As of July 2010, the law regarding liability for injuries by slip and fall accidents on snow or ice significantly changed in Massachusetts. Under prior law, a property owner could only be found liable for injuries caused by a slip and fall if the accumulation of snow or ice was “unnatural” or “man-made.” This was often very difficult to prove. Property owners, however, now have a greater legal duty owed to all visitors on their property. Property owners must now ensure that reasonable care is taken to prevent snow and ice injuries, regardless of whether the danger of injury from the snow or ice stems from man-made or natural origins. If you find yourself in a situation where you sustained injuries from either snow or ice, contacting a Boston snow and ice injury lawyer is the smart thing to do.
Dona Lyn Wails lives at an apartment complex in Berks County, Pennsylvania. On December 12, 2013, Wails slipped on an ice-covered pathway when walking from her apartment to her car. She suffered serious injuries. According to pennrecord.com, Wails has filed a lawsuit against Home Properties of Devon LLC, the property management company responsible for her apartment complex.
Wails alleges that the defendant was negligent by allowing the ice to build up on the walkway over time. Furthermore, she alleges that the pathway was not property salted and that there were no signs warning residents of the possibility and dangerousness of the ice buildup. The suit further states that a drain spout allowed water to flow across the walkway to the storm drain, which increased the iciness and potential injuries that could be sustained from an accident. Wails is seeking more than $150,000 in damages. She is represented by Attorney Jeffrey Dashevsky.
Our Boston snow and ice injury lawyer experts are available 24/7. Please call our attorney specialists today at 617-787-3700 or email us at info@gilhoylaw.com.
