Tis the Season—for Ice, Snow and Wet Floors

New York winters are notoriously snowy. But as New Yorkers know all too well, it isn’t always snow. Sleet, freezing rain and slushy streets are part of our wintertime chorus as well. Then, once we get indoors, we’re often tracking in just enough snow to make slippery puddles on the floor.

We can probably all agree that slippery floors, sidewalks and parking lots are a hazard that can end in an injury. So whose responsibility is it to prevent slip and fall accidents?

Property Owners

The law holds landlords accountable for keeping their premises safe for tenants, as well as their guests and any contractors who may visit to perform maintenance or repairs. However, the law also recognizes that a property owner can’t reasonably be expected to know every detail about the premises at every moment.

A property owner is negligent, and therefore liable, for any injuries resulting from his or her negligence. Demonstrating negligence is key to winning compensation for your injuries, so working with an experienced slip and fall attorney can be crucial in getting the best possible outcome for your claim.

Business Owners

Like landlords, business owners have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe, making every effort to prevent foreseeable harm to customers and other visitors. Since business owners are generally more engaged with the physical location than property owners often are, the law may hold them to a higher standard. This can include removing ice and snow and mopping wet floors more quickly than at a residential property.

Government Entities

If a government entity, such as a city or county, negligently creates conditions that cause you to be injured, they are not immune to a liability suit. There are, however, special rules and procedures involved in making a personal injury claim against a government entity. There are also strict—and short—deadlines to declare your intent to make a claim.

If you believe the government may be to blame for your slip and fall injury, it’s probably a good idea to discuss the matter with an experienced, local attorney as soon as possible.