Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Illinois
Removing snow from sidewalks.
I was hoping someone could clear up a much debated topic. Our local municipality requires homeowners to shovel snow from their sidewalks. The question is if you remove the snow does that make the owner more liable should someone fall than if they do not remove the snow?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Removing snow from sidewalks.
First: you have to abide by the municipality's rules and regulations.
Two: the law with respect to shoveling sidewalks has been changed in the past several years. Now-a-days, you are only liable for injuries occurring on your portion of sidewalk if you have cleared it in a manner so reckless that it appears you did in intentionally to hurt someone, i.e., took the water hose and watered down the snow... or some crazy thing like this. Otherwise, if you cleared the snow and did it reasonably well, you will not have anything to worry about.
Exception: unnatural accumulation. Make sure your gutters are not faulty so as to allow water to freeze underneath on the sidewalk... etc...
I hope this helps,
Taradji Law Offices