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Can I Sue a Business for Slip and Fall Injuries Caused By Ice?

 Posted on February 17, 2020 in Premises Liability

winter-shoveling-work-injury-snow-ice.jpgThere is no doubt about it: Illinois winters can be harsh. Snow and ice accumulation can make something as simple as going to the grocery store or walking through a parking lot a treacherous excursion. Icy walkways, sidewalks, and parking lots are especially dangerous because of the potential they have to cause slip and fall injuries. Slipping on ice and falling can cause broken bones, serious back injuries, and even traumatic brain injuries. If you or a loved one have slipped on ice and fallen on a commercial property, you may be wondering whether or not you can sue the property owner for damages. Illinois personal injury cases involving snow or ice-related injuries are especially tricky due to a special law regarding snow and ice accumulation.

Natural vs. Unnatural Accumulation of Snow and Ice

Unlike other types of property maintenance, most property owners are not obligated to remove “natural accumulations” of ice, snow, or melt water. One exception to this rule is if a lease or contract obligates a property owner to remove natural accumulations. This means that a property owner is typically not liable for injuries caused by the accumulation of snow or ice caused by the weather. However, if an individual slips and falls on an “unnatural accumulation” of ice or snow, the property owner may be liable.

Consider the following scenario: In order to clear his parking lot of snow, a business owner arranges for the snow to be plowed and piled in the corner of the parking lot. As the weather changes over the next few days, the snow from the pile melts and refreezes creating a very icy patch near the entrance to the business. A patron entering the business slips on the ice and suffers a major head injury. In this situation, the property owner may be liable for the patron’s injury because the icy patch on which the patron slipped was an unnatural accumulation of ice caused by the property owner’s actions. Differentiating between natural and unnatural ice accumulation can be extremely challenging and will require guidance from an experienced attorney.

Contact a Waukegan Premises Liability Lawyer

A slip and fall injury caused by ice or snow can cause terrible injuries that result in significant medical expenses. If you were hurt in a slip and fall, you could be eligible for compensation for your medical bills, future medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and more. Contact a knowledgeable Lake County personal injury attorney from at Salvi & Maher, L.L.C. to discuss your case and learn about your options for compensation. Call us at 847-662-3303 to schedule a free consultation.

 

Source:

https://courts.illinois.gov/CircuitCourt/CivilJuryInstructions/125.00.pdf

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