suffered severe injuries including a comminuted fracture (broken in more than one place) of the humeral neck and head. Wilson suffered immense physical and mental pain and suffering, as well as medical expenses and other damages, the suit alleges.
The filing alleges that East Alton's government knew or should have known of the condition of the sidewalk bridge and had a duty to take proper care of its sidewalks and to keep them in a safe condition for the use of residents. Wilson accused the Village of failing to warn pedestrians of the dangerous condition of the sidewalk, as well as failing to properly maintain the sidewalk's condition.
Wilson seeks an amount exceeding $50,000 plus legal costs and any further relief deemed appropriate by the court, according to the lawsuit, filed by Alton attorney Brian W. Burge.