PERSONAL INJURY

New Jersey Snow and Ice Slip-and-Fall Lawyer

New Jersey winters can be harsh, and one of the most significant dangers residents face is slipping on snow and ice. Falls account for nearly 7 million emergency room visits annually, according to the National Safety Council. Your risk of falling is much higher when snow or ice covers the surface. Property owners have a responsibility to clear snow and ice from their premises. Innocent people can suffer significant injuries when property owners neglect their duties.

The team at the law firm of Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman is ready to fight for your rights if you’ve slipped and fallen on snow or ice on someone else’s property. We have been helping injured people in New Jersey for nearly a century and have recovered hundreds of millions in compensation for them. Let us put this experience and track record of success to work for you.

Why You Need Our Snow and Ice Slip-and-Fall Attorneys

Personal injury claims related to a slip-and-fall accident on snow or ice can be complicated. You need to show how someone else’s negligence caused your injuries to recover compensation. Without solid evidence to support your claim, you may not be able to recover all the compensation you deserve.

Slip-and-fall accidents on snow and ice can result in severe physical injuries, expensive medical bills, time off work, and more. Property owners and insurers don’t want to be on the hook for compensating a victim for these losses. In some cases, a property owner or insurer may take advantage of a claimant’s vulnerability and pressure them to accept a settlement well below what the individual’s claim is truly worth.

You need a New Jersey snow and ice slip-and-fall accident attorney from the beginning, protecting your rights and demanding the money you deserve. At Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman, we have extensive experience handling New Jersey claims involving slip-and-fall accidents on snow and ice. We are prepared to do what it takes to seek the accountability and compensation to which you are entitled. With so much at stake after a slip-and-fall on ice or snow, you need every advantage you can get.

From our clients

I would recommend Richard Isolde to my family and friends, and he was accommodating in handling our case. He was always available by text, phone calls, and email. Most significantly, he helped us get what we deserved. Richard Isolde is always there for his clients and does whatever he can to get the job done.

Richard Isolde worked very hard on my case, making the impossible possible.
He was able to get the full amount up to the policy limit and then get punitive damages in addition. I understand that is a rare accomplishment. I am grateful for that and I congratulate him. Your firm was recommended to me by a friend and I will pay it forward by recommending him as well as PRA.

I used Mr. (SQ) Lee for a personal injury matter and could not have been any more pleased with his services. He understood my injury and helped me every step of the way. He was courteous and kind and I always felt better after speaking with him. His assistant, Sherrill, was also wonderful and together they made a great team! I would absolutely recommend them, and the firm, to anyone.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

At Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman, we do not charge you any fees upfront to start work on your personal injury case. We will review your case for free, with no obligation to you. If we believe you have a claim for compensation, we will do all the legal legwork with no out-of-pocket cost to you. When we recover compensation for you, our fee then comes as a percentage of that. If we don’t win, you don’t pay us. It’s that simple.

Common Types of Slip-and-Fall Accidents Involving Snow and Ice

Some common examples of New Jersey slip-and-fall accidents involving ice and snow include:

Sidewalk falls

Snow and ice often accumulate on sidewalks after a winter storm. It can be particularly dangerous when snow covers ice on a sidewalk, as pedestrians may not realize the potential danger beneath the powder. People have also been known to fall when stepping on or off a sidewalk, as snow can make it difficult to see where the sidewalk ends. Property owners should clear snow and ice from sidewalks and spread salt and grit for traction if necessary.

Falls at building entrances and exits

Snow and ice are especially hazardous when they accumulate outside the entrances or exits of New Jersey buildings. Visitors may also track snow inside when they enter, creating a fall hazard when it melts.

Parking lot accidents

Outdoor parking lots can freeze after a heavy snowstorm. Moreover, the snow can cover ice on the ground, which increases the risk of someone falling as they walk or encounter vehicles losing traction. The risk of a slip-and-fall accident increases if the parking lot is uneven or has not been well maintained.

Construction site accidents

Construction sites present many hazards to pedestrians, and winter weather can create new dangers. Snow can cover loose objects or debris around the work site, and ice can freeze around the site if no one removes it.

Driveway accidents

If snow and ice are not cleared from a driveway after a storm, the driveway may become so slick that it is virtually impossible to walk on safely.

Stairway accidents

Outdoor stairs can become especially hazardous when covered in snow and ice. Indoor stairways can also become dangerous when people track snow and ice inside a building that lacks appropriate mats to absorb the moisture.

Where Snow and Ice Falls Frequently Happen

Some of the most common locations of snow- and ice-related falls in New Jersey include:

Outside homes and residential complexes
Outside retailers, restaurants, and other businesses
At work
Parking lots and garages
Parks and other public spaces
Sidewalks
Stairways
Driveways

Our Victories

Nursing Home Settlements

Settlements from nursing home neglect cases involving contraction of pressure ulcers, falls with fractures or other injuries and infections have resulted in the following outcomes.

$750K

$750,000 for Defective Product in “Scalding Water Leak” Injury

A delivery driver brought his car in to the dealer for a water leak repair. A week later he returned because the leak continued. He was told to continue driving the car and return a few days later.

$2M

$2 Million Settlement in SUV Accident Case

A passenger in a SUV suffered a broken neck and other injuries when the vehicle rolled over because of the negligence of the driver and the failure of a tire.

$4.47M

$4.47 Million in Paralyzing Injury from Swimming Pool Diving Accident

When a 19-year-old woman dove into an above ground swimming pool, she fractured her neck and became a quadriplegic for life. There were no warning signs at the pool, although the law requires diving warnings.

