When Winter Conditions Turn Dangerous

A winter fall in Manhattan rarely happens in a dramatic snowstorm.

More often, it happens afterward.

You’re walking to work.
Stepping off a curb.
Crossing a lobby threshold.

Then suddenly — your footing is gone.

What looked like cleared pavement was actually refrozen runoff.
What looked dry was compressed slush.
What felt safe was not.

Snow and ice falls are part of the broader category of slip & trip fall accidents, but winter conditions introduce timing, maintenance, and accumulation issues that often determine what options may exist after a fall.

What To Do After A Snow Or Ice Fall

If you’ve just fallen, your first concern is your health.

If possible:

• Seek medical attention

• Notice where the ice or snow was located

• Observe whether melting or refreezing may have occurred

• Look for witnesses

In Manhattan, nearby:

• building cameras

• maintenance activity

• cleaning schedules

may exist even when they’re not obvious.

Early attention to these details may help preserve useful information about the conditions at the time of the fall.

Snow Is Natural. Some Ice Isn’t.

No one controls the weather.

But in New York City, property owners are required to clear adjacent sidewalks after snowfall within specific timeframes .

That means winter hazards are not always unavoidable.

Responsibility may arise when snow or ice accumulates in ways that are influenced by:

• drainage

• building design

• maintenance

• removal methods

Examples may include:

• roof runoff refreezing

• sloped surfaces pooling meltwater

• piled snow melting into walkways

These are sometimes described as unnatural accumulations — conditions shaped not by snowfall alone, but by the surrounding environment.

How Winter Falls Actually Happen In Manhattan

Most NYC winter falls do not happen in deep snow.

They happen where conditions evolve.

Common hazard zones include:

• building entryways

• shaded sidewalks

• curb ramps

• areas beneath rooflines

In dense environments, snow rarely melts evenly.

It melts, drains, and refreezes.

Pedestrian movement compresses slush.
Buildings create shade.
Water migrates.

The result is often invisible ice in high-foot-traffic areas.

Timing Matters After A Storm

New York City law requires sidewalks to be cleared after snowfall ends within defined time windows .

This means winter liability often depends on:

• how long the storm had ended

• whether clearing occurred

• whether refreezing was addressed

Hazards frequently arise:

• hours later

• the next morning

• after partial melting

Winter risk is rarely static — it evolves.

Sidewalk Responsibility In NYC

Under NYC law, property owners generally bear responsibility for maintaining adjacent sidewalks .

This includes:

• clearing snow

• addressing ice

• mitigating foreseeable hazards

Failure to do so within required timeframes can create unsafe walking conditions .

In some cases, responsibility may also involve:

• contractors

• maintenance companies

depending on how snow removal was handled .

Interior Winter Hazards

Winter falls don’t always happen outdoors.

Tracked-in slush can create dangerous surfaces in:

• lobbies

• retail entrances

• shared hallways

Property managers may need to address:

• moisture buildup

• saturated mats

• untreated floors

as these conditions can persist even after sidewalks are cleared .

Comparative Negligence In Winter Falls

Moving quickly is part of life in Manhattan.

Crowded sidewalks, limited visibility, and changing surfaces are everyday realities.

Even when:

• someone was rushing

• did not notice ice

• slipped in a busy area

multiple factors may still be relevant.

New York’s comparative negligence framework considers how conditions and behavior interact.

How These Cases Connect To Other Falls

Winter hazards often overlap with:

• uneven surfaces

• lighting differences

• transitional flooring

For broader environmental fall risks, see our slip & trip fall accidents page.

How We Help

Snow and ice falls often require understanding:

• how ice formed

• how snow was removed

• how timing affected safety

• how maintenance was handled

We assist clients by:

• helping clarify what happened

• reviewing environmental conditions

• preserving useful information

• guiding recovery pathways

Our role is to help make sense of a situation that may initially feel confusing.