Palma Must Pay: Over €100,000 for a Fall in an Unlit Dog Zone

Six years later: Court rules in favor of the injured

A lengthy legal dispute has ended: The Balearic Supreme Court has ordered the city of Palma to pay €106,700 in damages to a woman. The incident dates back to January 2019. At the time, the woman was in the fenced dog exercise area in Son Dameto park, with her son's dog, to dispose of dog waste, when she stepped into a barely visible hole and fell badly.

Why the verdict stands out

Not exactly romantic, but important: It wasn't about a slippery street or a deliberately pried-open manhole cover, but about inadequate lighting. Several residents had previously described the area as poorly lit. Witness statements and investigators on site concluded that a single lamp more often caused glare than made the ground clearly visible. The court saw in this a violation of the duty of traffic safety – the city's obligation to maintain public spaces so that pedestrians do not suffer avoidable harm.

The city had initially rejected any responsibility and stated that anyone entering a secluded part of the park must exercise particular caution there. It sounds plausible over coffee, but not in court: judges emphasized that an occasional user could not know there was a deep hole there. And exactly for that reason the municipality must act with care.

What residents have been saying for a long time

Those who live in Son Dameto know: the park paths are often dim in the evenings. I have heard neighbors who for years have demanded that lamps be replaced or additional lights installed. Such notes were apparently documented. Now the verdict has not only financial consequences but is also a clear call to city hall officials to better inspect and secure public facilities.

For the affected person, the verdict ends a long chapter. Six years of struggle, medical appointments, reports and court dates – that wears you down. The payment cannot undo the physical damage, but it acknowledges the city's responsibility.

A small, practical tip at the end

If you are out with your dog in the evenings: carry a flashlight, wear shoes with good tread, and prefer another corner of the park until the spots are repaired. And if you see something dangerous: report it. Sometimes that really makes a difference.