Most midwesterners grew alarmed with this week’s weather reports because they were worried about travel safety. Indeed, with icy and snow covered roads, traffic and travel can become very complicated and weather related auto accidents and slip and falls can occur. I personally witnessed several disabled cars along I-44 west during the recent ice storm.
As a fall on property attorney, I know that icy and snowy conditions can lead to bicycle accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, semi crashes, and tractor trailer crashes. However, such conditions are also a breeding ground for serious Missouri slip and falls. The more snow and ice, the more falls. These falls can occur in business parking lots, on city sidewalks, on private property, on park ponds, and even in streets. Missouri and Illinois state law is fairly clear that property owners – both private residence owners and public business owners -do not HAVE to shovel their walkways and lots. However, if they do so, they must do so with care. Black ice conditions can create extremely dangerous situations in the common areas of rented property and public property locations. The elderly are especially at risk in such situations as their hip bones are typically so frail, that what may seem like a minor fall can turn into a tragic, painful situation.
Icy Roads Mean More Slips and Falls, Fox2Now, February 3, 2011.