Snow storms lead to a lot of damage. Cars slide off icy driveways and parking ramps and into other vehicles, businesses, and pedestrians. And sometimes there are mountains of snow to plow outside homes, ice sidewalks, and snow-covered walkways.

The slip and fall injuries caused by this are numerous and sometimes severe. They can cost you a lot of money and time as you recover. As a result, being able to hold someone liable for any snow or ice-related injury can help you recover costs. 

Who Is Responsible for Snow and Ice Removal In New York City?

Property owners are required by law to shovel snow off their walkways and salt driveways to avoid causing injuries to anyone walking up. Municipal councils are legally obligated to plow streets and shovel sidewalks to ensure minimal injuries.

New York City requires all home and business owners and property managers to remove ice and snow promptly. This means that home and property owners must provide a safe walkway for anyone visiting their property at all times. If they fail to do so, they may be held liable if someone slips and gets hurt.

Generally, New York City allows property owners four hours after snow stops falling to remove ice and snow from public sidewalks surrounding their properties. This applies to homeowners and commercial property as well. The law states that snow and ice removal must be done to avoid creating an even more dangerous environment like snow blocking a crosswalk or tree stump.

This law applies primarily to commercial property owners as they financially benefit from the patrons using the sidewalk. The cost of maintaining that sidewalk, even when snowing, is a business cost they should account for and utilize. 

Responsibility for Falls on Snow and Ice in New York City

Lawfully, any person who has been hurt by slipping and falling on snow or ice that had not been cleared from a public sidewalk can hold the property owner liable if: 

• They caused an unsafe environment by not removing it promptly as indicated above.
• They can prove the property owner knew about the dangerous snow or ice levels and did nothing to change it.
• They can prove that any reasonable person would have corrected the hazardous condition when they noticed it but the property owner did not.

However, it is necessary to note that just because they have a responsibility to clear snow and ice from sidewalks does not mean a property or homeowner can be held liable for injuries in an accident. A lot of nuance goes into whether or not they are truly responsible. That is why you need a competent and reliable attorney. 

A slip-and-fall attorney can examine your case and help you gather the needed evidence to show that your injury was caused by any or all of the above reasons. They can also help you get rightful compensation for your injuries. 

Slip-and-Fall Injuries Caused by Snowy or Icy Sidewalks

You can get a wide variety of injuries from a slip-and-fall accident ranging from fatal to mildly serious. Some of the slip-and-fall injuries suffered because of ice and snow in New York City include:

• Skin tears 
• Broken bones
• Soft tissue injuries
• A concussion
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Spinal cord injuries
• Loss of limbs
• In extreme cases, death.

You should seek immediate medical attention if you have suffered a slip and fall accident. It will provide you with peace of mind and the best possible outcome regarding your healing. It will also give you official medical records that help prove your injuries in case of litigation.

Compensation You Can Receive For A Slip-And-Fall Injury

Every slip-and-fall case is different. With medical records and many other sources of evidence, you can build a legal case to seek compensation for your slip-and-fall injuries. The family of someone who died due to snow or ice-related slip-and-fall can also seek compensation.

Depending on the individual facts of the slip-and-fall accident, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical bills from the attendance, surgery, medication, and or rehabilitation
• Emotional pain and suffering caused by a traumatic and or permanent injury or by the death of a loved one due to slip-and-fall injuries
• Lost earnings due to missed work
• Loss of income-earning potential if the injury is permanent and impacts your ability to perform in your job industry
• Funeral expenses in the event of death
• Loss of benefits that the deceased family member would have provided to the family such as income, pension, and health insurance

Contact a NYC Lawyer for Help after an Injury Accident

If you’ve been injured on a snowy or icy sidewalk in New York City due to the property owner’s negligence, you should consider discussing your case with an experienced personal injury attorney. At Brandon J Broderick, Attorney at Law, we believe in compassion and empathy and want to help.

Locations across the City, including Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Manhattan. Contact us today for a free consultation. With our proven track record of success, we can get you the justice you deserve.