$425K

$425,000 for Neck & Spinal Injuries in Missile Silo Clean-up “Missing Floor Fall”

While cleaning up an abandoned US Air Force missile silo, our client fell through an unmarked missing floor in a dark room. He suffered serious neck and spinal injuries, requiring two surgeries.

$1.1M

$1.1 Million Pre-Trial Settlement for Bus Accident Victim

A construction foreman, driving his pick-up truck south on the NJ Turnpike, was struck from behind by a commercial bus and forced across two lanes of traffic.

$700K

$700,000 to Diabetic Plumber Injured at Construction Site

Climbing down a ladder, a union plumber stepped on a nail protruding from wood left at a construction site in Jersey City by the general contractor or sub-contractors that had performed framing on the construction site.

$1.4M

$1.4 Million Dollar Settlement in Truck Accident

We obtained a $1.4 million dollar settlement on behalf of a driver whose vehicle was struck by a tractor trailer’s blown-out tire. Our client was driving his company vehicle when the Defendant’s tractor trailer had a tire blowout.

$95K

$95,000 for Man Injured in Auto Accident

A 47-year-old man received $95,000 in a settlement to compensate him for a serious fracture to his right wrist suffered in an auto accident. Although the fracture required surgery, the man made a good recovery from his injury.

$250K

Car accident victim suffering severe injuries awarded $250,000

A New Jersey driver swerved into an improperly installed guardrail/partition which, upon impact, impaled the vehicle and severed our client’s left leg. Despite a series of complex circumstances impacting liability, and our client passing away due to an unrelated medical condition, we settled the case for $250,000.

$200+ Million

Recovered for Clients

Personal Injury Practice Areas

Attorney Average Years in Practice

Our personal injury attorneys know that behind each accident victim is a personal tragedy, a story to be told, responsibility to be taken, wrongs to be righted, and closure needed.

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New Jersey Laws Regarding Snow and Ice Removal

The rules for removing snow and ice in New Jersey depend on who is responsible for maintaining the property and any adjoining pathways. In New Jersey, the responsibility of routine maintenance and snow and ice removal from sidewalks is typically assigned to the abutting property owner by local ordinance.

Commercial property owners have a clear duty to maintain safe premises. The law says commercial property owners must clear snow and ice in a reasonable timeframe after a storm. Government entities responsible for maintaining public spaces must take care of snow and ice within a reasonable time after a storm.

Who Could Be Liable for Fall Accidents Involving Snow and Ice?

The potentially liable parties for a slip-and-fall from snow or ice in New Jersey depend on the circumstances of the case, but they may include:

Landlords
Tenants
Individual homeowners
Commercial property owners
Owners of rental properties
Third-party maintenance companies
Government entities

Potential Injuries from a Slip-and-Fall Accident on Snow or Ice

Slip-and-fall accidents on snow or ice frequently cause severe injuries, including:

Traumatic brain injuries
Back and spinal cord injuries
Broken bones
Severe strains and sprains
Torn muscles, ligaments, and tendons
Nerve damage

Types of Compensation Available for Snow and Ice Fall Victims

A slip-and-fall accident on ice or snow can affect you physically, financially, and emotionally. Our lawyers can help you pursue compensation for losses, including the following:

Medical bills
Lost wages
Reduced future earnings due to a long-term disability
Pain and suffering
Diminished quality of life because of your injuries
Emotional distress

How Our Lawyers Help People Hurt in Snow and Ice Slip-and-Fall Accidents

A few of the ways the team at Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman can help you after a slip-and-fall accident on snow or ice include:

Investigating the accident to determine who could be to blame for your injuries
Gathering evidence to document your losses and establish liability
Finding and hiring expert witnesses
Filing an insurance claim or lawsuit promptly to expedite the recovery process
Negotiating with the insurance companies to maximize your compensation
Bringing your case to court if an insurance company will not agree to a fair settlement

Deadline for Filing a Lawsuit in New Jersey After a Snow and Ice Fall

The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit in New Jersey is two years from the date of an accident. This rule applies if you were injured at a private home or commercial property. However, if the state or local government is at fault, you must file your claim within 90 days of the accident. If you miss the deadline, you will most likely be unable to recover compensation for your injuries.

Steps to Take After a Slip-and-Fall Accident Due to Snow and Ice

Here is what you should do to protect your rights after falling on ice or snow in New Jersey:

Seek medical treatment

Your health is at stake. If you’ve fallen on snow or ice while on someone else’s property, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Report the accident

In many cases, a business manager will ask you to fill out a form providing your information and a basic description of the incident. Keep your account factual and ask for a copy of the report for your records.

Document the scene

If you can, take photographs of the scene, your injuries, and the slippery conditions. Ask witnesses for their contact information.

Keep all bills and receipts

Maintain a record of your medical bills, out-of-pocket expenses, and lost wages if you cannot work.

Do not post on social media

Never talk about the accident online. Your words and photographs can potentially be used against you to undermine your claim and credibility.

Follow your treatment plan

Do not deviate from your physician’s treatment plan. Keep all scheduled appointments and take medication as directed. Your medical records can be crucial to your claim.

Contact an attorney

After a slip-and-fall accident on snow or ice, consult with our attorneys as soon as possible. Time is of the essence, and you need an experienced advocate in your corner to protect your rights and handle the details of your case.

person walking up steps while snow falls

Contact Our New Jersey Snow and Ice Slip-and-Fall Lawyers Now

Bad weather is a fact of life during the winter months in New Jersey, but that does not absolve property owners of their legal responsibilities. If you slipped and fell because of slick conditions on someone else’s property, contact Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman. A New Jersey snow and ice slip-and-fall lawyer from our firm is ready to answer your questions and explain your options during a free consultation.