As the weather turns colder, cities around the country are hit with winter storms that can cause dangerous conditions. Whether snow, sleet, or ice, precipitation can accumulate and lead to anything from a small annoyance to an emergency situation.

Many people prefer not to leave home in these conditions, but sometimes a run to the local Safeway for some bread or water is necessary. No matter if your route is a couple blocks of walking or a short drive, the snow and ice accumulation from winter storms could lead to a damaging slip and fall in the food market parking lot.

Who is Held Accountable in a Parking Lot Slip and Fall?

Parking lots can be extremely dangerous and are one of the most frequent places people slip and fall on snow/ice. But who is held responsible for your accident due to these unsafe conditions? The answer isn’t always straightforward, as there can be a variety of parties held accountable for the lot’s safety and maintenance. A common defendant in a claim would be the owner of the lot, either the owner of the shopping center or of the Save-A-Lot, Wegman’s, Aldi, etc. the lot is in front of. Another defendant could be the company that manages and maintains the property. Yet another defendant may be the contractors hired to actually clear the parking lot of the dangerous ice and snow.

What is the Natural Accumulation Rule? 

The natural accumulation rule protects property owners from liability and makes an important distinction. This rule prevents injured parties from holding the owner accountable for a slip and fall on snow/ice if it accumulated naturally. If the snow or ice was accumulated unnaturally, like from a broken pipe or gutter, the owner can be held liable since there is an issue with their property. The property owner can also be held responsible for your injury if they in any way prevented the snow removal company from properly doing their job and removing the ice.

Reasonable Amount of Time

In most cases, the owner of your local Fresh Grocer or Food Lion won’t be able to remove snow and ice from their parking lot during the storm or immediately after it stops. The law allows property owners a “reasonable amount of time” to clear the danger before they are held liable. The time limit for this varies depending on jurisdiction and how bad the storm was. Many localities state that 24 hours after the storm clears is a reasonable amount of time for the owner to remove the snow in their parking lot if it was a major event like a blizzard. For situations with lighter snowfall of just an inch or so, the reasonable amount of time could be closer to 8 hours after precipitation ends.

Injuries Caused by a Slip and Fall on Ice in a Parking Lot

If you are ever in an accident due to snow and ice in  you could suffer a wide range of injuries, including any of the following:

• Back injuries
• Torn muscles
• Head trauma
• Sprained ankles
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones

It’s clear that traveling in snowy and icy conditions is hazardous, and it’s very important to know your rights as a customer of a ShopRite, Kroger, Stop & Shop, or wherever you shop for food. If possible, the best way to avoid injury from a slip and fall on snow or ice in a parking lot is to not go at all until the storm ends and you confirm that the property is clear of danger.