Who is Liable in a Weather-Related Slip and Fall Accident?

Wintertime can be especially treacherous when it comes to slip and fall accidents. In the event of one, it may be hard to determine liability for your fall.

In Michigan, questions of liability for a winter-related slip and fall injury can be tricky. In this blog post, we’ll look at some situations in which a retailer, homeowner, or governmental entity can and cannot be held liable for an accident.

Retailer Liability

When it comes to retail premises such as grocery stores, shopping malls, or other commercial establishments, the owner is responsible for ensuring that the property is free from any dangerous conditions. This includes all areas of the premises, including sidewalks and parking lots.

Suppose an owner fails to remove ice and snow from these areas properly or fails to provide proper warning signs regarding slick conditions. In that case, they may be found liable for any resulting injuries due to their negligence.

Homeowner Liability

When it comes to residential properties, homeowners have a duty to maintain safe conditions on their property. This includes clearing away snow and ice from walkways leading up to the residence as well as shoveling driveways and steps.

If a homeowner fails in this duty of care by not removing snow or ice from these locations, then they could be held liable for any resulting injuries that occurred due to their negligence.

Governmental Entity Liability

In some cases, governmental entities such as cities or counties may also be found liable for winter-related slip and fall accidents if they fail to remove snow or ice from public sidewalks in a timely manner.

Governmental entities must act with reasonable care when addressing slippery conditions on public roadways; otherwise, they could be held accountable if someone has been injured due to their negligence. Unfortunately, legal immunity protects governmental entities in many cases, and notice requirements often give injured parties only a short time to act.

Michigan Personal Injury Attorneys

Suppose you have been injured in a winter slip and fall accident due to another person’s negligence. In that case, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your medical expenses incurred as a result of the accident. It’s important that you seek legal counsel right away so that you can understand your rights under Michigan’s comparative negligence law.

At Grewal Law PLLC, we offer personal injury services designed specifically with our clients in mind, so don’t hesitate—to contact us today!