Denver and surrounding communities got around seven inches of snow on January 28th. The peak of this storm, with strong winds and heavy snow, came at the same time as most people’s’ morning commute, causing accidents, back-ups, and headaches for countless drivers.

When falling, snow can make streets slick and driving tricky; but dangerous roads are not the only problem posed by snow. In Denver, warmer days and frigidly cold nights can work in combination to make walkways dangerous for weeks after a storm.

How Long do I Have to Shovel My Sidewalk?

In the city of Denver, homeowners have 24 hours from the time snow stops falling to clear walkways of snow, but acting as soon as possible is always best. Homeowners or the property managers of a residential dwelling can be held liable for an injury that occurs due to a slip and fall, even if they were well within the 24-hour shoveling window. This should make shoveling any public portion of a sidewalk a top priority as soon as possible after a storm.

Per Denver city ordinance, property owners are responsible for the maintenance of all sidewalk adjacent to their homes. This means homeowners are responsible for all public sidewalk, from property line to property line, including ADA ramps and sidewalk modifications that fall within that area.

Businesses have four hours to make sidewalks safe after a storm has stopped. Like homeowners, businesses must remove snow and ice from any sidewalk adjacent to their physical location. Even if a business does not have customers who visit, walkways must be made clear within four hours to prevent injury.

Property maintained by the city of Denver is cleared on a schedule and as time allows.

What’s So Bad About Waiting to Shovel Snow?

Sidewalks are for everyone. School children, parents with strollers, toddlers, the elderly, runners, walkers, and anyone who may need to use a walkway should be allowed to do so without risk. When a sidewalk is not properly maintained, a slip and fall accident is possible – and that can bring with it a number of serious consequences.

Even a minor slip and fall can result in broken bones. More serious slip and fall accidents may lead to back or spinal cord injury, head or brain injury, and even death. It is the responsibility of property managers and homeowners to keep sidewalks free of any ice, snow, or debris that may increase the risk of injury. Failure to do so makes the responsible party liable for any damages that may result from the fall and entitles victims to seek compensation through legal action.

We Can Help

At Leventhal Sar LLC, we help victims of icy sidewalks get justice. If you have sustained a serious injury following a slip and fall accident, we can review your case free of cost and obligation to help you determine the best course of action.

Call our Denver office today at 720-667-3030 to schedule your complimentary consultation. We welcome clients from Denver, nearby mountain communities, and all surrounding areas of the Front Range.