Winter Slip-and-Fall Injuries in Minnesota
Minnesota Winter Slip and Fall Injury Claims Slip-and-fall injuries are some of the most common grounds for premises liability claims in Minnesota. The legal theory of premises liability is that the owners and operators of a property need to exercise a reasonable amount of care to ensure that the property is safe for the people… Read more »
Minneapolis and St. Paul Sidewalk Shoveling Laws
Local ordinances across Minnesota require property owners to clear snow and ice from their sidewalks to prevent slips and falls. In St. Paul, snow and ice must be removed within 24 hours (St. Paul City Ordinance Chapters 113-114). In Minneapolis, there are different requirements for single-family homes/duplexes and commercial properties like apartments and businesses. Houses… Read more »
Minnesota Winter Premises Liability
Minnesota winters complicate many things, including premises liability caused by slips and falls. Winter weather has arrived in the Twin Cities. Every year, Minnesota sees an increase in injuries and accidents when the snow starts falling and temperatures drop below freezing. One of the most common causes of winter weather injuries are stairways or entryways… Read more »
The Importance of Property Maintenance in Minnesota
Premises not maintained can pose a slip-and-fall or other personal injury risk. Each year many people are injured because of inadequate maintenance or the failure to make repairs. Especially in Minnesota, seemingly minor problems can quickly create dangerous conditions. One of the most common causes of injuries during Minnesota winters is falling on ice. Walkway… Read more »
How To Evaluate What A Personal Injury Case Is Worth In Minnesota
What is my case worth? This is the most common question I get from prospective clients. As lawyers, we learn two words in law school that continue to echo through our day to day practice: “It depends.” Understandably, the phrase “it depends” is not the most comforting or reassuring term. That being said, the more… Read more »
Overcoming the Open and Obvious Defense in Minnesota Slip, Trip, and Fall Cases
Slip and fall cases are met with certain common defenses. Chief among those is the open-and-obvious defense. As discussed in last week’s blog, there are several defenses that an at-fault party or their insurer (the insurance company) can assert in Minnesota slip, trip, and fall cases. The most common of these is the open and… Read more »
Common Defenses in Slip, Trip, and Fall Cases
When someone is injured by a slip and fall or trip and fall, they may be eligible for compensation for their injuries. As a slip, trip and fall case proceeds towards litigation the defendant or their insurance company is likely to raise several defenses. These defenses are an attempt to prove that they are not… Read more »
When is a Landowner Responsible for a Slip or Trip and Fall?
When initiating a lawsuit one of the first steps is to identify who the responsible party is. This can be especially difficult in cases involving a trip and fall or slip and fall at a business. This can become even more difficult when the building is occupied by a different person or entity (tenant) then… Read more »
Slip and Fall Injuries – Not Just a Winter Problem
Winters in Minnesota can bring slip, trip, and fall hazards, but it’s more than just a winter problem. Minnesota residents are familiar with winter weather and the dangers that ice, snow, and slush can pose. However, people are hurt in slip and fall accidents year-round. Oftentimes, these accidents happen in places like the grocery store,… Read more »