Mold on walkways

Author: Attorney Dennis Schaefer

Whenever you are walking you should always be careful of the condition of the walkway you are on. In addition to cracks, height differences, broken concrete and a myriad of other potential dangers, there is always the possibility of mold. Mold will typically look simply darker on light colored concrete. Of course, the darker color is not always mold, it can simply be dirt.

However, mold is dangerous. It is dangerous because it is slippery and even more slippery when wet. Moldy conditions are found most frequently around walkways that are close to foliage. The leaves, branches, blades of grass, sap or other plant material in combination with water, heat and grinding from walking, creates a perfect environment for mold growth. Once mold is growing it spreads and becomes slippery and dangerous.

We have had many clients with cases involving mold. The typical scenario is person walking on a sidewalk with beautiful and plentiful plant life along the path, or a person walking down an outside staircase which is exposed to the elements and has a tree with falling leaves near it. These scenarios and many like them are factual patterns where dangerous conditions have been caused by mold.

The negligence is not the mold. The negligence is the failure of the owner of the property to adequately maintain the property. Mold from the examples above is a totally foreseeable circumstance. Failure to maintain property subject to mold is negligent. If a situation involving a slippery and dangerous walkway effects your life or someone you know call Dell and Schaefer. We will be happy to consult with you at your convenience.