Have you Cleared the Path Outside of Your House?

[KillerB]

I live in a reasonably affluent area with good neighbours who normally help each other out. However, I am the only person in the street and for several streets close by that has cleared the path to the house and the path outside the property. People seem to be obsessed with the Daily Mail scare stories that if somebody slips on it when you've cleared it then you are liable. If you clear it properly people won't slip on it and if they do then you as long as you weren't negligent you still can't be sued. What would you prefer:

1. Somebody slips outside your house, breaks an arm or their coccyx but you are not to blame;

2. Nobody slips outside your house because you cleared the snow away


Rant against my wussy neighbours over.

[benread]

I am in the Lord Adonnis camp - this Health & Safety culture has gone too far! Of course you should clear the path and you should not worry about being sued!

[DRT]

I have not cleared the pavement outside my house and neither have most of the residents of my street. One brave soldier two doors up the hill has done so. When walking up the hill this morning I was lulled into a false sense of security whilst walking sure-footedly on the crisp snow and then nearly fell on my a*se when I stepped on the black ice that had formed on the area that had been cleared. It's not always a good idea to try to defy nature.

Anyway, the Daily Mail "you might get sued" story doesn't worry me. What worries me is that if you try to clear the snow from the pavement on a day ending in a y while Saturn is in line with Uranus your hair might turn yellow and your teeth will fall out. It's a fact! I heard it on the BBC

[KillerB]

Your neighbour didn't clear it properly. Always finish off with some seasoning - no need for pepper but a bit of salt does wonders. A cheap alternative is sand which doesn't melt the snow but does provide grip.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I cleared the path from the pavement up the hillto the front door and also cleared the door step. I didn't clear the pavement outside my house or the road outside my house because I couldn't find the energy to shovel 12 inches of snow where no-one walks.

[Overtired and emotional]

The trouble is that there is a whole industry based on wide boys offering money to people for their claims. You can see it advertised on taxis and daytime TV. You would be suprised what people will say for a quick £150 - £300.

That there is an industry in sourcing claims corrupts the whole process and feeds the Dail Mail. Oh for the days when people with real problems went off to find a solution..........

[JacobH]

As an historic aside: at Common Law maintenance of the public highway was the responsibility of the inhabitants of a parish at large; if snow and ice were not cleared it would have been possible to issue proceedings for non-feasance against all the residents. Somewhat interesting how the situation has reversed!

[JacobH]

As an historic aside: at Common Law maintenance of the public highway was the responsibility of the inhabitants of a parish at large; if snow and ice were not cleared it would have been possible to issue proceedings for non-feasance against all the residents. Somewhat interesting how the situation has reversed!

[Glenn E.]

As an historic aside: at Common Law maintenance of the public highway was the responsibility of the inhabitants of a parish at large; if snow and ice were not cleared it would have been possible to issue proceedings for non-feasance against all the residents. Somewhat interesting how the situation has reversed!

That's sort of how it works in the US, as I recall. At least I'm pretty sure it was something like that in Nebraska when I was growing up.

You, the property owner, are responsible for maintaining and clearing public pathways that cross your property. Typically that is limited to sidewalks, but I have a friend who has a road that crosses his property and he's required to maintain it (the details are too complicated to explain here). If you do not properly maintain and clear said public pathways and someone is injured while using them, you are liable.

So here in the US you'd want to clear off all that snow ASAP. Deliberately NOT clearing it would be begging for a lawsuit. Not clearing it adequately would also be begging for a lawsuit.

[DRT]

So here in the US you'd want to clear off all that snow ASAP. Deliberately NOT clearing it would be begging for a lawsuit. Not clearing it adequately would also be begging for a lawsuit.

Is that why they call it "The Land of the Free, and the Home of the Path-clearers"?

[Glenn E.]

No no... you a free to sue anyone you want, and you have to be brave to do anything that could possibly get you sued. Because it will.