Think a slip on the ice is just bad luck? Think again. In many cases, hazardous ice isn’t just an “act of nature”—it is the direct result of poor property maintenance or faulty drainage design. If you’ve been injured, consulting a slip and fall on ice lawyer can help you determine if a property owner is actually liable for your medical bills and pain.
It’s Not the Weather—It’s the Design
Legally, ice caused by a poorly placed pipe or a damaged roof isn’t an “act of weather”; it’s negligence. At Groth Law, we dig deeper into the mechanics of why the ice formed in the first place.
As Jonathan Groth explains:
“Ice from bad design or bad maintenance is not an act of weather. So, if the ice that you fall on comes from the improper placement of a drainage pipe… or rainwater is flowing in the wrong direction and over onto a step that you have to walk on, that’s not an act of God. That’s an act of improper design or improper maintenance.”
Proving Liability with Engineering Experts
To win these cases, a slip and fall on ice lawyer often brings in experts to prove that the hazard was preventable. Common examples of “hidden” negligence include:
- Faulty Gutters: Water overflowing onto walkways instead of through downspouts.
- Drainage Pipe Placement: Downspouts that dump water directly onto high-traffic sidewalks.
- Pavement Depressions: Areas where water pools and freezes repeatedly due to poor leveling.
Don’t Assume You Don’t Have a Case
If a “weather” issue is actually a design flaw, the property owner may be held responsible for your injuries. Groth gets it. We know how to investigate the scene and bring in the right experts to build a winning case.
Did you fall on an icy path? Don’t wait for the evidence to melt. Speak with a specialized slip and fall on ice lawyer at Groth Law today.