Property Damage From Snow And Ice in Pennsylvania

At Allin / Rose Consulting, Inc., we pride ourselves on being the premier snow and ice consultants in the United States. With decades of experience, we provide expert guidance whether you are pursuing a case for damages or defending yourself against a property damage or injury claim related to snow and ice. Our team specializes in all aspects of snow removal and mitigation, offering unmatched expertise to help you navigate the complex legal and operational challenges that can arise from winter weather hazards.

Liability for snow and ice removal is governed by a myriad of federal, state, and local ordinances, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as recent court rulings. These laws ensure that property owners, managers, and contractors maintain safe environments during snowy conditions. However, navigating these regulations can be complicated, making it critical to have a knowledgeable expert on your side. This is where having a proper snow mitigation plan becomes essential, reducing the risk of accidents and subsequent legal claims.

A thorough snow response plan must address critical safety factors such as sidewalks, crosswalks, and any visual obstructions created by plowed snow. Additionally, expert witness testimony can play a pivotal role in determining liability, especially when poor planning or improper snow removal techniques lead to hazardous conditions. Mitigation techniques must be tailored to specific locations to ensure both pedestrian safety and legal compliance.

Moreover, the choice of snow plowing contractors, equipment, and ice-melting products can significantly impact safety and effectiveness. Selecting the appropriate equipment, as well as understanding the technical nuances of snow plowing techniques, can greatly reduce risks and help prevent property damage. By incorporating these considerations into your snow response efforts, you can ensure both safety and compliance with legal obligations.

Snow Removal Negligence: Plaintiff Litigation & Defense Services

Liability for snow and ice removal is governed by a complex array of federal, state and local ordinances, ranging from the Americans with Disabilities Act, to recent case law in state or federal court. There is no chance someone without decades of dedicated experience exclusive to the field of snow and ice removal can have a comprehensive understanding of all of the issues or all of the points of exposure when it comes to filing or defending a claim for personal injury, property damage, or other issues involving the accumulation or removal of snow and ice.

Because our practice focuses on all aspects, from snow removal plans, to the selection and purchase of equipment, to litigation in the wake of an accident or other damages, there is no replacement for having Allin / Rose Consulting, Inc., in your corner during litigation.

Snow Removal: Plaintiff Litigation

Plaintiff counsel, even if well-versed in slip-and-fall or property damage litigation, may build these cases from moment of injury without a full understanding or appreciation of all of the aspects that go into mitigating snowy weather hazards, including:

• Design and construction: Poor drainage, obstructed sidewalks, inadequate visibility, and ice  accumulation, most often involve poor planning and design, even when inadequate removal is a factor of causation. Because we work to incorporate snow and ice removal into the design of projects ranging from airports to shopping malls and apartment complexes, our knowledge and experience is invaluable when it comes to flagging or defending against design and construction issues involved in creating a hazardous situation. For us, since we are not engineers or architects, we have to deal with what the existing design is. So in the litigation aspect we don’t comment on the fact that there is a poor design but what has to be done to accommodate for the conditions created because of the poor design.
• Snow response plans: When a property owner’s plans to mitigate  icy conditions is hoping the plow shows up, dangerous conditions typically result. A proper snow response plan is created, but updated as needed. It should address sidewalk and crosswalk safety as well as visual obstructions created by plowed snow and dangers created by melting snow and runoff. Choice of snow plowing contractors, equipment, and ice-melting products can also impact safety.
• Legal compliance: Legal obligations can involve federal, state or local authorities, and may depend on what type of property (commercial, industrial, institutional, private) is involved. In many cases, conflicting or unclear obligations may be present, which may or may not have been addressed by previous court decisions. Allin / Rose Consulting, Inc., is among the most knowledgeable resources available to you.
• Third-Party Liability: Those responsible for an incident not only include a property owner or manager, but may also include a snow-removal company, design or construction firm, neighboring property owner, or other employee, customer or guest. Even the manufacturer or distributor of snow removal or ice-melting equipment may be partially to blame.

Because Allin / Rose Consulting, Inc., has extensive experience in all aspects of snow and ice mitigation and removal, there is no better resource when it comes to building a case for damages in the wake of an accident.

Related:  What Are Your Legal Responsibilities for Snow Removal on Your Property During the Winter in Erie, Pennsylvania?