Most people in Norfolk park their vehicles in parking lots multiple times during their busy day when they go to the grocery store, mall, doctor’s office, restaurant, to work, or any other location. While many do so without incident, other individuals can be seriously injured in a slip and fall accident. When the property owner’s or business owner’s negligence was the cause, they may have a premises liability claim for compensation for their injuries.
Reasons Behind Parking Lot Slip and Fall Accidents
Property owners and businesses have a duty to regularly inspect and maintain their parking lots and to warn guests of hazardous conditions. When they fail to do so, they could be found negligent and responsible for compensating the victim of a slip and fall accident. Common ways that owners are negligent include:
- Ice. When parking lots become icy, they can quickly become treacherous for people walking to and from their cars. While Norfolk does not get much snow, we do get some in the winter. A parking lot can become extremely dangerous when the owner fails to have it promptly plowed.
- Cracks and potholes. A parking lot’s asphalt or concrete surface can become cracked or develop potholes due to weather, traffic, and time. Owners have a duty to regularly inspect their parking lots for these conditions and make repairs as necessary. When they fail to do so, individuals can slip, trip, and fall on the hard pavement and suffer a serious injury.
- Inadequate lighting. If a parking lot has inadequate lighting due to a lack of lights or broken ones, it can make it impossible for people to see icy conditions, cracks in the asphalt, or other tripping hazards.
- Debris. Owners must also have employees regularly check for debris left by people using the parking lot and remove it. Otherwise, an unsuspecting patron could slip on a spilled drink, paper, or other items that create a slip and fall danger.
You could suffer broken or fractured bones, spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and other injuries that cause long-term pain, limitations in mobility, and changes to your memory, concentration, and reasoning in a parking lot slip and fall incident. You need the assistance of an experienced slip and fall attorney who can prove the owner’s negligence—which is not easy to do—and your right to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Call our office today to schedule your free consultation with a member of our legal team.
|
Related Links: |