Are Property Owners Liable for Injuries from Slip and Falls on Ice and Snow?
Rhode Island is known for its cold, snowy winters. Unfortunately, many property owners neglect their duty to remove snow and ice from sidewalks, parking lots, and other walking areas.
Icy and slippery sidewalks can cause preventable falls. If a property owner fails to keep their premises in a reasonably safe condition, and you end up getting injured in a slip and fall accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
However, you should seek help from an experienced slip and fall attorney in Rhode Island to ensure that you obtain the compensation you deserve. Contact a Rhode Island slip & fall attorney at Robert E. Craven & Associates to establish the landlord or property owner’s liability for your injury in a weather-related slip and fall accident.
A property owner’s duty to remove ice or snow in Rhode Island
Under Rhode Island’s premises liability law, property owners have a duty to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. One of their duties is to remove ice and snow that accumulates on sidewalks and walking areas to reduce or eliminate the risk of slip and fall accidents.
If a property owner fails to remove ice or snow within a reasonable time after its accumulation, and a visitor, customer, or tenant is injured, the injured party may hold the owner responsible for their injury and damages.
However, not all property owners have a duty to remove snow and ice, not to mention that the duty of care depends on the relationship between the owner and the person who got injured on their property.
That is why it is advised to consult with a Rhode Island slip and fall attorney to help you determine negligence in your case and prove a connection between your injury and the property owner’s failure to promptly clear snow and ice.
When can I hold a property owner liable for my slip and fall accident on ice?
You may be able to hold a property owner responsible for your injury as a result of slipping and falling on ice if you can prove the following elements:
- The owner knew or should have reasonably known about the accumulation of ice on their premises.
- The owner did not remove ice and snow from the sidewalk, stairs, parking lot, or other walking areas within a reasonable time after the snow stopped falling.
- You were legally on the property when you were injured as a result of falling on a slippery surface.
- There is a link between your injury and the property owner’s breach of duty (negligence to remove ice or snow in a timely manner).
Are Rhode Island landlords liable for slip and fall accidents caused by ice?
Under the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act § 34-18-22, Rhode Island residential landlords must keep common areas, including sidewalks, in a reasonably safe condition. In other words, a landlord has an obligation to remove ice and snow in a timely manner to protect their tenants from preventable and foreseeable slip and fall accidents.
However, what constitutes “reasonable” is up to interpretation, which is why it is crucial to consult with a skilled personal injury attorney in Rhode Island to hold the landlord liable for your slip and fall accident caused by ice.
Reach out to Robert E. Craven & Associates to schedule a consultation with our compassionate and dedicated personal injury attorneys. Call 401-453-2700 for a case review.
Resource:
webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/title34/34-18/34-18-22.HTM
