Pedestrian accidentson icy pavements are by no means a laughing matter; indeed, scores of people lose their lives every year after suffering seemingly innocuous slips on icy roads and pavements. In many cases involvingpedestrian slips on ice, serious personal injuries are sustained – often in the form of broken limbs or, worse still, extensive head injuries.

Therefore, it is imperative that care is taken when walking in cold and icy conditions, especially where previous snowfall has been compacted and hardened into marble-like ice or where black ice is present. Many people also assume thatpedestrian slipson ice are simply unfortunate events that can occur randomly to anybody. Of course, whilst this is true in general, it can also be the case that another person, company or organisation is responsible for pedestrian accidents on icy pavements.

Pedestrian compensation claims typically arise where icy pavements have been left untreated by businesses and councils or where surfaces have only been partially treated.

Personal injury claims may also arise in less than ordinary circumstances; for instance, where ice forms on a patch of otherwise safe pavement after a motorist uses warm water to clear his or her car windscreen. The majority of personal injury cases involving slips or falls on icy pavements are, however, less complicated.

In fact, manypedestrian compensation claimsarise where untreated or partially treated pavements are wholly unsafe or unreasonably hazardous. It is the responsibility of business owners and local authorities to ensure that public safety on pavements is maintained, so a failure in this duty of care can result in personal injury claims.