If you were hurt in a slip and fall accident, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries if you can prove that the negligence of the property or business owner caused your fall. One reason that you may have fallen that you do not want to overlook is inadequate lighting of the area where you fell.
Locations Where Inadequate Lighting Causes Slip and Fall Accidents
Poor lighting can make any place dangerous to walk through. However, falls caused by inadequate lighting most often occur in these locations:
- Parking lots
- Parking garages
- Pool areas
- Walkways and sidewalks
- Entrances to apartment buildings
- Stairwells and staircases
- Hallways in rental properties, office buildings, and other similar locations
Why Insufficient Lighting Causes Falls
When the lighting is poor, this can be the cause of or a contributing factor in a slip and fall accident. Here are the two ways inadequate lighting makes residences and businesses unsafe:
- Making a property dangerous. In some cases, the poor lighting makes an otherwise safe location unsafe. For example, a victim could fail to see a curb in a parking lot or at the end of a sidewalk if the light is not sufficiently bright.
- Hiding hazardous conditions. Inadequate lighting can mask some hazardous conditions that a slip and fall victim could see if the area was lit up more. Spilled liquids, torn carpeting, cracks in asphalt, and broken steps can be impossible to see and avoid in the dark.
Businesses and property owners have a duty to maintain their properties in a safe manner—including providing adequate lighting of the property. The lighting could be insufficient for a number of reasons:
- The property owner failed to replace light bulbs or to fix or replace broken light fixtures.
- The property was designed improperly and did not provide for sufficient lighting.
- The property owner knew of a hazardous condition caused by broken light fixtures or bulbs and did not post a warning sign until the problem could be fixed.
What to Do If You Suffered Injuries Due to Poor Lighting
If you suffered injuries in a slip and fall accident caused by insufficient lighting, you should file an incident report with the property or business owner immediately to document your fall. You should also retain an experienced premises liability attorney as soon as possible. They can advise you on other steps you need to take and go up against the insurance company for the compensation you deserve. Call our Norfolk office today to schedule your free case evaluation to learn how our knowledgeable lawyers can help you.
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