Who is Responsible for Snow and Ice Removal from Sidewalks in NYC?

Person shoveling snow on a sidewalk

Ordinances in New York City and its surroundings require removing accumulated snow and ice within a certain amount of time after the end of a snowstorm. Property owners who fail to shovel snow and clear pathways, sidewalks, and parking lots can be fined. If someone slips and is injured on that snow, the property owner will be liable for the accident victim’s damages.

The New York slip and fall attorneys at Douglas & London, located in Manhattan, are very familiar with the hazards that snow and ice present to New Yorkers. We represent people who have slipped and fallen on snow and ice to recover damages in lawsuits against negligent property owners.

When is a property owner obligated to clear accumulated snow and ice?

The City’s Administrative Code defines an NYC property owner’s obligation to shovel snow and clear ice from walkways and parking areas. It is primarily a function of when a snowstorm ends:

  • If a storm ends during daylight hours (7:00 am to 5:00 pm), snow and ice must be shoveled within 4 hours
  • If a storm ends in the early evening (5:00 pm to 9:00 pm), snow and ice must be removed within 14 hours
  • If a storm ends between 9:00 pm and 6:00 am, the property owner has until 11:00 am the next day to shovel and clear all accumulated snow and ice 

Call our experienced slip and fall attorneys for a free consultation!

Are any parties other than the property owner responsible for removing snow and ice from NYC sidewalks?

The snow and ice removal obligations in the City’s Administrative Code extend to property owners, lessees, tenants, occupants, and other persons that bear a management or maintenance responsibility. Given the different parties that might be liable for a victim’s injuries in a slip and fall case, NYC slip and fall lawyers will begin their accident investigations by reviewing pertinent records. These might include property ownership, leases, property management contracts, and all other documents that allocate responsibility for the removal of snow and ice among those parties.

What if a slip and fall accident occurs on snow and ice that accumulates around a building owned by NYC?

An accident victim can file a lawsuit for slip and fall mishaps on property owned by New York City. However, the procedures for suing the City are more complex than those against private parties.  A party who suffers injuries on City property due to snow and ice should not hesitate to retain an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as is possible. Your attorney can file the notices that are required to prosecute a negligence lawsuit against the City.

What does an accident victim need to show to recover damages caused by a failure to remove snow and ice?

In every slip and fall case that involves claims of failure to shovel snow and ice, an accident victim needs to show:

  • Which party had the primary responsibility for snow and ice removal
  • When the snow accumulated, and how much time elapsed after a storm ended, and the occurrence of the accident
  • How the accumulated snow and ice was the direct and proximate cause of an accident that caused the victim’s injuries
  • How those injuries caused financial hardship and damages to the victim

Snow and ice are temporary hazards that will disappear as soon as temperatures get warmer. Accordingly, an injured party should consult with a personal injury lawyer to retain the best opportunity to gather evidence about the accident.

Injured in a slip and fall accident? Tap to call for a FREE consultation!

Call Douglas & London After You Have Slipped and Fallen on Accumulated Snow and Ice in NYC

Please see our website or call the NYC personal injury lawyers at Douglas & London in Manhattan to file a slip and fall accident lawsuit against property owners that failed to remove accumulated snow and ice. Your opportunity to recover the largest potential damages award will be improved when you call us as soon as is possible after your accident.