Sidewalk damaged - Who is liable?

Hello everyone,

I have a 15m long sidewalk that is partially severely damaged and partially loose. Before I built my house, I demolished an old house and several companies were involved in the demolition, earthworks, etc. The city now wants me to have the sidewalk replaced at my own expense by a certified company. My builder’s liability insurance might possibly cover it, since as the builder I have to take responsibility for the damage caused by the companies I commissioned.

However, from pictures I noticed that many sidewalk slabs were already damaged before I bought the old house and my companies only further broke the already broken sidewalk slabs.

What would be the procedure now? Go to the city and prove with the pictures that the sidewalk was already damaged in several places (broken slabs) before my construction project?

Regards

Since you have caused (or had caused) damage: report the insurance claim and send the insurance the "before" pictures. They will then handle everything with the municipality.

Assign the damage to the insurance, then it’s no longer your problem. Although I’m not so sure if it’s really an insurance claim.

Typical case for the builder's liability insurance. Good that you documented it properly. Report it, hand over photos, have the insurance and municipality handle it.

Great, thank you very much for your answers. So also send the pictures BEFORE the house construction to the insurance?! Good to know.... I wasn’t aware of that.

Super, many thanks for your answers. So, also send the pictures BEFORE the house construction to the insurance?! Good to know.... I wasn't aware of that.

No, better not. If you have a broken iPhone that is even more broken. Do you think the insurer will pay you for a new one??