Icy Sidewalks Can Cause Injury! Know Your Rights

If you slip and fall on an icy sidewalk this winter, and you are injured as a result of the fall, you may be entitled to compensation. Specifically, you may be able to recover the costs of your medical care, your time away from work, pain and suffering, prescriptions, and other costs associated with your injury. In law, this concept is called “premise liability.”

Understanding Premise Liability

“Premise liability” is a legal term that refers to situations where someone is injured on another’s property. The elements of premise liability include:

• The landowner or business owner has a duty to the customer
• The land or business owner knew or should have known about a dangerous condition
• The land or business owner did not take appropriate care to fix the condition or protect the customer in some other manner from the dangerous condition and
• Someone sustained an injury due to the negligence of the land or business owner.

Land and business owners have an obligation to maintain a safe space. This includes making sure the parking lot and sidewalks are free of icy conditions.

Common Injuries Related to Slipping on Ice

Some of the more common injuries related to slipping on ice include:

• Fractures
• Dislocated joints
• Concussions
• Cuts
• Muscle strains
• Soft tissue injuries
• Traumatic brain injury

Recovery from a slip on the ice can take weeks to months. A traumatic brain injury could result in permanent disability. In some cases, people have died due to a slip on an icy sidewalk.

Other Types of Premise Liability Injury

Store owners have a duty not just to keep the sidewalks clear of danger, they also have a duty to keep the rest of their store safe as well. Common conditions that can result in injury include:

• Violations of the safety code
• Uneven sidewalks
• Uneven flooring
• Carpeting that is ripped or torn
• Lax security
• Roofs that are not properly maintained
• Unsafe stairwells
• Merchandise poorly stacked that may fall from shelves
• Unsafe stairwells
• Lack of proper handrails in stairways
• Escalator failures
• Sticky floors
• Slippery floors
• Wet floors
• Elevator failures

The ways that people can be injured in or outside of a store are almost endless. In each situation, if the store owner knew or should have known of the danger, they may be held accountable.

Compensation in Premise Liability Cases

If you are injured in a premise liability case, you can reasonably expect compensation for this injury. This compensation includes the cost of your medical bills, the time you are unable to work (including lost overtime opportunities), prescriptions, ambulance, and emergency room costs, and pain and suffering.

Have You Been Injured Due to Someone Else’s Negligence or Recklessness?

If you have been injured because of someone else’s negligence or recklessness, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the attorneys at Gilman & Bedigian, LLC to discuss your situation. There is no cost to you to meet with our attorneys. We are happy to talk with you about your situation, even if you are not sure if you have a case. Call 866.849.9899 to schedule a consultation today.