If you are visiting a busy downtown area, parking your car before a sports game, or coming home to your apartment, the only thing that you should have to worry about is finding a parking spot. However, parking garages and public lots are often the site of severe injuries if property owners don’t maintain their condition and promote safety for visitors. If you’ve suffered an injury due to subpar safety standards in a parking area, understanding your rights is the first step toward obtaining the compensation you deserve.
Injuries Stemming from Structural Damage to Garages and Parking Lots
Injuries in parking lots and garages can often be traced back to structural failings that property owners neglect. These hazards can include:
Potholes and Uneven Surfaces: When left unaddressed, these can cause trips and falls or damage vehicles.
Dilapidated Structures: Crumbling concrete or rusting supports pose risks of collapse or falling debris.
Faulty Staircases and Handrails: Unstable or inadequately supported railings along staircases can give a false sense of security and lead to life-threatening falls.
Property owners, including those who maintain parking facilities, are required by law and legally obligated to ensure their property is safe for visitors, especially if they openly invite the public to the property. Failures in this duty can render them liable for injuries that occur as a result. To pursue a claim, the injured party must typically demonstrate that:
- a hazard existed that could cause an accident to occur
- the property owner knew about this hazard and did not make timely renovations or repairs to address the issue
- the hazard directly caused the injury of the injured party
Just because you suffered an injury on someone’s property doesn’t mean that you have a slam dunk case that will win in a court of law. If you were injured due to a garage or parking lot structural damage or lack of maintenance, you may find it beneficial to consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer to get you through the next steps. Attorneys can help gather the evidence necessary to prove the causal link between your injury and the hazard, as well as preserve the evidence of a hazard before it is swept under the rug by a property owner.
The Role of Lighting in Parking Lot and Garage Safety
Sometimes, the dangers of a parking lot or garage can be amplified by another issue – lighting. The safety of pedestrians and drivers in parking lots and garages heavily depends on adequate lighting. Low-light conditions increase the risk of accidents by obscuring drivers’ and pedestrians’ visibility, but they can also heighten the likelihood of crime, creating an unsafe environment for everyone.
The presence of well-placed, functional lighting in parking lots can drastically reduce these risks by enhancing visibility and deterring criminal activity. Notably, the US National Institute of Justice found that car break-ins were reduced and store patronage increased when adequate parking lot lighting was installed in various mall locations. Making a parking facility safe benefits both parties – visitors can stay safe while property owners see an increase in traffic and a reduction in potential liability.
However, just because these lighting upgrades seem like a win-win situation does not mean every property owner is vigilant in maintaining their facilities. If you were harmed due to inadequate lighting – property damage, physical attacks, or an accident in conjunction with other structural damage – you deserve compensation that makes up for the injuries, medical bills, and hardships you are now facing.
Contact Probinsky & Cole today to speak to a member of our team and learn how our attorneys can help after you or a family member suffers an injury at a parking facility.
