Long Island Snow and Ice Accident Lawyer
Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP.
Property owners, managers and other responsible parties on Long Island are required to keep their sidewalks and walkways free of snow and ice. Pedestrians face a much higher risk of a serious or fatal slip and fall during the winter season. Proper snow and ice removal and treatment are very important for the safety of people who walk on sidewalks and other walkways.
Winter weather can cause fall hazards inside as well. Entry areas can become very hazardous in winter weather, with pedestrians tracking in clumps of snow and pieces of ice that melt and make floor slick. Warnings must be in place, and immediate efforts made to resolve the issue so that no one gets hurt. This is true at all types of properties, including stores and other commercial premises.
If a snowy or icy area is not treated within a reasonable period of time, the consequences can be serious. Innocent people can slip and fall, suffering serious head wounds, brain damage, broken bones or spinal cord injuries that lead to paralysis.
Property owners and other responsible parties who fail to remove or treat snow on sidewalks and other walkways may be held responsible for their negligence if it leads to fall. To find out more about your potential right to compensation, discuss your case with a qualified Long Island premises liability lawyer at the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP on Long Island. Contact us today for a free consultation.
New York Laws on Snow Removal
New York has strict premises liability laws, and property owners are required to maintain reasonably safe premises. Reasonable precautions must be taken to avoid the risk of a slip and fall. This includes snow and ice removal from the sidewalks and walkways outside a building or home. It also includes ensuring that any area with icy, snowy, or a slippery or wet floor has warnings in place, and the area is cleaned throughout the day.
New York law requires any owner, tenant, occupant or other person in charge of a property to clear the snow and ice from the sidewalk within four hours from the time the snow stops falling, or by 11 a.m. if snow was still falling at 9 p.m. the prior evening. When snow has become frozen solid or is too hard to remove, it is allowable to spread unused kitty litter, salt, sand, sawdust or other suitable materials within those same time limits.
Filing a Slip and Fall Injury Claim on Long Island
A property owner or other responsible party who does not adhere to these laws may be held accountable if a slip and fall accident occurs, depending on the facts. There are certain details that must be determined in a slip-and-fall case. For example:
- Did the person in charge of the property fail to remove snow and ice within the strict time limits?
- Did the person in charge of the property fail to warn those entering a building about slippery or wet floors?
- Did the person in charge of the property fail to clean up a known slipping hazard within a reasonable time period?
- What evidence is available to support the claim or lawsuit?
- Were pictures taken of the area in which the accident occurred?
- Were there witnesses to the slip and fall? If so, is their contact information available to reach them for statements?
- Does the party in question have a history of failing to comply with snow and ice cleanup rules?
Contact the Experienced Premises Liability Lawyers on Long Island
If you or someone you care about has been injured in a fall involving snow or ice that was not timely removed or properly treated, please contact the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP for a free consultation. Our Long Island Personal Injury Lawyer have been representing injured people in New York since 2003 and have recovered millions of dollars in damages for our clients.
Our attorneys work with investigators, medical professionals and financial specialists to ensure we fully document your case before we present compensation demands to insurers or jurors. When we go to court for you, we go prepared to win.
Don’t settle for less. Contact us now to find out how we can help you.
