The Boston snow and ice accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Gilbert R. Hoy, Jr. and Affiliates have extensive experience and skill in representing individuals who have suffered significant bodily injuries as a result of slips and falls on snow or ice.
New Massachusetts Law Regarding Snow and Ice Falls
As of July, 2010, the law regarding liability for injuries caused 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 injuries, regardless of whether the danger of injury from snow or ice stems from man-made or natural origins.
The Massachusetts snow and ice injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Gilbert R. Hoy, Jr. and Affiliates stay up to date on all changes to the applicable state and federal laws so that we can fully use the laws to the advantage of our snow and ice injury clients and obtain the best possible outcomes.
Snow and ice that is not removed by the property owner can result in dangerous conditions that should be taken seriously. These hazardous conditions can cause accidents that result in life-changing and permanent injuries. There are many property owners in Massachusetts who do a poor job of eliminating hazardous snow and ice conditions, or neglect that responsibility entirely. Parking lots, sidewalks, grocery stores, retail establishments and other public passageways and places around your neighborhood can become difficult to navigate on foot due to dangerous accumulations of snow and ice.
Even if you tread carefully, snow and ice may cause a variety of serious injuries, including:
Hip and joint injuries
Back injuries
Muscle strains and sprains
Fractures and broken bones
Hand and wrist injuries
Scarring and Disfigurement
Other significant injuries
You have a right to expect that you can travel outside with reasonable safety in the winter, and that negligent property owners will be responsible to you for damages arising out of slip and fall injuries that you sustain as a result of unsafe conditions. Our team of Boston, MA snow and ice accident personal injury lawyers understands the complexities of snow and ice premises liability cases and we are here to help you. Our expert Boston snow and ice injury attorneys have the skill and experience to help you pursue damages if you have been injured because of a property owner’s negligence.
A Property Owner Can Be Liable to You for Damages Resulting From Your Snow and Ice Accident Injuries.
A Massachusetts property owner must use reasonable care to maintain his or her premises in a safe condition. This means that the property owner must keep the premises free of dangerous conditions, such as hazardous snow or ice, which are likely to result in serious injury to visitors. If reasonable care is not taken, the property owner can be liable for injuries sustained in both natural and unnatural snow and ice accumulations. If a third party moved the snow, and the property owner should have been aware of that, the property owner can also be liable for your injuries if the moving of the snow resulted in dangerous conditions.
The property owner who is responsible for your snow or ice accident injuries may be a homeowner, a private company or a municipality. A property manager who is responsible for maintaining the property may also be liable for your snow and ice injuries. A company that is responsible for providing snow and ice removal and treatment may also be found liable to you if they fail to keep the property free from dangerous snow and ice and this danger causes you to sustain injuries.
Your snow or ice injury may entitle you to file a Massachusetts negligence claim. You may be entitled to collect significant money damages for the wrongful injury caused by a Massachusetts property owner or other culpable individual.
Damages vary depending on your type of claim, but generally include:
Lost wages
Past medical bills
Compensation for continuing treatment
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Disruption in your relationship with your spouse or children
Any other potential losses
Contact our team of Boston snow and ice injury lawyers if you are injured by a fall on snow or ice.
I’ve Been Injured by a Fall On Snow or Ice -- Now What?
If you have been injured in a snow and ice accident, the first thing you should do is get immediate medical attention. Falls on snow and ice can cause devastating injuries, including fractures, spinal cord problems and traumatic brain damage. It is not uncommon for symptoms to arise several days after your snow or ice accident. When you do seek medical attention, it is important to provide the medical staff with an accurate history of the accident and describe all of the body parts which are causing you pain.
If you fall and are hurt on snow and ice, it is also important to take photographs of the accident scene as soon after the fall as possible. Many cell phones have cameras that can help you to record the condition of the scene of the accident immediately after you have been injured. If you are unable to take photographs right away, this may be done later by a friend or a family member who can return to the site of the accident. The important thing is to document the condition of the snow and ice at the time you were injured and before that condition changes. Subsequent removal of the snow or ice or melting can make it more difficult to prove your case if the condition of the snow or ice at the time you were injured cannot be proven.
Do not attempt to negotiate with an insurance company by yourself. Insurance companies are reluctant to pay out more than they must, and therefore will seek to minimize your claim. Our expert Boston premises liability attorneys will aggressively negotiate with the insurance companies in order to obtain the maximum compensation for your injuries.
Finally, you should promptly call our Boston, MA snow and ice accident attorneys at 617-787-3700. We can get you the fair and just monetary compensation that you deserve for your injuries. Our Boston, MA snow and ice accident injury attorneys will carefully listen to your concerns and investigate and analyze all of the circumstances surrounding your fall. We will explain your legal rights to you and the options that are available to you. Under Massachusetts law, the property owner must be notified of the snow and ice accident within 30 days. If timely notice is not given, your ability to get the fair compensation that you deserve for your injuries may be affected. CALL US TODAY at 617-787-3700!
