As First Winter Snow Storm Hits Philadelphia - You Better Watch Out, I’m Telling You Why
‘Twas the weekend before Christmas and the biggest snow storm in decades struck Philadelphia and the surrounding metropolitan area. Roads were slick and many businesses remained open in an effort to keep profits going in a tightening economy. I started to leave my house and drive what I thought was a clearly plowed road, hit black ice, and sustained a bit of property damage to my vehicle when I slid into a fence. I decided to take the train to work and was curious to note that on Monday morning, two days after the snow, many pathways had not been shoveled or salted and I am proud to say that the path of entrance to our office was as clean as could be - salted and dry with no ice or snow.
The premise liability law of Pennsylvania imposes a duty on all property owners to keep their property safe for people who have a right to be there. The owner of the property must properly remove ice and snow and salt or place down a non-abrasive surface to all entrances, pathways and parking lots. As Monday, December 21st was two days after the snowfall and the day before was a day when most responsible people were clearing their sidewalks or shoveling, one would reasonably believe that the owner of any property would have had a reasonable time to correct any defect. Obviously it is unrealistic to remove snow consistently throughout a snow storm. However, if a day or two passes and the weather is sunny and clear, the owner is reasonably expected to salt, sand and shovel to prevent injuries to innocent passersby.
If you have been injured in a fall on ice or snow, you might want to consider contacting one of our experienced premises liability lawyers to carefully investigate your situation to determine if there is a cause of action as icy and snowy conditions are some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents. If you are driving on the roadways, be especially careful with a hazardous condition known as black ice.
