What to Do About Winter Slip-and-Fall Accidents

Thursday, January 2, 2014

What to Do About Winter Slip-and-Fall Accidents

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

It’s that time of year again, when snow falls by the truckload, freezing rain is aplenty, and ice slicks nearly every surface at some point. Unfortunately, one side effect of winter wonderland weather is that it’s a lot easier to slip and fall and get seriously injured. If this happens to you, you’ll likely be concerned about things like medical bills and possibly missing work. If your fall happens somewhere other than at your own home, you may be able to file a personal injury claim against the business responsible for keeping the area safe for pedestrians.

Owner Responsibility

Generally speaking, there are guidelines within leasing agreements, both for property owners and businesses, that state the responsibility for keeping up with winter conditions. In the case of icy sidewalks, most agreements have guidelines for what is required to uphold safety. For instance, if there is any ice outside, businesses may be required to put down salt or other chemicals to melt it. Failure to maintain the exterior of a business, if it causes someone to slip, fall, and get hurt, may be grounds for a personal injury claim.  You will need to contact a lawyer if this is your situation—a personal injury lawyer will know the best way to proceed to sort out the issue.

What Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Do to Help?

Personal injury lawyers have experience dealing with the different types of slip and fall accidents—for instance, whether someone tripped over uneven surfaces, stumbled on a stray object in their way, or a step-and-fall accident, which involves someone stepping into something—a hole or ditch, for example–that causes them to fall. They will be able to review the details of what happened to you and determine whether you have a suitable case for them to work with. Sometimes, the building owner is not liable for slips and falls—if a tenant’s responsibilities include de-icing the sidewalks (say, in a rented home), the landlord may not be held accountable for the injuries. Personal injury lawyers will review the guidelines set forth by the agreement and determine whether your injury qualifies as a personal injury claim. They can then help you decide what the best course of action is to take to seek reimbursement or compensation for your injuries.