When A Winter Wonderland Becomes Dangerous

While Secretary of State John Kerry was tackling foreign policy issues in Washington, he overlooked some matters closer to home. Boston city officials issued a ticket to Kerry’s home in January for neglecting to shovel his sidewalk. A citizen complaint was submitted on January 28, when someone uploaded a picture of a snowy sidewalk at the home where Kerry has been living since 1995. While Secretary Kerry probably won’t be sued for failing to remove snow from his own sidewalk, Boston is fining the former senator and presidential candidate fifty dollars.

If you own a business property in the Chicago area, you probably remove snow and ice to clear walking paths for employees and customers – and to avoid personal injury lawsuits. If you are injured by slipping on snow or ice, discuss your injury and your legal options at once with an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer. If you own a commercial property, make certain that your drains and gutters operate properly. Any “unnatural” accumulation of snow, ice, or water around drains or under gutters can be dangerous. Water that accumulates on a sidewalk or a parking area where people walk can create a dangerous ice patch, and you may be liable for injuries that happen there.

Check for leaks. A leaking roof or canopy can create a treacherous patch of ice. It’s the kind of tiny detail that can easily be overlooked and lead to a lawsuit. A burst pipe which spills water into an area where people walk can also create a dangerous condition. When you remove snow, if it’s pushed to an uphill location, melting water can roll downhill and create a hazard. If the water drains to an area where customers are expected to walk, it can be another dangerous situation. If you suffer an injury by slipping on snow or ice, and your injury is the result of a property owner’s negligence, arrange to speak at once with an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer.