A trip and fall on a sidewalk due to a defect can be the responsibility of the party in charge of maintaining that sidewalk, which entitles you to compensation for any injuries you may have sustained. A defective sidewalk can cause a trip and fall, and that includes cracks, tree roots left to grow uncontrolled, or disintegration. While it could be argued that the pedestrian has a responsibility to pay attention to their surroundings, a claim can be brought against an injury caused by a poorly maintained sidewalk.