Living in Minnesota means dealing with the hazards of winter. Most of us expect that sidewalks and parking lots will be icy. However, property owners still have a responsibility to mitigate hazards on their own property, including clearing snow and ice and applying salt in winter. If they fail to perform basic maintenance and address hazards in a timely way, they could face liability for the injuries someone sustains.
At Maschka Personal Injury, our slip and fall attorneys help clients seek fair compensation after sidewalk slip and fall accidents in Mankato. Our team has decades of combined legal experience and has long been a part of the local community. If you were hurt due to the negligence of a property owner, you can learn more about your legal options in a free consultation with one of our attorneys.
Cities and municipalities typically classify most sidewalks as public property. State law greatly restricts tort (injury) claims against municipal or state governments, and Minnesota Statutes § 466.03 specifically addresses sidewalk ice and snow-related torts. According to the statute, a municipality generally is not liable for snow and ice injury claims that occur on most public sidewalks or highways. However, there may be exceptions, including sidewalks that touch against a public parking lot or public building.
This means that it is very difficult but not necessarily impossible to bring a sidewalk slip and fall accident claim in Mankato against a city or other government entity. However, if you plan to take legal action, it is important to consult an attorney quickly because claims against the government are subject to different rules and shorter deadlines than normal injury claims.
Some sidewalks in Mankato are privately owned, and courts can hold property owners liable for injuries from slip and falls if they negligently fail to remove snow, ice, and other slipping hazards.
Proving negligence is specific to the facts of each case. However, in a hypothetical example involving snow and ice removal, you might need to show that the property owner was aware of a slipping hazard, had adequate time to address it by shoveling and salting, but failed to do so. You also need to show that their negligence was the immediate cause of your slip and fall accident and injuries.
Regardless of the defendant and the circumstances, it is best to address sidewalk slip and fall claims with the help of an experienced attorney in Mankato. Our firm has been serving clients in the area for over 25 years, and our attorneys guide plaintiffs through all aspects of their case, from documenting injuries and calculating damages to filing a claim against the at-fault parties.
Whenever possible, we strive to resolve your case efficiently through direct settlement negotiations. If we cannot reach a fair settlement or the defendants refuse to negotiate in good faith, we are fully prepared to take your claim to trial.
At Maschka Personal Injury, we have the experience, knowledge, and resources clients are looking for after sidewalk slip and fall accidents in Mankato. Our firm takes personal injury cases on a contingency-fee basis. You pay nothing up front, and you will not owe any legal fees until and unless we help you recover compensation. To share your story and learn more about your legal options, contact us today to request your free initial consultation.
