Slip and Falls in Parking Lots During Snowstorms

When winter storms hit New England, parking lots become some of the most dangerous places for slip-and-fall injuries. Snow piles up quickly, black ice forms beneath the surface, and property owners often struggle to keep up with their responsibility to keep walkways safe. Every year, countless people suffer broken bones, back injuries, concussions, and other serious harm after falling in snowy or icy parking lots.

If you were injured in one of these preventable incidents, you may have the right to pursue compensation. Here’s what you need to know about your rights, the property owner’s duties, and how to protect yourself after a fall.

Why Parking Lots Become So Dangerous During Snowstorms

Parking lots are uniquely hazardous during winter weather because they are large, open surfaces with heavy foot and vehicle traffic. Common risk factors include:

• Black ice hidden under fresh snowfall

• Inadequate plowing or delayed snow removal

• Refreezing from melting snow pushed into walkways

• Poor lighting, making ice nearly invisible

• Improper drainage, allowing water to pool and freeze

• Uncleared pedestrian paths between cars, walkways, and entrances

When these dangers aren’t addressed promptly, property owners may be responsible for the harm that follows.

Who Is Responsible for Snow and Ice Removal?

In both Connecticut and Massachusetts, property owners—and sometimes their contractors—have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe. This includes removing snow and ice within a reasonable time after a storm and preventing conditions that make slip-and-fall injuries more likely.

Responsibility may fall on:

• Commercial property owners

• Retail stores or shopping centers

• Apartment complexes or landlords

• Snow removal contractors

• Parking garage operators

If they fail to follow safety protocols or ignore dangerous conditions, they can be held liable for your injuries.

Understanding the “Ongoing Storm” Rule

Both CT and MA use a version of the ongoing storm doctrine, which protects property owners from liability while a storm is actively happening. However, there are important exceptions where you can still win your case, including:

• Unreasonably dangerous conditions created before the storm

• Negligent snow removal during the storm

• Failure to address areas where water predictably refreezes

• Parking lots with poor lighting or drainage known to be unsafe

An experienced slip-and-fall attorney can investigate whether one of these exceptions applies.

Common Injuries from Parking Lot Slip and Falls

Falls on ice often cause more than bruises. Clients frequently suffer:

• Broken wrists, ankles, arms, or hips

• Back and spinal injuries

• Shoulder tears and dislocations

• Concussions or traumatic brain injuries (TBI)

• Knee injuries such as ACL or meniscus tears

These injuries may require surgery, physical therapy, and weeks or months off work—leading to significant financial stress.

What to Do After a Slip and Fall in a Snowy Parking Lot

Taking the right steps immediately after your injury can strengthen your case dramatically:

1. Take photos and video

Capture the ice, snow piles, lighting, and surrounding area before conditions change.

2. Report the incident

Notify the business, landlord, or property manager in writing.

3. Get medical treatment right away

Gaps in treatment can harm your claim.

4. Preserve your footwear and clothing

Your shoes may become important evidence.

5. Speak with a personal injury lawyer

Slip-and-fall cases involving snowstorms are complex—especially with the ongoing storm rule.

Compensation You May Be Entitled To

If negligence played a role, you may recover compensation for:

• Medical bills

• Lost wages

• Pain and suffering

• Future medical care

• Reduced earning capacity

• Permanent disability or scarring

Insurance companies often try to blame the victim—especially in slip-and-fall cases. Having strong legal representation can make a significant difference.

How Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers Can Help

Our team has decades of experience helping injured people across Connecticut and Massachusetts recover compensation after falls caused by snow, ice, and unsafe property conditions. We understand winter-weather liability laws, how to investigate snow-removal failures, and how to fight back when insurance companies deny responsibility.

We move fast to secure video footage, maintenance records, weather reports, and witness statements—evidence that often disappears quickly after a storm.

Injured in a Slip and Fall During a Snowstorm? Contact Us Today.

If you or a loved one slipped and fell in a parking lot during a snowstorm, don’t wait. Winter-weather cases require prompt investigation.

Call Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers for a free consultation.
You pay nothing unless we win for you.