With snow and ice still on the ground and predictions on the horizon of more to come, now is the perfect time for Pennsylvania residents to brush up on how they can follow their city or town snow removal guidelines.

For example, in Philadelphia, not only is complying with the city’s guidelines the best way to avoid incurring a hefty penalty (fines range from $50 all the way up to $300), but it is also the best way to protect other members of your community from sustaining entirely preventable, and sometimes quite serious, slip and fall-related injuries.

Similarly,  in Reading, failure to follow the city’s snow and ice requirements could also lead to fines and penalties.

What Are the Rules in Reading and Philadelphia?

Luckily, neither Philadelphia nor Reading expects residents and property owners to do all the work. They maintain a street salting and plowing program during and after snow events. One important thing for residents to remember is to keep the cities’ snow emergency routes clear so that plows can pass through.

Although the cities do some of the work, they still have an ordinance in place that mandates that homeowners, businesses, landlords, and certain renters maintain a safe walking path and remove all snow. In Philly, you must remove the snow six hours after the snowfall stops, and in Reading, you must do so within two hours of the snowfall stopping. Here are some other snow removal tips and rules that Philly and Reading residents must follow:

• Clear a path at least 36 inches, or three feet, wide on your sidewalk. (In Philly, if the width of the pavement from your property line to the curb is smaller than 36 inches, clear a pathway that is at least 12 inches wide).
• Do not shovel or sweep snow into the street.
• Use a commercial salt or deicer to stop snow and ice from accumulating on sidewalks, steps, and other pathways.
• Keep fire hydrants clear. Shovel three to five feet around your block’s fire hydrant so that firefighters can gain access safely and quickly during an emergency fire response.
• Clear snow from neighborhood sewer drains to allow melting snow to drain.
• Make sure to clear building entrances, driveways, sidewalks (including those that are adjacent to some businesses and/or walkways), and parking lots.
• Failure to do so may result in fines and penalties. In Philly, the minimum penalty for having an uncleared sidewalk is $50, though fines can be as high as $300 for each violation. In Reading, the minimum fine is $100 and can go as high as $1000!

Snow and Ice-Related Injuries: Preventing Slip and Falls

Not only can you receive a sizable fine for failing to clear your sidewalk in a timely manner, but you are also endangering people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately one million Americans sustain injuries from snow and/or ice-related slip and falls each year; for 17,000, the injuries they sustain are deadly. Per the CDC, some of the most common wintertime slip and fall injuries are:

• Bruises, contusions, cuts, and lacerations
• Broken bones, most commonly in the wrists, arms, and/or hands
• Concussions and other kinds of traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs
• Torn ligaments, tendons, and/or muscles
• Dislocations
• Spinal cord injuries, which can lead to partial or full paralysis

Slip and falls can happen inside too, which is why it is a good idea to put a rug or mat in the entranceway of your home or business. Business owners must be sure to clean wet and slippery floors in a timely manner and must clearly label them so patrons can be aware of the hazard and avoid the area. Here are some additional tips from the CDC on how to avoid being injured in a preventable slip and fall incident:

• Start out by wearing appropriate footwear. Sturdy boots with rubber soles and good tread are optimal shoes for snowy and icy conditions alike.
• Walk slowly and carefully. Take smaller steps to maintain your balance.
• Use handrails whenever they are available on stairs and walkways.
• If possible, avoid carrying objects in your hands so that you have a better chance of catching yourself if you begin to fall. It is also a good idea to keep your hands out of your pockets.
• Test surfaces before stepping. You can do this by tapping your foot on a surface to check for ice before fully distributing your weight on it.
• Do not forget about black ice! Be extra cautious and mindful of areas that may have hidden patches of black ice.

At Galfand Berger, our attorneys have decades of experience representing slip and fall victims. Here are just a few examples of our firm’s recoveries on behalf of injured individuals:

• Our client, a 45-year-old man, was injured when he slipped and fell at a popular Pennsylvania amusement park. Our client was attempting to access an emergency stairway, which was over 20 feet in the air, when he slipped on a wet surface. His fall aggravated a previous neck injury, leading to surgery. Our attorneys were able to settle the case for an excess of $400,000.00 in favor of our client. You can read more about this recovery at: https://www.galfandberger.com/verdicts/premises-liability/400000-settlement-for-slip-and-fall-at-amusement-park/.
• Our client, a nurse’s assistant, was walking through the hospital where she worked when she slipped and fell in a pool of stripping wax that had been left out by a maintenance crew. Our client suffered a herniated disc at L4-5, causing significant pain that radiated down to both of her legs. Our firm settled the matter on behalf of our client for $350,000.00. To learn more, visit: https://www.galfandberger.com/verdicts/Premises-Liability/50-2/.

If you were injured in a slip and fall or winter condition-related accident, someone at our firm can help. Contact a representative online now to learn more.

Premises Liability Lawyers at Galfand Berger, LLP, Representing Injured Victims Since 1947

Contact the premises liability attorneys at Galfand Berger LLP today. Call us at 800-222-USWA (8792) or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, we serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Allentown and Harrisburg.