Can I Pursue Compensation for a Slip and Fall Injury on Snow or Ice?

 Posted on February 14, 2022 in Personal Injury

Snow and ice are common issues that Illinois residents have to deal with during the winter months. When cold weather or winter storms result in slippery sidewalks, parking lots, or other walking areas, the risk of injury in a slip and fall accident increases significantly. Even though people are aware of these hazards and will usually take care to avoid injuries when walking outside during the winter, accidents can still occur. 

A fall on snow or ice can result in multiple types of injuries, including broken bones, sprained or dislocated joints, or traumatic brain injuries. People who have been injured may struggle with a variety of financial and personal issues during their recovery, and they will want to determine their legal options, including whether they may pursue financial compensation from the owner of the property where an accident took place.

Premises Liability and Unnatural Accumulations of Snow and Ice

When a person suffers injuries while they are visiting property owned by someone else, the property owner may be held liable for the person’s damages. Generally, premises liability laws will apply if an injury occurred because of hazards on the property that the owner should have known about and failed to take action to address. Property owners or tenants who manage and control a property must take steps to correct safety issues or provide visitors with warnings about potential risks. 

Property owners have a duty to address hazards related to snow and ice, including clearing snow from sidewalks following a storm and taking other measures to remove ice or prevent it from forming, such as sprinkling salt on walking surfaces. However, property owners are generally shielded from liability in cases where snow or ice built up naturally due to weather conditions.

To hold a property owner liable for slip and fall injuries involving snow and ice, accident victims will usually need to demonstrate that they were placed at risk due to an unnatural accumulation of ice or snow. This will typically involve actions or negligence by a property owner that caused or allowed slipping hazards to form unexpectedly. For example, a downspout connected to a building’s gutters may have been installed incorrectly, causing water to flow across a sidewalk where it could freeze and create a slipping hazard. A person who slipped and fell on the sidewalk may be able to hold the property owner liable for their failure to correct the issue that created an unreasonable risk of injury.

Contact Our South Side of Chicago Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer

There are many potential hazards that may affect Chicago residents during the winter. People who are injured in slip and fall accidents will want to determine their legal options. Kadzai Law Group, LLC can provide victims with representation in these cases, and we will work to ensure that they are fully compensated for their injuries and damages. Contact our Chicago premises liability attorney at 312-229-0050 to arrange a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2084&ChapterID=58

https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/Resources/a4c4b9ea-f118-4646-ba19-fa7bafe85f1c/125.00.pdf