Winter Hazards: What to Do When You Slip and Fall on Ice

Key Takeaways:

• Contact a lawyer forslip-and-fall-on-ice cases, especially if the property owner didn’t clear the area.
• Get to a safe spot and check yourself for injuries right away.
• Call 911 if you’re hurt and need medical help. Even if you don’t feel it’s urgent, go see a doctor after your accident to record your injuries.
• Take photos of the ice, your fall location, and any visible injuries if you’re able to.
• Report the fall to the property owner or manager and get their insurance information.

In Philadelphia, winters can be brutal. The city experiences heavy snowfall, and afterwards, the streets and walkways are packed with ice. Slick paths are a hazard for pedestrians who experience slip and falls on ice, sending loads of people to the ER. So, here’s what to do when you slip and fall on ice.

Get to Safety and Check for Injuries

If you can move after a slip and fall, get yourself to safety. The ground around you will likely be slippery, and if other people don’t see you, you might become a tripping hazard. The other reason for this is to check for injuries. You might also feel a little dizzy, so it’s best to sit down.

After a slip and fall on ice, a person might experience:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Bleeding
• Head injuries (e.g., concussion)
• Broken bones or fractures
• Back or neck problems

If you’re in serious pain or hit your head, don’t try to walk it off. Instead, call 911 and wait for help. And always try to follow state-issued winter slip and fall safety tips.

Call for Medical Help

Consult with a medical professional immediately after a slip and fall on ice, even if you don’t experience any symptoms. When you fall, your body experiences a rush of adrenaline, which might initially mask the extent of the pain. However, after a few hours, concussions, fractures, and soft tissue injuries start to feel worse.

Explain the situation to your doctor, who will update your medical records to show the cause of your injuries. Ensure that you retain all the paperwork, including visit summaries, prescriptions, imaging results, and receipts for copays or medications. This becomes important evidence if you decide to pursue compensation.

Contact an Attorney

In Pennsylvania, the law requires that property owners clear ice or salt their walkways. If the property owner fails to do so and you experience a fall, you might have a legal claim. The law stipulates that the ice and snow need to be removed from sidewalks six hours after it has snowed. And what counts as reasonable depends on the situation, which is why you may need an attorney.

A lawyer for slip-and-fall-on-ice accidents knows how to handle these cases. They’ll look at weather records, check if the owner was warned about the ice, and gather evidence.

Document Everything If You’re Able to

As soon as the sun comes up, the ice might melt, so time is of the essence. If you can, use your phone and record the scene. Capture the following:

• The ice patch where you fell, from multiple angles
• Any nearby warning signs or the lack of them
• Your shoes and the surface texture
• Visible injuries like cuts, scrapes, or swelling
• The surrounding area, including building addresses and nearby landmarks

Additionally, if anyone saw you slip on ice, it’s important to take their names and contact details. They may serve as witnesses when you start pursuing compensation. Also, be sure to note down the time and weather conditions.

Report the Fall to the Property Owner

If you fall outside a property, find someone in charge, like a manager or the owner, and explain what happened to you. Fill out an incident report and keep a record for yourself.

Additionally, you should ask for the owner’s insurance. Usually, they have liability coverage that should take care of your medical bills and other costs arising from the slip and fall on ice. However, if you pursue litigation, your attorney should deal with the insurance company directly.

When to Call a Lawyer

Now that you know what to do when you slip and fall on ice, you should also consider when to get an attorney involved. You should contact a lawyer for slip and fall on ice accidents if:

• You broke a bone or needed surgery.
• You missed work for more than a few days.
• The property owner denies responsibility, or their insurance company refuses your claim.
• Medical bills are piling up, and you don’t know how they’ll get paid.
• The fall happened on government property, like a SEPTA station or city sidewalk, which has shorter claim deadlines.

A personal injury lawyer helps ensure all your bases are covered, whatever the extent of damage.

Pennsylvania Law and Slip and Fall Claims

Pennsylvania uses modified comparative negligence rules, which means if you’re more than 50 percent responsible for your injury, you can’t recover damages. Each side, therefore, relies on evidence to prove that the other party was more at fault.

Your lawyer needs to demonstrate that the owner knew about the ice and had enough time to remove it but failed to do so. They’ll look at evidence like weather reports, prior complaints, and maintenance logs, which all come into play.

Also, note that Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations gives you two years to file most personal injury claims.

What Happens Next

Once you’ve seen a doctor and contacted a lawyer for slip and fall on ice cases, your attorney will handle the rest. They’ll send demand letters, negotiate with insurance adjusters, and file a lawsuit if the other side won’t offer a fair settlement.

At Segal, Berk, Gaines & Liss, we’ve spent more than five decades helping residents of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley with slip and falls on ice. We know the local courts, the insurance companies, and the tactics they use to minimize payouts.

When you call, you speak directly with one of our attorneys, not a paralegal. Initial consultations are free, and you don’t pay unless we win your case or reach a settlement.

Contact Segal, Berk, Gaines & Liss if you’ve been injured in a slip and fall incident and take advantage of our free consultation.

About Derek Liss, Esq.