Sue for Slip and Falls on Ice in Apartment Complex

Our Michigan slip and fall lawyers sue apartment complexes for tenants and visitors. These falls occur on ice- and snow-covered sidewalks, walkways, and parking lots. The apartment building owner and maintenance staff are legally required to make these areas safe. 

If you fell on ice at a Michigan apartment complex lot, you may be entitled to compensation. The Buckfire Law Firm regularly wins the top settlements in Michigan in slip and fall cases. Our team of award-winning attorneys is ready to help you right now! 

• What Is the Liability for an Apartment Complex Slip and Fall on Ice?
• Can I Sue if I Did Not Live at the Apartment Building?
• How Much Are Fall on Ice Settlements With Michigan Apartment Complexes?
• Contact Our Michigan Apartment Ice Fall Lawyers

Common Locations for Apartment Complex Falls on Ice

In Michigan, most apartment complex fall injuries happen in the following areas: 

• Sidewalks 
• Walkways 
• Porches 
• Shared entry ways 
• Parking lots 
• Carport areas 
• Management office 
• Garages 
• Storage areas 

Every area with un-shoveled snow and an unsalted lot with ice is a fall hazard. 

What Is the Liability for an Apartment Complex Slip and Fall on Ice?

Under Michigan law, an apartment complex has the legal duty to make the premises safe for both its tenants and visitors. There are two main theories of negligence that provide the basis for suing an apartment complex for fall injuries. Both theories are used in lawsuits. 

First, the complex has a common-law duty to make the premises safe for business invitees. A tenant is a business invitee because there is a signed lease agreement between the tenant and the landlord. The landlord must act reasonably to diminish the hazards of snow and ice to protect tenants from slip and fall accidents. The landlord must also inspect the property to see if ice hazards exist and eliminate all hazards, generally by shoveling and salting. 

Second, the apartment complex has a statutory duty to make the property safe. Under Michigan Compiled Laws § 554.139, landlords are required to keep their properties in reasonable repair and maintain all common areas. Courts have determined that this statutory duty applies to cases involving the natural accumulation of snow. You can also sue if there is an unnatural accumulation of ice, like a broken downspout causing water to pool and freeze on a walkway. 

Can I Sue if I Did Not Live at the Apartment Building?

You may be able to still sue if you fell on ice but did not reside at the apartment complex. For example, visitors of tenants are owed the same legal duty as the tenant. Also, delivery drivers, postal workers, and others at the complex for business purposes may also have claims. 

What Should I Do if I Fall on Ice at a Michigan Apartment Complex?

It is smart to document and report your fall as well as the condition of the property. If possible, take photographs and video of the icy condition that caused you to fall. This helps not only to show the ice hazard, but also to prove that the maintenance staff did not salt the area. 

If there are any witnesses, it is important to obtain their contact information to help with your case later. Also, file a written report with management as soon as you can after your fall. It is also helpful to send an email to the management office if you are a tenant if the office is closed. 

What Does Buckfire Law Do for My Case?

When you choose Buckfire Law for your apartment fall on ice case, we will start working immediately to prove negligence and win you a settlement. We will: 

• Locate witnesses and obtain statements. 
• Look for surveillance camera video that captured your fall. 
• Hire a weather expert to prove the dates when ice and snow accumulated. 
• Hire an ice and snow removal expert to show that proper maintenance was not performed. 
• Determine if claims can be filed against snow removal contractors. 
• Gather your medical records and therapy records. 
• Get your medical bills and health insurance payments.
• Notify the apartment complex of your injury claim. 
• File a lawsuit to get you the maximum compensation if we cannot settle with the adjuster. 

It is best to contact us as soon as possible after your fall so we can start working on your case. 

How Much Are Fall on Ice Settlements With Michigan Apartment Complexes?

A slip and fall on ice settlement against an apartment complex is determined by: 

• The seriousness of your injury. Cases involving brain injuries, spinal injuries, bone fractures, and ligament damage command higher settlements. 
• The medical treatment and therapy you received for your injuries. 
• The need for future medical care and treatment, including surgery. 
• The long-term prognosis of your injuries.
• The cost of your medical treatment, past, present, and future. 
• Any lost income, wages, or financial losses incurred because of the fall. 

Settlement amounts have a wide range depending on the county of the injury, the condition that caused the fall, the length of time between snowfall and injury, and whether the maintenance staff took any affirmative action to salt ice or remove snow. The Buckfire Law Firm has won substantial settlements against apartment complexes, ranging from $50,000 to $1,000,000. 

Contact Our Michigan Apartment Ice Fall Lawyers

It is important to hire our parking lot slip and fall on ice lawyers immediately after your incident so we can begin our investigation of your case and notify the insurance company of your claim. 

Call The Buckfire Law Firm today to start on your case. You pay no money unless you win your case, and we pay all the case costs and expenses. It costs nothing to get started! 

There are strict time deadlines for filing cases in Michigan, so don’t hesitate to start your claim. 

Legally reviewed by:

Lawrence J. Buckfire, J.D., Lead Trial Attorney at Buckfire Law
Lawrence J. Buckfire, J.D. has over 30 years of experience specializing in personal injury and wrongful death cases. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and attended Wayne State University School of Law. Lawrence has been named a Super Lawyer, U.S. News Best Lawyer, and in The National Trial Lawyers-Top 100 Trial Lawyers.
Date of Review: Mar., 2026