New Jersey has gotten a lot of snow in the past few weeks, which means a lot of snow removal. Many people dread shoveling their driveways after a heavy snowfall. But, clearing your property is simply part of the winter routine. You may be wondering who is responsible for clearing your property of snow and ice, especially if you live in a multi-family home or rent a property. Read on to learn more about snow removal in New Jersey and who may be held responsible.
Where Do Snow & Ice Accidents Occur?
Snow & ice accidents can occur anywhere, at any time in the winter. The cold weather turns everyday activities into treacherous tasks. For example, just walking down the driveway can result in serious injury. The most common places these accidents occur include driveways, sidewalks, parking lots, and stairways. These accidents can result in severe injuries. The most common injuries that result from these accidents include broken bones, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and lacerations.
Who is Responsible for Snow Removal?
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. That being said, responsibility isn’t always so clear-cut. For example, if you rent a property, you may be wondering whether you are responsible for clearing the property of snow. In cases like this, it may depend. The property owner may be responsible for snow removal, but oftentimes, a landlord will pass the responsibility to a tenant through their lease. It is important to look over your lease for more information regarding who may be responsible when it comes to snow removal.
What if Someone is Injured on My Property?
As mentioned above, there is a certain window of time during which you must clear your property of snow & ice. If you fail to maintain your property and someone is injured outside of the grace period for cleaning, you may be held responsible. If this occurs, you will need to contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
If someone is injured on your property due to snow & ice, contact our firm to speak with a skilled personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
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.
