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Snow and Ice Slip, Trip, and Fall Accidents

Snow and Ice on Sidewalk

Welcome to winter in Pennsylvania: There are blustery winds, sub-zero temperatures, bouts of freezing rain, and serious snow storms—weather that can be downright frightful for people traveling by foot.

Snow and ice accumulation on sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots can create hazard zones during the cold-weather months in the Keystone state—causing slip, trip, and call accidents that lead to serious and sometimes even lifelong injuries.

Slip, trip, and fall accident victims suffer:

  • Hip injuries
  • And more

Unfortunately, people hurt in a slip, trip, and falls are often too embarrassed to file legal claims because they mistakenly believe they were to blame for the accident. But that's often not the case. It's important to understand that property owners have a duty legally known as premises liability to ensure their property—including sidewalks, stairwells, parking lots and walkways—are clear from hazardous conditions. This is true for:

  • Private homes
  • Commercial businesses
  • And rental properties

If you or someone you care about was seriously injured in a slip, trip, and fall accident because of a hazardous condition involving snow and ice, you could be entitled to money for your medical bills, missed paychecks, and more. Victims of slip, trip, and fall accidents have a limited time to file a legal claim, so call Edgar Snyder & Associates today for a free case review.

What to Do After a Winter Slip, Trip, and Fall Accident

When it comes to snow and ice, a slip, trip, and fall can happen in an instant—and what you do directly following an accident can greatly impact your legal claim. There are several simple steps you can take after a slip, trip, and fall that can help ensure you get the best possible outcome of your legal claim.

Who's Responsible for Winter My Slip, Trip, and Fall Accident?

Slip, trip, and fall accidents involving snow and ice can be tricky, and it can be difficult to understand who's responsible for clearing away slip and fall dangers—and for injuries that occur when they don't. This is known as premises liability, and it affects homeowners, business owners, and managers of rental properties. Here's how premises liability works for:


Owning a home means you are responsible for snow and ice removal. This includes:

  • Walkways
  • Driveways
  • Sidewalks
  • And other areas

Bottom line: If you were injured after falling on ice or snow, and the accident happened at a private home, the property owner could be held legally responsible for your medical bills, lost wages, and even pain and suffering.


When snow and ice are involved, parking lots and business entrances can become slick and dangerous. It's the responsibility of the business owner to maintain safe conditions on their property.

Bottom line: If you suffer a fall from unsalted or unmaintained walkways at a business, they could be responsible for your medical bills and lost wages.

Rental Properties

When a person suffers an injury after a slip, trip, and fall accident on rental property, determining who’s responsible can be confusing. It's important to check the lease agreement to determine whether the landlord or property management company is responsible for shoveling and salting walkways. Depending on the lease, this may even be the tenants' responsibility.

Bottom line: If you were hurt on a rental property because of snow and ice, the landlord, property manager, or tenant could ultimately be liable for paying your medical bills and other accident-related costs.

How to Keep Your Property Safe

In Pennsylvania, local municipalities all have different rules regarding snow and ice removal. In Pittsburgh, for instance, snow must be cleared from sidewalks and walkways within 24 hours. Property owners who fail to clear their property could receive citations or fines.

Also, shoveling while the snow is still falling can break a single exhausting task into a few easier ones. Follow these great snow removal tips to make your job a little bit easier.

Injured on Snow and Ice? We Can Help

Injured after falling on snow and ice? Hesitant to call a lawyer because you don't want to "sue" a friend or family member? Fortunately, that's not how it works.

We hear from clients who share this concern, and we want to stress that it's not the owner of the home who pays for medical bills and lost wages. It's the homeowner's insurance company that is responsible—and slip, trip, and fall accidents are the exact reasons homeowners have insurance.

If you've been injured in a slip and fall on snow or ice, give our law firm a call at 412-394-1000 today for a free case review. Snow and ice can disappear as quickly as it appears—so time is of the essence. The sooner you call our experienced slip, trip, and fall attorneys, the sooner we can get to work gathering evidence, contacting witnesses, and handling the paperwork.

You have nothing to lose and so much to gain because there's never an obligation to use our services—and there's never a fee unless we get money for you.