Slipping and Falling on Icy Sidewalks-4 Things to Remember

Slipping and Falling on Icy Sidewalks-4 Things to Remember

If you slip and fall on an icy sidewalk, you may have a claim for personal injuries. In some cases, the property owner may be held liable for your injury. However, you must prove that they were aware of the hazard. You should also prove that the property owner took reasonable care to prevent the hazard. Keep in mind that the statute of limitations in the State of Washington is 3 years. A qualified attorney from Evergreen Personal Injury Counsel can help you prove your case.

Liability

Property owners are responsible for the upkeep of their property and must fix obvious hazards, such as icy sidewalks. They are also responsible for mitigating the hazards, such as putting down rock salt or putting up warning signs. Failure to do so can result in liability.

Depending on the laws in your state, you may be able to pursue damages from the property owner. Some states require that property owners remove ice from sidewalks, and in other states, homeowners are required to pay for snow removal. If the sidewalk belongs to an association, the responsibility for snow and ice removal may rest with the association.

Slipping and falling on icy sidewalks is a serious injury. The average person is at risk of slipping and falling on icy sidewalks and parking lots. While some property owners take responsibility for maintaining their sidewalks, many of these areas are also the property of the city. In this case, the property owner has a limited amount of time to make it safe. Hence, it may be a good idea to contact a slip and fall attorney, like Evergreen Personal Injury Counsel for guidance.

Providing reasonable care

If someone slips and falls on an icy sidewalk, it is up to the property owner to provide reasonable care to prevent injury. For example, in New York City, this duty includes warning the public about the dangers. However, the warnings must be reasonable and comprehensible.

Failure to provide reasonable care for a snow-covered sidewalk can reduce or eliminate the amount of recovery in a slip-and-fall lawsuit. In some cases, it can even limit or bar recovery entirely, depending on your local laws. The first step is to find out the owner’s insurance policy and contact information.

The next step is to document the incident. If possible, take pictures of the area where the slip-and-fall happened. Also, try to get the names of any witnesses. You should also keep all receipts from the hospital and any correspondence you may receive from your insurance company.

Proving the property owner knew there was a hazard

If you slip and fall on an icy sidewalk, you may be able to sue the property owner for negligence. If the property owner knew about the hazard, they must have taken reasonable steps to prevent the condition. However, they may not have been aware of every icy patch.

For example, let’s say the property owner goes to bed at 10:00 PM. The next day, a snowstorm hits, and the homeowner was not awake to fix the hazard. When a person slips and falls on ice, it may be difficult to prove the property owner knew about the hazard. However, the reasonable accumulation rule can be used in such a case. It is a rule that takes into account the reasonable expectations of the property owner and the time required for the property owner to fix the hazard.

The burden of proof is on the plaintiff. It is your job to prove that the property owner was negligent by failing to take reasonable steps to make the premises safe. To prove that, you will need to prove that the property owner knew the sidewalk was in shoddy, icy, or otherwise unsafe condition and failed to remedy it.

Bringing a claim against a government entity

Slipping and falling on an icy sidewalk can be a frustrating experience, but there are steps you can take to obtain compensation. First, you must provide the municipality with written notice of your claim. You will also need to provide photographs of the affected area and contact information for any witnesses. Next, you should file a written report with the property owner and obtain a signed copy of it.

If you have slipped and fallen on a sidewalk that was maintained by a municipality, you may be able to file a claim against them for negligent maintenance. While slip and fall accidents occur year-round, they are most common during cold winter weather and rainy weather. If you fell on someone else’s property, you may be able to claim damages for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

If you are able to get photos of the affected area, you may have a viable claim against the government entity. These pictures may be important evidence during the insurance negotiation process and during a trial. Because snow and ice conditions change quickly, pictures can prove how dangerous the sidewalk was at the time of your accident. Additionally, images taken by your cellphone will contain timestamps, making them important evidence to support your claim.

The professional attorneys at Evergreen Personal Injury Counsel are here to help you if you are injured in a slip and fall accident due to ice or snow on someone else’s property.