Slip and Falls on Ice in Michigan Parking Lots

Our Michigan premises liability lawyers represent people who suffer serious injuries due to falls on ice and snow in parking lots. These falls cause life-changing injuries which often require surgery, rehabilitation, and change in lifestyle. Parking lot owners are required under Michigan law to salt on icy parking lots to reduce the risk of a fall injury.

If you fell on ice in a Michigan parking 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 are ready to help you right now!

• What is the Liability for a Slip and Fall in a Parking Lot?
• How Effective is Salt to Melt Snow in an Icy Parking Lot?
• Can I Sue for a Slip and Fall on Ice in a Michigan Parking Lot?
• How Much Can I Sue for a Parking Lot Fall on Ice Settlement?

Common Locations for Falls on Ice in Parking Lots

In Michigan, the most common parking lots for falls on ice include:

• Apartment complexes
• Condominium complexes
• Office buildings
• Hospitals and medical centers
• Nursing homes and assisted living centers
• Gas stations
• Shopping malls
• Gyms and health clubs
• Strip malls
• Mobile home parks
• Movie theaters
• Ice and sports arenas
• Restaurants
• Churches and synagogues
• Schools
• Banks

Every parking lot with ice is a hazard for a serious slip and fall injury.

What is the liability for a Slip and Fall in a Parking Lot?

Michigan businesses are legally required to maintain safe conditions on their parking lots. This duty arises from Michigan’s premises liability law, which requires property owners to exercise reasonable care in protecting visitors from unreasonable risks of harm. This requirement is especially important when it comes to icy conditions in parking lots, one of the biggest winter safety hazards in the State of Michigan.

Property owners must clear snow and ice from sidewalks in their parking lots within a reasonable period after it accumulates in Michigan. This most often involves both snow removal and salting the parking lot to melt ice. In many cases, salting is necessary to prevent the refreezing of ice even in the absence of additional snowfall or rain.

Businesses must also be proactive when the weather forecast predicts frozen rain, sleet, or snowy conditions. Waiting until after the precipitation stops is often too late, as pedestrians traverse parking lots even during inclement weather. It is best to prevent the ice from forming in the first place by putting down salt even before or during a weather event.

How Effective is Salt to Melt Snow in an Icy Parking Lot?

Putting down salt not only can eliminate existing snow and ice but also serves to prevent the refreezing of ice later. Rock salt is most effective when temperatures are 20°F or higher after snowfall. Standard sodium chloride works by lowering the freezing point of water through a process called freezing point depression, making it an essential tool for maintaining safe walkways during typical Michigan winter conditions.

Salt becomes ineffective below 17 degrees Fahrenheit, requiring alternative treatments or mechanical removal. In extremely cold conditions, businesses may need to use calcium chloride or magnesium chloride-based products, which remain effective at much lower temperatures but cost significantly more than standard rock salt.

Businesses should apply de-icing materials to prevent refreezing, especially during overnight hours when temperatures typically drop. The most effective approach involves treating surfaces before they refreeze rather than waiting for ice to form. Many successful businesses pre-treat walkways with liquid brine before anticipated snow events.

What Should I Do if I Fall in an Icy Parking Lot?

The most important thing to do after a fall on ice in a parking lot is to seek medical attention. If possible, you should take photos and videos with your phone to prove the existence of ice and snow where you fell. This serves as important evidence in any lawsuit claim.

In addition, you should notify the owner of your fall and make a written report, if possible, to document the details of your incident. If there are eyewitnesses, try to get their names and contact information because their observations will be helpful to win your case.

Can I Sue for a Slip and Fall on Ice in a Michigan Parking Lot?

You can sue for a slip and fall on ice in a Michigan parking lot in many circumstances. To win your case, the evidence must establish the following legal requirements:

• You were lawfully on the property, such as a customer, patient, tenant, or visitor
• You fell on unsalted ice or snow in the parking lot
• The business failed to salt or otherwise reduce the icy condition
• You suffered an injury due to the fall on ice.

Our slip and fall on ice lawyers will gather the necessary evidence to prove and win your case. We will hire expert witnesses, like weather experts and snow removal experts, medical experts, and an economist, to prove your financial losses. We will also try to get surveillance video and other videos that captured your fall to prove fault of the parking lot owner.

Can I Sue for a Fall on Ice in a Public Parking Lot?

The law in Michigan grants immunity to municipalities and many government entities for a fall on ice in a public parking lot. This includes public schools, government buildings, and even city recreational centers. There is an exception if the ice gathered in a pothole or another defect in the parking lot itself. There may be a case against a private snow removal company, so you should contact our law firm so we can investigate that issue for you.

How Much Can I Sue for a Parking Lot Fall on Ice Settlement?

There is no settlement calculator to determine the exact amount of a slip and fall settlement in a parking lot. The settlement amount depends on several factors, including:

• The severity of your injuries
• The medical treatment you received for your injuries
• The need for future medical care and treatment, including surgery
• Your long-term prognosis of your injuries
• The cost of your medical treatment, past, present, and future
• Any wage loss or financial losses incurred because of the fall

Our award-winning lawyers win top settlements in slip and fall on ice in parking lot cases. Settlement amounts vary on a case-by-case basis, but we have won many settlements more than $1,000,000 for clients injured due to a slip and fall on ice in a parking lot.

Contact Our Michigan Fall on Ice in Parking Lot 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. 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: Jan., 2026