The Dangers of Black Ice
The Dangers of Black Ice
Black ice leads to many serious accidents in parking lots and on driveways, walkways, and sidewalks. If you slip and fall on black ice in any of these places, you can pursue a claim to recover compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, and lost wages.
But what makes black ice so dangerous? Here’s what you need to know when pursuing a black ice slip-and-fall claim in NYC.
What is Black Ice?
Black ice looks like the rest of the pavement on the road, which is the source of the name. It’s clear and extremely dangerous. Falling on black ice can cause serious permanent injuries. Typical injuries from black ice slip-and-fall accidents include:
- Fractures or broken bones (fractured hip, fractured shoulder, fractured wrist, fractured elbow, fractured knee, fractured ankle, and fractured foot)
- Head injuries including concussion and traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Ligament and tendon tears
- Dental injuries
- Back injuries
- Lacerations
After a slip-and-fall accident, you may be seriously injured, and the person responsible for the development of the black ice may be at fault. If a slip and fall on black ice causes a traumatic brain injury and tragically leads to death, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim.
Who is Responsible When You Slip and Fall on Black Ice?
Property owners, management companies, store owners, and homeowners are required to make sure black ice is removed from their parking lots, driveways, walkways, and sidewalks. These property owners must also make sure that snow is not piled in such a way that leads to melting and then freezing causing black ice.
If you slip and fall on black ice on a sidewalk or path in a public park, or a sidewalk in front of a public park, your claim will likely be against a municipal entity such as the city of New York.
You must act quickly as there are strict and short deadlines that apply. For example, a notice of claim must be filed within ninety days after the accident to sue a municipal entity.
What to Do After an NYC Black Ice Slip-and-Fall Accident
If you’ve been injured because you slipped on black ice, you may need to take steps right away to recover from your fall injuries. Taking the following steps can help with your recovery:
- Call an ambulance
- Note the location of your fall
- Collect witness information
- Report the accident to the property owner
- Take photographs of the black ice
- Keep records and, receipts of all your medical treatment.
If you can’t do any of the above, your lawyer will. We will also obtain any 911 call records, police reports, ambulance reports, witness statements, surveillance video, and all of your hospital and medical records. We’ll gather all the evidence you need for a successful claim.
Reach Out to a Slip-and-Fall Lawyer in NYC
If you or a family member is a victim of a slip and fall on black ice, contact the New York City black ice slip-and-fall accident attorneys at Greenstein & Milbauer, LLP. Our lawyers have been handling black ice slip-and-fall cases for over twenty-five years.
If you are a victim of a slip and fall accident on black ice, reach out for help. The call is free. The consultation is free. You don’t pay us unless we are successful. That’s our fee guarantee—no fee unless successful. To learn more, call 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462) or complete the following online contact form to schedule a confidential consultation.