Citizens in Split Win Compensation After Council Fails to Clean Icy Streets

A court in the Dalmatian city of Split has ruled on Monday that the Split City Council must pay compensation to those who were injured after snow hit the Mediterranean coastal city back in the winter of 2012…

The court ruled in favour of two citizens who took the local city council to court after falling and breaking radial bones in their forearms on icy streets in 2012. The pair claimed that the council, which was then under the leadership of former Mayor Željko Kerum, did not do enough to clear snow and ice from the roads, making them unsafe to walk on. The case has cost Split Council just over 6,500 euros (including court costs) and opens the door for others who were injured and have cases pending.

“The Council will probably have a problem. We were aware that we would have to pay. The total amount we will know once all the cases have been dealt with,” said current Mayor Ivo Baldasar.

The court ruled that it was the responsiblity of the City to make sure the streets were clean from all snow and ice, and to make sure they were kept that way. Split hospital records show that in the days following the blast of snow, at least 550 people had come in to be treated from falls.