Determining Liability for NJ Slip & Fall Lawsuits During Winter
New Jersey winters often bring snow, ice, and slush to roads, parking lots, and sidewalks. When snow and slush are tracked inside, they melt, producing puddles of water that can also become a slip and fall hazard.
It may come as no surprise that slip and fall accidents in New Jersey are more common in the winter months. Proving that a property owner’s negligence caused your slip and fall injuries, however, is not always a straightforward process.
In New Jersey, property owners and managers have a legal duty to use reasonable care to protect patrons’ safety. This includes taking reasonable care to prevent slip and fall accidents. If the property owner allows a preventable hazardous condition to persist, and someone else is injured as a result, the property owner may face liability for damages.
In some situations, failing to remove snow and ice from walkways, or to dry out or warn patrons about puddles from tracked-in snow, may constitute negligence, meaning the property owner may be liable if injuries occur.
It’s important to consider all of the parties who may be potentially liable in a winter slip and fall accident, as well as the differing levels of responsibility they are held to under New Jersey law. For instance, homeowners with visiting friends are not required to remove ice and snow. If they make existing ice or snow conditions worse, however, they may be held liable. At a commercial property, it’s important to determine whether the property owner or manager was responsible for ice and snow removal, or if they hired a contractor to do it—and whether the contractor used reasonable care if hired.
Winter can be a more hazardous time, indoors and out. If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident in cold or icy conditions, an experienced New Jersey slip and fall accident lawyer may be able to help. Contact the experienced attorneys at CourtLaw today by calling 866-632-4211 to learn more.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney/client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
