Can I Sue If I Slipped On an Icy Walkway?

December 11, 2017

Property owners have a legal duty to keep their premises safe and hazard-free. This includes ensuring that their walkways, driveways, parking lots, and other common areas are clear of ice and snow. When ice and snow are allowed to accumulate, it can create very dangerous conditions that can cause serious injuries. Owners who allow dangerous conditions to exist on their property, can be held liable for a personal injury claim and lawsuit.



Property owners generally fall into 3 groups:

  • Commercial Establishments: Includes retail stores, hotels, apartment complexes, and other non-residential and non-government properties
  • Residential Properties: Includes privately owned homes, condominiums, duplexes, townhomes, and other non-commercial and non-government properties
  • Governmental Properties: Includes post office buildings, motor vehicle departments, federal buildings, courthouses, etc.

Licensees & Invitees

A property owners’ legal duty of care extends to what is referred to as invitees and licensees. Invitees are people the property owner benefits from. Invitees can be shoppers in a supermarket, guests at hotels, mail delivery personnel, and others who are not social guests.


Licensees are people who have a social objective, not a business objective. Neighbors, children, party guests, and friends who are social guests are usually considered licensees.


A property owner’s legal duty of care and subsequent liability varies from case to case. There is no exact measurement for how much ice or snow there must be for a property owner to be deemed negligent. This also applies to the amount of time a property owner has to remove the ice or snow before becoming liable. Ice can form in a matter of hours and melt just as quickly. The probability of people walking on the sidewalk is also a factor in determining if a property owner is liable.



Have you been injured from a slip or fall caused by ice on a walkway? We can help. Contact our Waterbury personal injury attorneysto get started on your case today.

< Older Post Newer Post >

Recent Blogs

Person typing at a desk with dual monitors in a cluttered office cubicle.

What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident in Connecticut

By Fitzpatrick Santos Sousa Perugini P.C. • October 5, 2026
What should you do after a car accident in Connecticut? Learn the key steps to protect your health, rights, and personal injury claim.
Two people in business attire shake hands over a wooden desk with documents, a laptop, and coffee cups.

What to Expect During Your First Consultation with a Lawyer

By Fitzpatrick Santos Sousa Perugini P.C. • October 5, 2026
Learn what to expect at your first consultation with a lawyer, what to bring, and how to prepare. Schedule a free case evaluation with FSSP Law.
A person in a blazer smiles while working on a laptop at a table with another person in a law office setting.

Common Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Personal Injury Case

By Fitzpatrick Santos Sousa Perugini P.C. • October 5, 2026
Avoid common mistakes that can hurt your personal injury case, from delaying medical care to talking with insurers. Learn how to protect your claim.
A woman and a man in professional business attire sit at a large wooden conference table, looking at papers.

How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Connecticut?

By Fitzpatrick Santos Sousa Perugini P.C. • October 5, 2026
How long do you have to file a personal injury claim in Connecticut? Learn the 2-year deadline, exceptions, and why acting early matters.