Vertical Discontinuity baby.

Michigan recently passed legislation protecting local municipalities from lawsuits where sidewalks in disrepair are to blame.

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2015-2016/billintrod...

Gist here: http://www.michiganvotes.org/2015-HB-4686

While Michigan (esp. Detroit) is exceptional in many respects this kind of legislation whereby neglected infrastructure is no longer a liability for the state is likely to spread.

The sidewalks in Detroit are especially heinous. https://iainmait.land/img/photos/1920/street_crossing_2_2017...