Slip and Fall on Ice at a Michigan Storage Facility

If you were injured in a slip and fall on ice at a Michigan storage facility, you may be able to sue for compensation. Storage facilities owe paying customers a legal duty to keep walking and driving areas reasonably safe during winter conditions. This includes salting icy sidewalks and driveways and shoveling snow away from entry doors.

These slip and fall accidents at storage units are treated as premises liability claims and frequently result in serious injuries, including fractures, back and neck trauma, shoulder tears, and head injuries requiring emergency medical attention. Call our Michigan slip and fall injury lawyers at The Buckfire Law Firm now if you fell at a storage facility and want to pursue a claim for compensation and medical expenses.

• Michigan Premises Liability Law for Storage Units
• What is the legal basis for suing a storage facility for a slip and fall on ice?
• What Should I Do after a Slip and Fall on Ice at a Storage Unit?
• Start your Michigan Storage Facility Injury Claim Now

Largest Storage Facilities in Michigan

The largest storage facilities in Michigan are:

• Public Storage: One of the largest self-storage operators in the U.S., with numerous locations across Michigan in areas like Warren, Troy, and Canton.
• Extra Space Storage: The second-largest operator nationally, with many facilities throughout the state, including Southgate, Shelby Township, and Ypsilanti.
• U-Haul Holding Company: While known for truck rentals, U-Haul also operates a large network of self-storage facilities and centers in Michigan, such as in Detroit and Troy.
• CubeSmart: Another major national player that has a presence in Michigan, with locations including Ypsilanti.
• National Storage Affiliates (NSA): A large operator that includes brands like iStorage, which has multiple locations in Michigan (e.g., in Redford and Roseville).
• Life Storage: A significant company in the industry that operates facilities in the state.
• National Storage Centers: A brand with numerous facilities in Michigan, including Detroit, Redford, and Ann Arbor.
• Michigan Storage Centers: A locally owned and operated company with a significant presence in the state, based in the Detroit area.
• EZ Storage: With a history dating back to 1971, EZ Storage has developed over fifty facilities in seven states, with several locations in Michigan, including in Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Farmington Hills.
• Pogoda Companies: A Michigan-based company headquartered in Farmington Hills that specializes in the management, investment, and brokerage of self-storage and manufactured housing properties.

In addition, there are many other smaller facilities throughout the entire State of Michigan.

Michigan Premises Liability Law for Storage Units

Premises liability in Michigan, as applied to self-storage facilities, mini-warehouses, and climate-controlled storage buildings, requires property owners to maintain reasonably safe conditions for customers. Under Michigan premises liability law, customers accessing their rented units are classified as “invitees” who are entitled to the highest duty of care under state law.

Storage facility property owners and management companies must regularly inspect paved drive lanes, loading areas, pedestrian walkways, and unit entrances for snow and ice hazards.

You can sue multiple entities for a personal injury at a storage site, including:

• The property owner who holds title to the land and buildings
• Management companies contracted to operate daily facility functions
• Contracted snow and ice removal services responsible for winter maintenance
• Tenant associations in larger storage complexes

If a property owner hires a snow removal contractor, the property owner may still be liable if the contractor fails to properly maintain safe conditions, resulting in hazardous ice or snow.

This shift represents a major victory for injured victims, as the obvious doctrine had been used by negligent property owners and their insurance companies to deny fair compensation to people with legitimate fall injury claims.

What is the legal basis for suing a storage facility for a slip and fall on ice?

Storage facility operators must exercise reasonable care to protect invitees from unreasonable risks created by snow and ice accumulation on their property. Under Michigan law, property owners owe customers visiting for business purposes a duty to inspect for hazards and take reasonable steps to address dangerous conditions.

Reasonable winter maintenance steps typically include:

• Plowing drive lanes, parking areas, and the parking lot after measurable snowfall
• Salting or applying sand to frequently used aisles and walkways
• Addressing refreezing issues at shaded unit rows where ice persists
• Placing warning signs or cones where sheet ice cannot be immediately removed
• Maintaining adequate lighting in areas customers access during dark hours

Failure to address icy conditions in these areas, especially the parking lot, can result in visitor slips and potential liability for the property owner.

Storage facilities should maintain written winter maintenance plans that include detailed logs of salting applications, plowing schedules, and regular inspections for icy conditions. Courts examine whether facilities have protocols for monitoring weather forecasts and responding proactively to winter storm conditions.

Actions that may support negligence include:

• Failing to inspect drive aisles for days after a winter storm
• Ignoring repeated customer complaints about icy conditions in specific areas
• Blocking drainage with snow piles that create runoff and refreezing problems
• Using inadequate amounts of salt or sand for the size and traffic volume of the facility

What constitutes “reasonable” care varies based on facility size and resources. However, all facilities must respond to dangerous ice conditions within a reasonable time frame after becoming aware of the hazard.

