{"id":1424,"date":"2026-03-13T18:06:04","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T18:06:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pbnlitigation.ie\/?p=1424"},"modified":"2026-03-13T18:06:04","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T18:06:04","slug":"winter-slips-trips-and-falls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pbnlitigation.ie\/ur\/legal-advice\/winter-slips-trips-and-falls\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter Slips, Trips and Falls"},"content":{"rendered":"

We all know the winter slips, trips, and falls. The slip on the icy footpath where you break a wrist. The trip over the broken paving on a wet day, where you sprain an ankle or the fall over rubbish left out on a dark night, when you tear nerves in the back.<\/p>\n

It’s winter. You can fall easily on a cold and dark morning when on the way to work or a trip when getting off the Dart on a windy evening.<\/p>\n

The winter slips are the worst. You slip on wet leaves or an icy footpath with nothing to break your fall, except the footpath. A slip in public sees cracked ribs, broken teeth and torn ligaments, not to mind the bruised ego when everyone is watching.<\/p>\n

What happens, though, when the slip on ice isn’t your fault<\/a>? Who is liable and what can you do about it?<\/p>\n

Let’s take a closer look at what are the options after that bad slip in a public place<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Of course, the path is slippery, it’s winter<\/h2><\/span>
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The winter months are the worst for slippery footpaths, treacherous steps, and icy patches everywhere. It is winter after all, what do you expect?<\/span><\/p>\n

A big problem is black ice. Ironically, you cannot see black ice. It forms in shady areas, usually in the early morning or late evening, and is so clear that it is almost invisible. You only see the surface beneath, and not knowing the ice is there, you slip on it. Unfortunately, patients going to appointments, kids going to school, and people going to work will quickly find out the dangers of black ice, usually the hard way.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the workplace, over half of slips and falls on ice occur between 6 am and 11 am, which is not too surprising, as most ice is gone by mid-morning in Ireland. The months of December and January see the highest amount of slips and falls, with an average of 130 ice slips, according to the HSA, the<\/span> Health and Safety Authority<\/span><\/a>. So, if 90% of slips at work due to bad weather are caused by ice, why don’t employers take more care?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Public footpaths, the ones around town, in the local park, but also around public buildings such as schools and hospitals, can be hotspots for ice slips and falls. The untreated path underneath a tree or around the side of a building is ideal for black ice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It might look funny on the TV news or on someone’s social media feed, but a slip on ice can be painful, have you in the A&E, and even keep you out of work for a time.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Can I claim for slipping on an icy path?<\/h2><\/span>
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Yes, you can claim for slipping on an icy path. When you are out of pocket, recovering from a painful injury and unable to care for yourself, then you should have a compensation claim*.<\/span><\/p>\n

Personal injury claims*<\/span><\/a> in Ireland are often for slips on icy footpaths. Employees claim for a slip on an icy path when heading into work at the office, and pedestrians often claim for a fall on ice when going from the bus to the shops.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Property owners have a duty of care and should maintain footpaths during the cold months by:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>