Our Boston, MA Snow and Ice Accident Injury Lawyers Fully Understand Current Massachusetts Law.
In a recent change of the law, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, the highest court in Massachusetts, held that property owners and tenants can now be found liable for failing to keep their property free and clear of dangerous snow and ice, regardless of whether the condition resulted from natural or unnatural causes. Previously, to be able to pursue compensation after a slip and fall accident on snow or ice, the injured person was required to prove that there was an unnatural accumulation of ice or snow on the property. Examples of unnatural accumulations of ice or snow included snow piled across walkways and when water drips from a building onto a sidewalk, resulting in an icy patch where the rest of the sidewalk is clear. Massachusetts now has the same rules for snow and ice liability as most other states. The new rule in Massachusetts is that property owners are liable for injuries that are due to their failure to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition.
The new Massachusetts law means that property owners now have a greater duty to clear snow and ice when it falls and to keep their property reasonably safe for use by others. The question of what is reasonably safe is a fact question that may ultimately have to be decided by a jury. Therefore, land owners should exercise reasonable care in the removal of snow and ice as it falls and after it falls. Property owners should also check their property regularly to be sure that ice is not accumulating as a result of thawing and freezing. In addition, many communities have ordinances requiring snow to be removed from sidewalks after every snowstorm.
To learn how changes in the law can affect your ability to get the fair compensation you deserve for your injuries, contact our Boston, MA snow and ice accident injury lawyers at 617-787-3700 or email us at info@gilhoylaw.com for a free and confidential initial consultation.
Call Our Boston Snow and Ice Accident Lawyers Today at 617-787-3700 or Email Us at info@gilhoylaw.com!
Your legal rights need to be protected after a fall on snow or ice. You should consult with a member of our highly skilled team of Boston, MA experienced premises liability lawyers. Our snow and ice accident lawyers understand the requirements of Massachusetts law and how to prove responsibility of the property owner for your injuries.
In the event that you or your loved one has been injured or killed as the result of a Massachusetts snow and ice accident, the best thing that you can do is to hire one of our highly skilled Boston, MA snow and ice injury lawyer experts right away. Call 617-787-3700, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for a free and confidential consultation.
If you select one of the knowledgeable and expert Massachusetts snow and ice accident attorney specialists at the Boston Law Offices of Gilbert R. Hoy, Jr. and Affiliates to represent you or your loved one, you can be assured that your needs will become our top priority. The Massachusetts snow and ice accident lawyers at our Boston, MA law firm will use all of their legal expertise and determination to most effectively handle your unique situation. Our snow and ice accident law firm is readily distinguishable from a number of other Boston, Massachusetts law firms because our expert Massachusetts attorney specialists are compassionate and will fight tirelessly on your behalf. Our Boston, MA snow and ice accident law office has some of the very highest quality lawyers in the Commonwealth.
The Boston snow and ice accident lawyers and Boston, MA wrongful death lawyer experts at our Boston, MA law firm have represented thousands of Massachusetts snow and ice accident victims and the families of many Massachusetts wrongful death victims. If your loved one has suffered personal injuries as the result of a Massachusetts snow and ice accident, please contact our experienced Boston snow and ice accident lawyers and Massachusetts wrongful death lawyers 24/7 at 617-787-3700 to help you get full and fair compensation for your Massachusetts accident injuries.
The Boston, MA Law Offices of Gilbert R. Hoy, Jr. and Affiliates is a team of expert, highly skilled Boston, MA lawyers from some of the very best law offices in Massachusetts, including exceptional Massachusetts snow and ice personal injury lawyers, who have been personally selected by Attorney Hoy because of their skill, experience and expertise. Many of the Boston, MA snow and ice injury lawyers and Boston, MA snow and ice wrongful death attorneys who are available to our Massachusetts clients through referral agreements have been repeatedly selected and recognized as among the very personal injury lawyers in Massachusetts and, indeed, the country.
With an experienced group of some of the very best Massachusetts snow and ice accident lawyers that the Commonwealth offers, our Boston snow and ice accident law office is confident that our handling of your snow and ice accident claim will go beyond your expectations. Our over-riding goal is to provide you or your loved one with top of the line legal service and assistance with respect to your Massachusetts snow and ice accident, while earning your confidence, loyalty, trust and respect. Our Boston, MA snow and ice accident law office would be honored and pleased to represent you or your loved one, and we would be delighted to provide you with an initial free and confidential consultation with respect to your Massachusetts snow and ice accident claim.
Our Expert Massachusetts Personal Injury Attorneys Have Obtained Millions of Dollars For Our Massachusetts Personal Injury Clients.
Our Expert and Highly Skilled Boston, Massachusetts Lawyers Are Passionate About Representing Our Massachusetts Clients.
Let Us Put Our Expertise And Skills To Work For You.