Factors to Consider in Michigan Storage Unit Ice Cases

Storage unit slip and fall cases involving ice are highly fact-dependent, with courts examining multiple categories of evidence to determine liability and fault percentages. Understanding these factors helps injured victims and their legal team build stronger premises liability claims.

Weather-Related Factors:

• Timing of the most recent snowfall relative to when the fall occurred
• Temperature fluctuations causing thaw-and-refreeze cycles that create black ice
• Whether the accident happened during active precipitation or hours after weather cleared
• Duration of subfreezing temperatures that prevented natural melting

Property Condition Factors:

• Slope and drainage patterns of drive aisles that channel water toward unit doors
• Lighting quality in areas where customers walk, especially during early morning or evening hours
• Presence of salt or sand granules visible where the slip and fall accident occurred
• Evidence of previous ice accumulation or customer complaints about the same location

Operational Factors:

• Whether the storage facility maintained written logs documenting salting and plowing activities
• Training provided to staff regarding winter hazard identification and response
• Existence of prior slip and fall incidents or insurance claims involving icy conditions
• Budget allocation and contracted services for winter maintenance operations

Customer Behavior Factors:

• Type of footwear worn by the injured person and its appropriateness for winter conditions
• Whether alternative cleared pathways were available and unused
• Evidence of rushing, distraction, or other behaviors that contributed to the accident
• The injured person’s familiarity with winter conditions and reasonable precautions

Courts also examine the storage facility’s response after the accident, including whether management immediately addressed the hazardous condition or continued allowing other customers to access dangerous areas without adequate warnings.

Thorough documentation and evidence are essential for recovering compensation in a slip and fall case, as they help establish liability, causation, and the extent of injuries sustained.

What Should I Do after a Slip and Fall on Ice at a Storage Unit?

Actions taken immediately following a storage unit slip and fall accident can significantly influence the success of a future premises liability claim. Quick thinking and documentation often make the difference between a successful recovery and a denied claim.

Report the Incident Immediately: Contact the storage facility office or on-site manager right away to report your accident. Request that management complete a formal incident report documenting the exact time, specific location within the facility, current weather conditions, and any witnesses present. Obtain a copy of this report for your records, as some facilities may later deny the incident occurred.

Document the Scene Thoroughly: Take multiple photos or videos of the icy area where you fell, showing the lack of visible salt or sand treatment. Capture images of snow accumulation patterns, drainage issues from roofs or gutters that may have contributed to ice formation, lighting conditions that may have obscured the hazard, and the front of your specific unit number or building row for location reference.

Gather Witness Information: Collect names and contact information from anyone who witnessed your fall or observed the icy conditions before they were treated. This includes other storage customers, facility employees, delivery drivers, or maintenance workers who may have seen the hazardous area earlier that day.

Seek Medical Attention Promptly: Seek medical attention as soon as possible after your fall. Visit an emergency room, urgent care center, or your primary care doctor on the same day as your accident to have injuries properly documented. Prompt medical evaluation is crucial not only for your health but also for legal reasons, as medical records created close to the time of injury carry more weight than delayed treatment. Seeking medical attention ensures that the connection between your fall and resulting injuries is clearly established in critical evidence.

Even if you initially feel only minor discomfort, adrenaline and shock can mask serious injuries like concussions, fractures, or soft tissue damage that become apparent hours later. Prompt medical attention protects both your health and your legal rights.

What is the Compensation for a Storage Unit Ice Injury?

Successful premises liability claims can provide comprehensive compensation covering both the immediate financial impact and long-term consequences of storage unit slip and fall injuries.

Economic Damages: These damages are compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, loss of future income, and other financial losses.

Non-Economic Damages: Non-economic compensation addresses the human impact of serious slip and fall injuries beyond mere financial losses. These damages include pain and suffering endured during recovery, emotional distress from the traumatic accident, anxiety about walking in winter conditions, sleep disruption caused by injury-related discomfort, and loss of enjoyment of previously loved activities like recreational sports or caring for young children.

Your settlement will depend on the type of injuries, medical treatment, financial losses, and how the injury has impacted your life.  Our award-winning attorneys win big settlements in slip and fall cases, including many for over $1,000,000.  We use strategies that other firms overlook to win the highest personal injury settlements in Michigan.

Start your Michigan Storage Facility Injury Claim Now

Call The Buckfire Law Firm now to start your claim for compensation after a fall on ice at a Michigan storage facility.  We will start working on your case immediately.

It costs no money to start your case, and it is free unless you win!

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: Dec., 2025