Yes, property owners and businesses can be held responsible to pay compensation to customers that slip and fall on ice, snow or other freezing conditions and sustain injuries as a result.
In South Carolina, if a customer slips and falls on ice or snow sustaining injuries on a business premises the injured person is entitled to compensation if the business knew or should have known of the hazardous condition and failed to correct or repair it or provide a warning. An experienced injury lawyer can help you investigate and prove that the business owner knew or should have known of the ice, snow, or other hazardous conditions.
Gas stations, grocery stores, parking lots, shopping malls, and restaurants may have black ice outside on their premises which is a coatin of glaze ice on a surface which is visually transparent or clear. Black ice often causes falls and injuries because it is nearly invisible and people approaching black ice while walking cannot readily observe the black ice until it is too late. Roadways and asphalt often have black ice during freezing temperatures which can also lead to car accidents and wrecks.
Persons injured from slipping and falling due to ice, snow, sleet or other freezing conditions can seek compensation for their medical bills, loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, and lost wages. Falls due to slipping on ice can cause traumatic injuries such as fractures, rotator cuff tears, spinal cord injuries, acute disc herniations, concussion, and traumatic brain injuries.
If you have sustained an injury as a result of a slip and fall on ice you should seek medical attention as soon as possible and contact an experienced slip and fall attorney. Attorney Brooke Wright has the experience and knowledge to assist you step by step through the claims process to help you recover fair compensation after a fall on ice. In Myrtle Beach, black ice during Winter months has resulted in falls at hotels, businesses, restaurants and parking lots that could have been prevented. Even though ice and snow may be very rare in Myrtle Beach, businesses and property owners still have an obligation to provide safe walking areas for their customers.
Business owners are often on notice of ice or freezing conditions based on local news outlets and should take precautions to protect their customers to avoid injuries. Even the most careful customer wearing boots or sneakers can easily slip and fall on ice through no fault of their own.
What can businesses and property owners do to prevent people from becoming injured due to slipping and falling on ice and freezing conditions?
- Apply salt, Ice Melt or deicer before ice and/or snow begins and as needed in all walking areas and potential walking areas.
- Follow the instructions from the manufacturer to be sure to apply the salt or deicer correctly and distribute evenly.
- Post warning signs to warn visitors, customers and invitees of hazardous conditions such as ice or snow that could cause a fall or injury.
