Philadelphia winters are famous for their unpredictability. One day you’re enjoying a crisp, sunny walk through Rittenhouse Square, and the next, you’re navigating a wintry mix of slush, freezing rain, and black ice. While the city’s grit is part of its charm, that same grit can turn deadly when apartment building owners fail to maintain their properties.
If you are a tenant in Philadelphia, your entryway is supposed to be the threshold to safety. But during snow season, these high-traffic areas often become the most dangerous spots in the building. Melted snow from boots turns into puddles on slick tile, and refreezing temperatures can create invisible layers of ice right inside the doorway.
If you’ve experienced a slip and fall, the moments following the accident are critical. You are likely in pain and perhaps a bit shaken up, but what you do next determines whether you can hold a negligent landlord accountable.
Here is exactly what you should document after a fall in an apartment building entryway during snow season.
1. The Immediate Visual Evidence: Photos and Video
In the legal world, a picture isn't just worth a thousand words; it’s often worth the entire case. In Philadelphia, weather conditions change by the hour. Ice that caused you to slip at 8:00 AM could be melted by noon, or salted over by a landlord who realizes they made a mistake.
Capture the hazard immediately: Don’t just take a photo of the floor. You need to document the condition of the floor.
- The slickness: If there was a puddle of melted snow that hadn't been mopped, get a close-up.
- The ice: If there was black ice or a frozen patch in the entryway, try to catch the light reflecting off it.
- The lack of prevention: Take a wide shot of the entryway. Are there floor mats? If so, are they folded over, soaked through, or missing entirely? Is there a Caution: Wet Floor sign? If not, the camera proves it.
2. The Timeline of the Weather
Philadelphia courts often look at the Hills and Ridges doctrine, a Pennsylvania state common law that can protect landlords if a storm is actively happening. However, if the snow stopped hours ago and the entryway is still a mess despite sufficient time to address the hazard, the landlord could potentially be found liable.
Document the when:
- Timestamp everything: Ensure your phone’s GPS and time settings are on when you take photos.
- Screenshot the weather report: Take a screenshot of a local Philly weather report (like 6ABC or NBC10) showing the temperature and precipitation at the exact time of your fall. This prevents the landlord from claiming it was still snowing when it clearly wasn't.
3. Witness Information
Entryways are common areas. Odds are, someone saw you fall, or someone came to your aid shortly after. In a personal injury claim, a third-party witness is the most reliable source of truth.
Who to talk to:
- Fellow tenants: Ask if they noticed the floor was slippery earlier in the day. If a neighbor says, I almost fell there this morning and told the super, that is a massive piece of evidence showing the landlord had enough notice of the danger.
- Delivery drivers: UPS, FedEx, or DoorDash drivers are constantly in and out of Philly apartment buildings. If they witnessed the fall, grab their name and number.
- Security/front desk: If your building has a doorman, note who was on duty.
Similar Post: What Happens If You Slip and Fall at a Philadelphia Airport?
4. Formal Notification to Management
You might think telling the maintenance team hey, I fell is enough. It isn't. You need a paper trail that proves the landlord was notified of the incident on the day it happened.
How to document the report:
- Send an email: This creates a digital timestamp. Briefly state where you fell and at what time.
- Avoid admitting fault: Never say I should have been more careful or I was in a rush. Simply state the facts: I slipped on an accumulation of ice/water in the lobby entryway.
- Keep a copy of the incident report: If the building manager makes you fill out a form, take a photo of the completed form before you hand it back to them.
5. Your Footwear and Clothing
A common defense tactic used by insurance companies is to blame the victim’s shoes. They will try to argue that you were wearing unreasonable footwear for a Philadelphia winter.
Prove you were prepared:
- Take a photo of the treads on the shoes you were wearing.
- Do not throw the shoes away. Put them in a plastic bag and set them aside. They are now physical evidence.
- If your clothes are soaked with dirty slush or torn from the impact, document that too. It helps illustrate the force of the fall.
6. Professional Medical Documentation
You might feel fine immediately after a fall due to the rush of adrenaline. However, many slip and fall injuries, like herniated discs, concussions, or soft tissue tears, don’t show symptoms for 24 to 48 hours.
The medical trail:
- Go to the ER or urgent care: Do this the same day. If you wait a week, the landlord's lawyers will claim you got hurt somewhere else.
- Be specific: Tell the doctor, I slipped on ice in my apartment entryway. Ensure this is recorded in your medical chart.
- Save everything: Every bill, every discharge summary, and every physical therapy referral is a building block for your case.
7. The Pain Journal
Documentation isn't just about what happened at the scene; it’s about what happens to your life after the scene.
Record your daily struggle: Write down how the injury affects your daily life. Can you no longer walk to the corner store? Is the pain making it impossible to take the subway to work? Are you unable to lift your child? These quality of life details are essential for calculating pain and suffering damages.
Why the Entryway is a Unique Legal Space
While landlords often argue that snow and ice are natural accumulations, indoor entryways are viewed differently under Pennsylvania law. Entryways are high-traffic transition areas, and property owners are expected to take reasonable measures to reduce hazards caused by tracked-in snow or water. This can include maintaining mats, mopping wet floors, or providing warnings once the owner is aware of the condition and has had time to address it.
Similar Post: Navigating Slip and Fall Accidents Near SEPTA Stations in Philadelphia: What You Need to Know
The Role of an Experienced Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorney
Documenting the scene is half the battle; the other half is fighting the insurance companies. Big property management firms in Philadelphia have deep pockets and aggressive legal teams. They will look for any reason to deny your claim or offer a lowball settlement that doesn't cover your long-term medical needs.
That is where we come in.
Injured in Your Building? We Can Help.
If you’ve followed these steps and documented your fall, you’ve already given yourself a head start. But you shouldn't have to carry the legal burden while you’re trying to heal.
At van der Veen, Hartshorn, Levin & Lindheim, we understand the nuances of Philadelphia premises liability law. We know the tricks landlords use to avoid responsibility, and we know how to use your documentation to build an unshakeable case. Our firm is built on a foundation of aggressive advocacy and a deep commitment to our neighbors across the City of Brotherly Love.
Don't let a landlord's negligence derail your life. If you or a loved one has been injured in an apartment entryway this snow season, contact us for a free, comprehensive consultation. We work on a contingency basis, meaning you don't pay us unless we win for you.
Call our Philadelphia office today at 215-486-0123 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free case review. We represent clients throughout the state, including Northeast Philadelphia, Center City, Bensalem, and Croydon.
Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. It should not be considered as legal advice. For personalized legal assistance, please consult our team directly.