Pennsylvania’s icy and snowy winter months cause many hazardous situations setting the stage for a winter slip and fall. During winter weather events, walkways, steps, and parking lots can turn into slick sheets of ice. This creates a very dangerous condition. If surfaces aren’t properly treated or cleared, they can lead to a fall with serious injury. Frustratingly, these winter slip and falls could be prevented with proper maintenance of the premises.
Pennsylvania law requires property owners to provide a safe path for anyone who may use their space. However, sidewalks and other walkways are often not properly cleared of snow and ice. In the state of Pennsylvania, failure to maintain a safe walkway may be considered negligence. The property owner may be responsible for injuries that occur from a winter slip and fall on their property. The injured person may seek compensation under what’s known as “premises liability.” You could be entitled to compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and time off work after sustaining injuries from a fall on someone else’s improperly maintained property, as a Philadelphia slip and fall lawyer knows.
If you are injured in a winter slip and fall accident on someone else’s property, take the following steps:
- Seek medical attention— If you are injured, you should seek timely medical attention. Request documentation from your medical provider about the extent of your injuries and the reason they occurred. It’s also a good idea to take photos of any visible injuries if possible.
- Document everything— Documentation may include pictures of the scene and witness statements. You can also ask the property owner to complete an accident report and obtain a copy. We highly recommend speaking with a trip and fall lawyer in Philadelphia, PA prior to signing any documents or giving a personal statement.
- Call a slip and fall lawyer in Philadelphia, PA — Slip and fall cases can be quite complicated. An experienced personal injury attorney knows the steps to file a lawsuit against the property owner or responsible party. You shouldn’t have to pay for medical bills for a winter slip and fall that happened because of someone else’s negligence.
When winter slip and fall accidents happen, the Wieand Law Firm, LLC will guide you through each step of the legal process, and we’ll advocate to get you the compensation you deserve.
