In New Berlin, seasonal conditions can create recurring hazards that property owners are expected to manage:
- Winter and early spring: ice on steps, snow piled near entrances, and slick surfaces that weren’t treated or cleared.
- Rain and freeze-thaw cycles: wet floors near doorways, puddling in parking lots, or condensation that becomes a slip risk.
- Day-to-day lighting: dark stairwells, poorly lit loading areas, or glare from headlights where pedestrians walk.
Insurers frequently argue that the hazard was “temporary,” “obvious,” or “not there long enough” to fix. That’s why your timeline matters—especially if the property was cleaned, repaired, or re-secured before anyone documented it.


