Winter weather is not just cold. It is often downright dangerous. Snow, slush and ice on the roads can cause car crashes. Accumulated precipitation in parking lots can also create hazards for drivers and pedestrians.
People trying to buy groceries or drop paperwork off with their accountants could end up falling because of slick and icy parking lot conditions. They may then have medical bills and lost wages to address. Broken bones or brain injuries sustained in an icy parking lot slip-and-fall can cost people tens of thousands of dollars.
Does the law require that businesses clear the snow that falls in their parking lots for the safety of consumers?
Businesses have to maintain safe premises
Rules regulating snow and ice removal and business liability are slightly different in every jurisdiction. In Virginia, state statutes specifically authorize local municipal authorities to decide what rules apply to snow and ice removal. Maryland follows a similar approach. In Washington, D.C., there is a clear ordinance on the books requiring the prompt removal of snow and ice from parking lots and sidewalks.
In all three jurisdictions, businesses that fail to remove snow and ice from their parking lots or adjacent sidewalks may be liable when people end up hurt. The timeline for snow removal and the application of ice melt to parking lots and sidewalks depends on the jurisdiction.
In some areas, the window for cleaning up after snowfall can be as brief as 12 hours. Others may grant 24 hours or more after the snow stops falling to clear the snow. In cases where it is clear that a business ignored snow and ice that it should have removed for the safety of visitors and the general public, the company may be liable for parking lot slip-and-fall injuries.
The people hurt in such incidents may need to report them to management before leaving the premises. They may need assistance negotiating with a business insurance provider over a premises liability claim. In some cases, they may need assistance preparing to file a lawsuit.
Reviewing local ordinances and discussing the aftermath of a winter weather slip-and-fall with a personal injury attorney can help people recover their losses, including property damage expenses, lost income and medical bills, after a preventable slip and fall occurs.