It’s a beautiful winter landscape to behold when snow falls on New York City, yet there’s a dangerous undertone in the picturesque scene. Snow and ice from a snowstorm is one of most common causes of slip and fall injuries through-out the City. Winter is at our doorstep, and several weather forecasters are predicting above normal snowfall this winter; which can lead to above normal incidents of slip and fall injuries.
During the winter, common sense tells us we need to exercise caution when walking about the City. Sometimes a slip on snow and ice is simply an accident which under the best circumstances could not be prevented, such as, slipping and falling when a snow storm is in progress. However, there may be situations where an injury caused from a slip and fall on snow or ice may be due to the negligence of a property owner. If a property owner does not remove snow and ice from a sidewalk in a timely manner or clears the snow in a haphazard or improper manner, that property owner may be found negligent.
Black ice, which generally cannot be seen, forms when snow melts and refreezes on a passageway. This is an example of where a property owner has the obligation to prevent this hazardous condition from forming. In New York, property owners are obligated to prevent known hazards such as black ice, by properly clearing snow and ice within a reasonable timeframe after a winter storm has passed and snow has ceased to fall.
You may be able to recover monetary damages for your physical injuries and economic loss. A personal injury attorney, experienced in slip and fall cases, has the knowledge and expertise to determine if the property owner was at fault, and if legal action can be pursued.
An experienced personal injury attorney will not only counsel you in seeking the appropriate legal remedies, but will also help you resolve any unanticipated medical or financial issue that may arise as a result of the accident.