New Jersey winters are cold and snowy. As a result, snow & ice accidents are fairly common occurrences. These accidents can result in serious injury. Read on for more information regarding snow & ice accidents in New Jersey and what to do in the event of an injury.
Who is Responsible for Snow & Ice Accidents?
In New Jersey, property owners are responsible for keeping their properties safe and maintained. This applies to homeowners, shops, businesses, and municipal buildings. After a snow or rainfall event, a property owner has a window of time by which he or she must remove snow and ice from the property. This window of time differs by municipality, so contact our firm to discuss whether your accident occurred outside of this window.
Fulfilling the Burden of Proof
If you are injured due to another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to recover compensation. But, in order to do so, you will have to prove that this negligence occurred. It is important to complete the following steps:
- Seek medical attention
- If you are injured, you may be tempted to skip the doctor and recover at home. This is a mistake because your injuries may need proper medical attention to heal. Additionally, going to the doctor will allow you to document the origin and extent of your injuries, which can be vital to your case. At the hospital, make sure to ask your doctor for copies of any relevant documents.
- Document the scene
- It is important to take photos and videos at the scene of the accident. Documenting the hazardous conditions that caused your accident is a major aspect of a personal injury claim.
- Obtain witness contacts
- If anyone saw your accident occur, you should obtain his or her contact information. This individual may be able to provide witness statements later on.
- Contact a skilled personal injury attorney
- An experienced attorney may be able to gather further proof. This may include police reports and security footage.
How Long do I Have to File a Claim?
If you wish to pursue legal action, you will have to file your claim within a certain amount of time. This deadline is known as a statute of limitations. In New Jersey, the statute of limitations for a personal injury accident is generally two years from the date of the accident.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a snow & ice accident, contact our experienced firm today to discuss your case.
Contact our experienced New Jersey firm
Currently, it is unclear whether employees will have the right to file COVID-19 workers’ compensation claims, however, if the time comes where this becomes legislation, our firm is here to help. As we learn more, we will bring this information to you. Contact Rubenstein, Berliner & Shinrod today to learn more.
