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Accidents Caused Snow Black Ice Upstate NY

Slip and Fall Injuries on Snow or Black Ice

Experienced Attorneys Fighting for the Injured in Hudson Valley

Every New York winter, residents can expect one constant: snow will fall, melt, and the re-freeze. The familiar cycle is a fact of life in our upstate communities. A common legal question we receive during the winter months is – “can I sue if I slipped on a snowy sidewalk or icy steps?”

While the answer depends on a variety of circumstances, generally, if the property owner was negligent by failing to plow, sand, or salt in a reasonable time after the storm, then, yes, you have the grounds to file a lawsuit.

The Albany-based injury attorneys at Hacker Murphy have secured monetary damages for slip-and-fall accidents caused by accumulations of snow or ice. We provide the experienced representation you and your family will need if you were seriously injured. Contact us immediately to discuss details and preserve evidence of the dangerous condition.

Snow and Ice Hazards: A Duty to Your Safety

If you ventured out while a snowstorm was still in progress or in the wee hours after a snowfall, you may not have grounds for a lawsuit, unless the fresh snow concealed a previously existing patch of ice that the owner had ignored.

But once it stops snowing and people are out and about, the burden shifts to the owner of a business, shopping mall, parking lot or apartment building to provide for the safety of patrons and the public. There is a legal obligation to plow the parking lot, shovel the walkways, and put down sand or snowmelt in foot traffic areas. The liability also extends to puddles of melted snow tracked into the entryway of the building.

Our lawyers have used certified weather records and testimony of meteorological experts to show that owners would have had ample opportunity to inspect the grounds and address a slippery condition.

Hacker Murphy has decades of experience in helping clients bring premises liability cases forward in the Greater Capital District, and throughout Upstate and Central New York. We have won damages for back injuries, bone fractures, and injuries to ankles, knees, wrists, and elbows from bad falls on icy parking lots and sidewalks. We pursue full compensation for medical care, lost income, lasting disability, and pain and suffering.

Contact Our Experienced Legal Attorneys

Your case will be handled by an experienced partner of the firm, not a junior associate. In order to provide convenience for our clients, we are available to meet in any of our four regional law offices in Albany, Schenectady, Troy, and Saratoga Springs, or at a location closer to your home or place of business. Our legal team is ready to help you through this difficult situation.

Contact us today to arrange a free case evaluation with our attorneys experienced in snow and black ice accidents.

Have Questions?

  • If I hire an attorney but do not want to go to trial, can I settle?
    In the course of preparing a case for trial, your personal injury attorney will work with the defense attorneys and insurance companies in an effort to secure a fair settlement for you and your family. The final decision to accept an offer of settlement or go to trial is yours alone to make.
    Contact us now to discuss your case with one of our experienced attorneys.
  • If arrested, what steps can I take on my behalf?

    1. Do not discuss your situation with anyone except your attorney.

    2. Unless your attorney says otherwise, do not discuss your case with law enforcement.

    3. Request to have your attorney present if you are to be put in a lineup or subjected to testing.

    4. Remain calm and courteous. Allow your attorney to speak for you to ensure that your rights are protected and you are given all the benefits afforded to you under the law.
    Contact us now to discuss your case with one of our experienced attorneys.

  • What is the difference between criminal procedure and civil procedure?
    When a crime has been committed, action is taken by a government agency against the person, persons, organization or other entity that violated the law. The first purpose of a criminal prosecution is punishment, which frequently consists of a fine or jail time. In a civil matter, the dispute is between two or more individuals or entities. The first purpose of a civil prosecution is obtaining compensation for the wronged person or entity. Settlement in a civil matter is generally an award of a money judgment. A criminal sentence is not imposed in a civil matter.
    Contact us now to discuss your case with one of our experienced attorneys.