There are several things you need to know about property owners’ obligations with ice and snow on their property:
Residential and commercial property owners in New Jersey have different legal obligations for dealing with snow or ice accumulation.
Every municipality in New Jersey has the right to establish its own ordinances about the duties of property owners for dealing with snow and ice accumulation.
Municipalities have established time limits for removing ice and snow and some may assess fines for violating local ordinances.
There are also regulations on how wide of a path property owners must clear.
While municipalities have the authority to enforce these rules, they rarely do. Property owners are often given warnings.
In a condominium or residential community with a homeowner’s association, bylaws should outline the duty of the association for maintaining sidewalks and common areas in safe condition.
If you can prove a violation of a local ordinance and link that to your accident and the injury you suffered, you may have a valid claim for compensation. While cases against homeowners may be very difficult to prove, cases against commercial businesses may be easier to validate.