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.