Slip And Falls On Snow And Ice: Who Is Liable?

Slip And Falls On Snow And Ice: Who Is Liable?

Severe winter conditions create the prospect of weather-related slip and fall accidents. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related emergency room visits each year.

In many of these cases, people are injured when they slip and fall on walkways that are not properly kept free of ice or snow. Slip and falls on icy and snowy surfaces can involve pedestrians and outdoor workers.

If you slip on an icy sidewalk and are injured, you may be able to recover for your injuries, including compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and disability.

In a slip and fall case, figuring out who is liable, if anyone, for your injuries can be difficult, which is why it is a prudent decision to seek the counsel of an experienced personal injury attorney.

When you slip and fall while working on a construction site, is the property owner or the contractor responsible? If you slip while walking on a sidewalk, who is potentially liable – the city or the property owner? The answers to these questions may prove important if you are involved in a slip and fall accident and are seeking money damages for personal injuries.

Actions Against Private Businesses and Individuals

In New York, certain sidewalks are considered the responsibility of the adjoining or “abutting” property owners.

A property owner may be liable when the owner knows or should have known about hazardous conditions on the sidewalk, fails to correct the danger, and an injury occurs. New York City’s Administrative Code imposes certain duties on property owners concerning the removal of snow and ice from sidewalks.

Even adjacent owners who undertake snow removal can be held liable if their efforts increase risk of danger or otherwise make the condition worse.

Actions Against Employers and Contractors

If you were you working outdoors performing construction, painting, plumbing, repairs or related types of work and you slipped and fell due to hazardous conditions on the work site, you should speak with an experienced accident attorney.

While Workers’ Compensation will pay for medical bills and lost wages, you may also be entitled to a separate law suit to recover money damages for personal injuries.

At the law offices of Oresky & Associates, PLLC., we offer more than 30 years of legal experience to accident victims that have been injured in slip and fall accidents. We have recovered over $300 million dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients, including:

• $1 million awarded to the family of a man who fell on a broken sidewalk
• $800,000 settlement for a construction worker that slipped on snow and ice at a construction site
• $750,000 award to a tenant injured in slip and fall on slippery substance in an apartment building
• $707,000 verdict to a tenant injured in a fall in building lobby
• See our results page for a list of our verdicts and settlements

Additionally, here are some tips on what to do if you have been involved in slip and fall accident.

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