Ice and Snow Falls: Holding Owners Accountable

One Misstep on Madison Ave Can Change Everything

One minute, you’re walking down the street. The next, you’re on the ground, stunned, in pain, and trying to figure out what went wrong. Maybe it was a patch of black ice. Maybe snow was left to freeze over a busy sidewalk. Whatever caused it, you didn’t deserve the outcome. That’s the kind of scenario our personal injury team see every winter.

At Horn Wright, LLP, we help hold them to it. When property owners ignore safety, the consequences can be life-changing. New York law imposes strict requirements for snow and ice removal, particularly in urban areas. Other states take a slightly different approach.

In Vermont and New Hampshire, a property owner’s actions are judged based on what’s considered reasonable given the timing and severity of the storm. Maine offers some leeway during ongoing weather but still expects owners to deal with obvious risks once the snow stops.

When Cutting Corners on Snow Cleanup Becomes a Crime

Sometimes, what happened matters less than what should have been done. That’s where responsibility becomes undeniable.

Slipped or Shoved by Neglect? There’s a Difference

Slipping on ice is often the result of someone ignoring basic safety measures like clearing sidewalks or fixing poor drainage. Similar to what happens in wet floor slip and fall accidents, ice left unattended or caused by improper shoveling can quickly turn into a serious hazard.

When property owners fail to manage snow and ice after a storm, they create unsafe conditions that endanger others. That choice can lead to devastating consequences, and you shouldn’t be the one left to carry that burden.

When Property Owners Drop the Ball

Dangerous walkways show up in all kinds of places. Poor decisions by property owners send people to the hospital more often than most realize. Whether you’re walking to your car or entering a building, your safety depends on someone taking winter seriously.

Negligent care during cold weather often leads to the same hazards found in uneven flooring trip and fall accidents. Snow piles, untreated ice, and sloppy clearing jobs can all result in serious falls.

Some of the worst offenders include:

• Landlords who delay hiring snow removal crews
• Businesses that fail to salt their sidewalks
• Homeowners who shovel only part of the walkway

These shortcuts raise the risk of serious harm and break the trust people place in those responsible for maintaining safe walkways. Once that trust is broken, it’s hard to restore, especially when someone ends up hurt because of it.

Property Owners Knew the Risk and Failed to Act

It’s one thing to be caught off guard by a sudden storm, but it’s another to ignore the responsibilities that come after. That gap between awareness and action is where most injuries happen.

‘I Didn’t Know’ Isn’t a Valid Excuse in Court or in the ER

Clearing snow might be inconvenient, but skipping it puts people at risk. When someone is injured due to conditions like defective stair accidents, excuses quickly fall apart.

Property owners have a duty to inspect and maintain stairs and walkways, and failing to act puts others in harm’s way. With constant access to weather alerts, news updates, and phone notifications, staying informed is easy. Claims of being caught off guard rarely hold up when someone ends up in the ER.

Broken Bones and Empty Bank Accounts: The Hidden Toll

You might think the fall is the worst part. But for many, it’s what comes after that causes the most disruption. Medical care starts immediately, and injuries from hazardous property conditions often lead to a cycle of appointments, physical therapy, and time off work. Those expenses build up fast, no matter where treatment happens.

Here are some of the expenses many face after a serious fall:

• Emergency room visits
• Follow-up appointments
• Painful physical therapy
• Lost paychecks while you recover

Recovery doesn’t always mean going back to how things were. Lingering pain, reduced mobility, or lasting discomfort are common after a serious fall. Some injuries never fully heal, and that can change how you live each day. When the fall wasn’t your fault, that reality is even harder to accept.

The Psychological Bruises Nobody Sees

Emotional fallout is real and deserves more attention. Many people experience lasting fear similar to what happens in entryway mat trip and fall accidents, where small oversights create big emotional impacts.

After a serious fall, it’s common to feel anxious about walking again, especially during winter. That fear can lead to isolation, loss of confidence, or even depression. These effects are more than emotional. They influence how you move through the world and feel in your everyday surroundings.

We Don’t Let Ice-Covered Lies Go Unchallenged

It takes more than a story to hold someone accountable. A strong case is built from facts, and those facts often disappear quickly in icy conditions.

Digging Deeper Than the Surface Slush

Holding a negligent property owner accountable takes more than just explaining how the fall happened. Like in restaurant slip and fall accidents, you need clear evidence like photos, witness accounts, and documentation.

Acting quickly matters because conditions change fast. Weather, lighting, and surface hazards won’t stay the same, and those details can make or break a case.

Turning Frozen Sidewalks Into Solid Evidence

Building a claim means showing how the hazard was avoidable. In many cases, this is similar to what’s done in loose carpet or rug accidents, where the conditions weren’t addressed or clearly marked.

Strong evidence of negligence may include: - Lack of warning signs around ice patches - No record of scheduled snow removal - Surveillance footage showing the fall - Weather reports indicating time to respond

The same logic applies to icy conditions left unmanaged after a storm. Proving negligence starts with showing what wasn’t done and what should have been.

Get Legal Help That Doesn’t Leave You Out in the Cold

When winter neglect leaves you hurt, the aftermath can feel overwhelming. Medical bills, lost work, and lingering pain are just the beginning. You don’t have to face it all on your own. Reach out to Horn Wright, LLP, to learn your rights and get trusted support every step of the way.

Our legal team offers free consultations to help you understand your next move and begin the process of holding the right parties accountable.