Can You Sue Someone for Slipping on Ice?

If you’ve lived through a New York winter or two, you know that we see our fair share of ice. While you may think that accidents related to slipping on ice are just part of the deal, property owners owe their visitors protection from unreasonable risk, which typically extends to icy sidewalks. If you’ve been injured in an accident that was caused by slipping on the ice, consult with an experienced New York City slip and fall attorney today.

Property Owners and Responsibility

Property owners throughout New York are required to maintain their properties in the reasonably safe condition necessary to allow for their visitors’ safe passage. In order to prevail on an ice-based slip and fall claim, however, the property owner in question must have received reasonable notice regarding the dangerous condition, such as a buildup of ice, and must have failed to correct the problem. Property owners – whether they are private citizens or the City itself – are not exempt from the important responsibility of tending to dangerous ice and snow on their surrounding surfaces after a winter storm.

Who Owns the Sidewalk?

When it comes to icy sidewalks, it can be difficult to know who owns them – and/or who is responsible for maintaining them safely. In NYC, some sidewalks are owned by the City, and others are owned by the State of New York. Although most sidewalks are technically owned by the government (in one form or another), the responsibility for the kind of ongoing maintenance required by winter weather falls to those landowners whose properties abut the sidewalk (or that are closest to the sidewalk). It’s important to note that those lawsuits that are brought against governmental authorities themselves tend to be extremely complicated – and difficult to prevail over – which makes working closely with a dedicated NYC slip and fall attorney that much more important.

Yes, You Can Sue

The fact is that if a property owner or manager fails to reasonably maintain his or her sidewalks and you are injured in a slip and fall accident as a result, you can bring a personal injury claim (that can turn into a lawsuit) against the at-fault party. While no two slip and fall cases are ever exactly alike, they tend to include the following categories of damage (which should be carefully addressed in your claim):

• Medical costs
• Lost wages
• Physical and emotional pain and suffering

Obtaining the compensation to which you are entitled is the surest path toward complete recovery, and a practiced slip and fall attorney can help you with that.

Look to an Experienced New York City Slip and Fall Attorney for the Legal Guidance You Need

If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident that was caused by an icy sidewalk, you may be entitled to compensation, and the focused NYC slip and fall attorneys at Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman are well prepared to help guide your claim toward its best possible resolution. For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact or call us at 212-285-3300 today.