Did You Experience a Slip and Fall Accident During the Holiday Season?

The holiday season should be a time for gatherings, shopping, and celebration. Snowy sidewalks, icy parking lots, wet store floors, and crowded public spaces create conditions where a simple errand can quickly turn into a serious injury. When slip and fall accidents during the holiday season disrupt your life, knowing what to do next matters.

At Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers, we help people throughout Philadelphia and surrounding counties who are injured because a property owner failed to keep their premises safe. Our attorneys understand how winter conditions and holiday-related hazards contribute to slip and fall accidents and how quickly these injuries can affect your health, income, and daily routine. 

If you were hurt during the holiday season, you may have options worth exploring, and we are here to help you understand what comes next.

What Are Common Accidents During the Holiday Season?

The weeks between late fall and early winter see a noticeable rise in injuries tied to weather conditions, decorations, and crowded public spaces. Common holiday accidents include:

• Icy sidewalks and parking lots. Snow, sleet, and freezing rain can turn walkways into serious hazards when property owners fail to shovel, salt, or treat surfaces in a reasonable timeframe.
• Wet floors inside stores and businesses. Tracked-in snow and slush often collect near entrances, aisles, and checkout areas, increasing the risk of falls when mats, warning signs, or cleanups are missing.
• Poorly lit walkways and stairwells. Shorter daylight hours and seasonal decorations can reduce visibility, making uneven pavement, steps, or curbs harder to see.
• Cluttered aisles and temporary displays. Holiday merchandise, boxes, cords, and promotional setups can create tripping hazards in stores and event spaces.
• Loose rugs, mats, or decorations. Seasonal décor placed without proper securing can easily shift underfoot, especially in high-traffic areas.

When property owners fail to address known hazards during periods of increased foot traffic, those oversights can lead to serious injuries and potential liability under Pennsylvania law.

What Should I Do After a Trip and Fall Accident?

What you do in the moments and days after a fall can affect both your health and your ability to pursue a claim.  

• Get medical attention right away. Even if injuries seem minor at first, winter falls often cause fractures, head injuries, or soft-tissue damage that may not be immediately obvious.
• Report the accident. Notify the property owner, store manager, or supervisor as soon as possible so there is a formal record that the fall occurred.
• Document the scene. If you can, take photos or videos of the hazard that caused the fall, such as ice, snow buildup, wet floors, poor lighting, or cluttered walkways.
• Gather witness information. Getting the names and contact details of anyone who saw the fall can be helpful if questions later arise about what happened.
• Preserve what you were wearing. Shoes and clothing worn at the time of the accident may become relevant if the cause of the fall is disputed.
• Be cautious with insurance companies. Insurance adjusters often contact injured people quickly, but it is usually best to avoid detailed statements before understanding your rights.

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After a holiday-related fall, the steps you take can have lasting consequences. Speaking with a lawyer early can help ensure important evidence is preserved, deadlines are not missed, and you do not unknowingly weaken a potential claim. Having guidance during this stage allows you to focus on your recovery while someone else handles the legal details.

How to Prove Premises Liability in Pennsylvania

To recover compensation after a slip, trip, or fall, you generally must show that a property owner’s negligence caused your injuries. Premises liability claims are built around specific legal elements that must be supported by evidence.  

The Property Owner Owed You a Duty of Care

Property owners and businesses owe different levels of care depending on why someone was on the property. Shoppers and customers are typically considered invitees, meaning the owner must take reasonable steps to keep the premises safe and address known hazards.  

Some falls occur on private property, such as a friend’s or relative’s home, where the injured person may be classified as a licensee. In those situations, property owners are generally required to warn of known dangers that are not obvious and could pose a risk to lawful visitors.

The Duty of Care Was Breached

A breach occurs when the property owner fails to take reasonable action to fix or warn about a dangerous condition. This might involve not clearing ice within a reasonable time, failing to place warning signs near wet floors, or allowing cluttered aisles to remain in place during busy shopping periods. The focus is not on perfection, but on whether reasonable care was exercised under the circumstances.

The Dangerous Condition Caused the Fall

You must also show a direct link between the hazardous condition and your fall. In other words, the injury must have occurred because of the unsafe condition, not due to an unrelated issue. Evidence like photos, witness statements, and incident reports can help establish this connection.

You Suffered Actual Injuries and Losses

Finally, there must be real harm resulting from the accident. This can include physical injuries, medical treatment, missed work, and other impacts on daily life. Medical records and related documentation often play a key role in demonstrating how the fall affected you.

What If I Am Partly at Fault for the Holiday Accident?

Being partly responsible for a fall does not automatically prevent you from pursuing a claim in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which allows injured people to seek compensation as long as their share of fault does not outweigh the fault of the property owner.

Under this rule, your recovery may be reduced based on your percentage of responsibility. However, if you are to be more responsible than the property owner, you may not be able to recover damages.

Talk to Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers About Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents during the holiday season can leave you dealing with injuries, medical bills, and uncertainty at a time that is already stressful. When winter conditions and crowded public spaces contribute to a fall, understanding your legal options can make a meaningful difference in what comes next.At Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers, our team has more than 75 years of combined experience handling premises liability claims across Pennsylvania. We have helped injured people recover millions of dollars in settlements and understand how to investigate holiday accidents, gather evidence, and challenge property owners who failed to keep their premises safe. If you were hurt during the holiday season, contact us today.

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