Every winter, skiers and snowboarders flock to Lake Tahoe and Truckee areas to enjoy all the region has to offer. However, residents and vacationers alike need to be extra aware of the potential hazards created by the wintry conditions. While most drivers take precaution when the snow and ice make the roadways treacherous, many people do not pay as close attention to the dangerous property hazards created by wintry weather.
Property owners and lessors have a duty to maintain their “premises” (i.e., homes, businesses, etc.) in a reasonably safe condition and free of unreasonable dangers. Private porches, walkways and stairways are particularly vulnerable to ice accumulation and the deterioration that comes along with it and/or the use of ice melt products. Owners should therefore be vigilant in inspecting and maintaining their property to eliminate potentially dangerous conditions. When property owners neglect repair, and hazards are created, it is more likely that a visitor to a home or business will be hurt – and possibly suffer serious personal injuries.
Where property owners fail to maintain their premises and allow “unreasonably dangerous conditions” to exist, and a visitor or patron sustains an injury, it may be possible to recover compensation in a “premises liability” lawsuit. Premises liability lawsuits may arise in a wide variety of circumstances, but are often the result of weather related hazards. For example, if a restaurant owner fails to adequately remove ice from a walkway and a patron slips and falls, the restaurant may be held liable and required to pay damages for any injuries sustained.
For more information or if you or a loved one has been injured on another’s premises, please contact the experienced Oakland personal injury lawyers at Viadro Law, LLP for an confidential consultation.