If someone slips and falls on a slippery sidewalk, it’s important to know who was responsible for keeping that walkway safe. There are laws that tell you who is in charge of snow or ice removal near certain properties. A Monmouth County sidewalk accident lawyer can tell you who should be held responsible if you have fallen on a walkway that was not properly cleared.
Will Property Owners Be Liable If They Don’t Handle Snow or Ice Removal and Someone Gets Hurt?
In most cases, property owners are responsible for removing snow or ice from the public sidewalks near their property if they are a business. Owners of a residential property may not be responsible for snow or ice removal themselves, but landlords of multi-unit properties are required to clear any public sideways next to their property.
Cities and towns can also have their own laws about this. Some might require residential property owners to handle snow or ice removal. Other municipalities might take care of this themselves. It’s important to figure out exactly who is responsible for keeping a walkway safe. This is the only way to know who to hold accountable when someone gets hurt.
Can Landlords Make Their Tenant Responsible Snow or Ice Removal?
One thing to be careful of in cases like this is that the responsible party might not actually be the landlord or property owner. A lease agreement can pass on responsibilities for maintaining the property, including snow or ice removal, to a tenant.
If this is the case in the building near where you fell, the tenant is likely to be the negligent party who should be sued for damages. Your lawyer will conduct a careful investigation and follow the evidence in order to figure out who should be held responsible for your injuries.
What Kinds of Injuries Are Common in a Slip and Fall?
A slip and fall can cause serious injuries, especially in older people. Some common outcomes of these accidents include:
- Cuts and bruises
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries
- Head injuries, including concussions
- Spinal cord injuries
Seniors who get hurt in a fall have to worry about breaking their hip, a serious injury that could dramatically affect their mobility. Anyone can end up with lasting health effects and mobility issues after a fall though.
Meet With Our Legal Team
If you have been injured in a slip and fall and you are curious about your legal options, contact Falcon Law Firm. We can tell you more about what our attorneys can do for you and how we can help you hold a negligent property owner or someone else responsible for the pain and suffering that you have gone through.
