Sidewalks help to make a community walkable. Having access to sidewalks protects pedestrians from dangerous scenarios in which they may need to share the road with motor vehicles.
Unfortunately, sidewalks are not always as safe as pedestrians might hope. Ice, snow and slush left behind by winter weather can make sidewalks slippery and dangerous. People can slip on icy or snowy pavement and sustain major injuries.
Who is typically liable in cases where pedestrians fall and get hurt due to icy or snowy sidewalks?
Property owners should clear adjacent sidewalks
Municipal authorities in Federal Way, Washington, provide clear guidance regarding snow and ice removal. Property owners with real estate adjacent to sidewalks have an obligation to clear those sidewalks after snowfall or ice accumulation.
The failure to keep sidewalks clear can lead to liability for individual property owners. Both individuals and businesses, as well as residential landlords, could theoretically be liable after winter weather contributes to a sidewalk slip-and-fall.
Businesses are also typically responsible for addressing snow and ice that accumulates in parking lots. Even if the business rents commercial space, the company may be responsible for maintaining the parking lot. Failure to remove snow and melt ice is a form of negligence, as most reasonable adults recognize the potential for a slip-and-fall.
People who fall can break bones, injure their brains or sustain soft tissue injuries that prevent them from going to work as usual. A premises liability lawsuit could help injured people recoup their medical expenses and recover lost income.
Reviewing the circumstances of an icy sidewalk slip-and-fall with a skilled legal team can help injured parties evaluate their options and minimize the financial setbacks triggered by poor property maintenance.
