When someone slips and falls on the ice, they can suffer injuries that interrupt their lives.
Their injuries may require medical treatment and they may miss work during recovery, causing financial strain and stress.
Commercial property liability
Commercial property owners have a duty of care to ensure that their property is free from hazards that could cause accidental injuries to visitors. If ice is not cleared within a reasonable amount of time and someone slips and gets injured, the property owner may be liable for those injuries.
Homeowner liability
There are more factors to consider when determining the liability of a homeowner as they do not have the same obligations as commercial property owners. For example, it will depend on whether the ice occurred naturally or was the result of negligence by the homeowner. Whether the injured person was an invitee of the homeowner is also important. If they were an invited guest, the homeowner had an obligation to provide a safe environment. If the injured person was trespassing, the homeowner may not be at fault.
Typical injuries from a slip and fall on ice
Relatively minor injuries from a slip and fall may include lacerations, sprains and bruises that will heal without much medical intervention. Fractures, broken bones, hip injuries, back injuries, spinal injuries and traumatic brain injuries are all common injuries that occur in slip-and-fall accidents that can require extensive medical intervention. These injuries are painful and can impact the life of the injured person.
When older people suffer a slip and fall, their risk is greater than the average person. Many older people have lower bone density creating a risk for more severe injuries. They also take longer to heal, putting extra strain on their daily lives.