Caution, New Yorkers: Ice may fall on your heads

Most have at least hummed the tune to “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head,” at one point, but this extreme cold, wintry weather presents a more dangerous situation. It is one thing to have to carry an umbrella or step carefully to avoid a weather-related mess. New York pedestrians now might want to consider wearing helmets in order to avoid head injuries and lacerations from ice accidents.

Without a doubt it has been a rough winter in New York. Our past premises liability post shared how the weather and potential property owner negligence has resulted in slip-and-fall injuries in the area. A more recent news article warns that not just ice under people’s feet but above their heads is making for hazardous conditions in the state.

One New York resident says that he had to get a whopping 80 stitches on his head after ice fell off of a city roof and onto him. Falling ice was a danger to that man and continues to be a danger for the many pedestrians carefully navigating their ways along the streets of the city.

New York officials have even gone so far as to close off some streets to try to prevent pedestrian injuries related to falling ice. Hopefully, shutting down certain walking areas will help mitigate the number of injuries suffered because of ice falling from roofs. The hazardous condition of falling ice, however, should be addressed by property owners everywhere.

Sure, the weather has been extreme and difficult for all to handle. Property owners still must live up to their duties to mitigate hazardous conditions. Someone who is injured because of another’s failure to remove ice or snow properly from an area should discuss their premises liability lawsuit options with a local personal injury lawyer.

Source: Los Angeles Times, “Falling ice shows New Yorkers a dangerous downside of warmer weather,” Alana Samuels, Feb. 19, 2014