Pittsburgh Snow and Ice Slip & Fall Lawyers

Pennsylvania Lawyers Represent Clients in Slip and Fall Accidents Caused by Snow and Ice in Erie, PA

Winters in the Midwest and Northeast can be brutal, and Pittsburgh and Allegheny County residents are no strangers to snow and ice during the winter months. Snow itself can cause dangerous conditions, but when the temperatures tend to fluctuate between the 20s, 40s, and back again during the winter months, massive snowfalls can melt and refreeze, causing dangerous and unpredictably icy conditions. Although you may not think that falling in the snow will cause serious injuries, in many cases snow and ice slip and fall accidents result in broken wrists, knees, hips, and even more serious and lasting injuries. After getting injured in a slip & fall accident, reach out to experienced Pittsburgh snow and ice slip & fall lawyers.

Property owners have a duty to take reasonable steps to prevent these injuries, and when they negligently fail to do so, can be held financially accountable for this negligence. At Goodrich & Geist, P.C., we will investigate every aspect of your accident to fight to obtain the maximum compensation award possible in your case. We have successfully represented hundreds of clients injured in slip and fall accidents in Pittsburgh, Erie, Allegheny County, and throughout Pennsylvania, and are ready to go to work in your case today.

Property Owners’ Legal Duty to Reduce Dangers Caused by Snow and Ice

Property owners have a general duty to keep their property safe for customers, visitors and guests, which can include removing snow from parking lots, sidewalks and walkways, making sure those areas are salted for ice and placing warning signs if necessary. Under Pennsylvania law, a rule known as the “hills and ridges doctrine” can apply in some cases where a slip and fall accident was caused by a failure to promptly remove snow or ice. To establish your right to recover compensation under this doctrine, our lawyers will investigate to prove:

• The snow or ice accumulated in such a way that it became unreasonably dangerous for pedestrians (i.e., hills, ridges or other elevations became a factor),
• The property owner either knew of the dangerous conditions, or should have reasonably known of the dangerous conditions based upon the circumstances, and
• The snow or ice actually caused the slip and fall accident and resulting injuries.

An important factor in these cases is proving that the owner was negligent in failing to remove the snow within a reasonable time frame. In many snow and ice slip and fall cases, we are able to establish the negligence component of the case by investigating to prove whether:

• Prior complaints regarding the owner’s failure to remove the snow can be used to show a pattern of neglect,
• Any employees or other witnesses in the area can testify as to the property owner’s knowledge,
• Knowledge can be established by proving constructive knowledge—in other words, under the circumstances, the property owner should reasonably have had knowledge of the conditions.

Time is a Critical Element in Slip and Fall Accidents Caused by Snow and Ice: Experienced Lawyers at Goodrich & Geist, P.C. are Here to Help

Although it is important to act quickly in retaining legal counsel who can investigate to preserve valuable evidence after any type of accident, timing can be especially important in slip and fall cases caused by snow or ice. Property owners can quickly act to remove the snow or eliminate the icy conditions, often without assistance or witnesses—thereby eliminating evidence that the property was dangerous at the time of your fall, and making it more difficult to recover compensation for your injuries.

Even if you are unable to call our slip and fall accident lawyers to the scene immediately following the accident, use your phone to take photos or videos of the conditions that caused your fall if you are not severely injured, as that evidence can prove valuable in establishing that the dangerous condition existed, and when.

Call Today to Schedule a Free Initial Consultation With Our Pittsburgh Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers

When you seek out legal representation, it is always important to make sure that your lawyer has a proven track record of successfully helping clients recover compensation in similar accidents. At Goodrich & Geist, P.C., our skilled team of slip and fall accident lawyers have a combined 50-plus years’ worth of experience successfully protecting the rights of clients who have been injured because of falls caused by snow and ice. Call our offices or fill out this online form, to set up a free consultation with our slip and fall accident lawyers today. Our office is conveniently located at 3634 California Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.

Frequently Asked Questions About Snow and Ice Slip & Falls