Who is liable if a person is injured by debris from a construction site while walking on a public sidewalk next to that site?

A:

In some circumstances, the injured person will be able to recover damages from the construction company, which has a duty to take reasonable steps to keep public sidewalks near its construction site free from materials and debris. If the company fails to remove such obstructions and someone trips and falls, the company may be liable.

Construction companies should also notify pedestrians of potential hazards.  For example, if a construction company doesn't place barriers and warning signs by a building pit, it may be responsible if anyone gets injured by falling into it.