Ice Slip & Fall Accident Attorneys in Philadelphia
Most years, the East Coast is subjected to harsh wintry weather including snowstorms, ice storms, freezing rain, and sleet. Snow and ice may pile up on sidewalks, in parking lots, on steps, and on other surfaces making them very slippery, and potentially hazardous. If you have slipped and injured yourself due to ice and snow accumulation on someone else’s property, the property owner may be held accountable for your injuries. Property owners and business owners are sometimes required by local ordinances to clear sidewalks and parking lots of snow and ice within 24 hours of a winter weather storm. However, not all slip and fall accidents create liability for the property owner.
In Pennsylvania, a property or business owner may not be responsible if you slip on a natural accumulation of snow and ice that is fairly open and obvious, readily anticipated by a reasonable person, and the result of and "Act of God." However, if an unnatural accumulation of snow or ice causes your injury, or the property or business owner has unreasonably delayed removing snow and treating ice, they may be liable for your accident. A slip and fall accident victim would have to show that a property owner’s negligence directly caused his or her injuries, and had a reasonable time to remedy the hazardous snow and ice conditions. An example of an unnatural, or artificial, accumulation of snow would be an overflowing gutter, or downspout that allowed water to pool and freeze on a sidewalk, creating a dangerous and slippery condition on a public walkway.
Slipping on ice doesn’t seem like it could cause any real harm or serious injury. In reality, when someone slips on ice and snow they could fracture their skull, break their neck, injure their back, fracture bones, tear tendons and ligaments, and possibly end up paralyzed or with fatal injuries. Catastrophic injuries such as these usually require extensive hospital stays and long term medical care.
Besides icy sidewalks, roads, and parking lots, other winter weather conditions like icicles and snow drifts can cause hazardous conditions and catastrophic injuries. Icicles formed on buildings can weigh up to 500 pounds and warming temperatures can cause them to break loose, potentially injuring, crushing, or killing people below. Falling icicles can have enough force to break through car windshields. Because property owners have a duty to keep their property reasonably safe, they may have a duty to hire someone to remove icicles or rope off sidewalk areas to prevent passersby from being struck by a falling icicle.
If you or someone you love was injured after slipping on ice or snow, or by other dangerous winter weather conditions, you may be entitled to financial compensation from the negligent property owner. The experienced Pennsylvania slip and fall accident attorneys of Reiff & Bily have over 30 years of experience investigating and litigating claims of premises liability, slip and fall accidents, catastrophic injuries, and wrongful death. Pennsylvania premises liability law regarding slip and fall accidents on ice and snow can be extremely complicated, so you need someone with years of experience to represent you if you have been catastrophically injured. The premises liability attorneys of Reiff & Bily are greedy for justice and will fight to hold negligent property owners accountable for your injuries, medical costs, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, and lost wages. Contact us for a no-obligation, confidential consultation, and we will evaluate your case to determine if you have a claim.
Winter Slip and Fall Case Results
- $100,000 Slip and Fall Result: Client fell on ice from downspout.
- $75,000 Slip and Fall/Premises Liability Result: Slip and fall on icy hospital parking lot.
