Who is Liable for Slip and Fall Accidents in Parking Lots?

Everyone has to walk across a parking lot in order to get inside a grocery store, movie theater, mall, or any other commercial business. But, there are often safety hazards in parking lots such as cracks in the sidewalk or potholes that can lead to slip and fall accidents. Who is liable for slip and fall accidents in parking lots? Here’s what you should know:

Identifying the Owner

The first step in determining liability for the accident is figuring out who owns the parking lot. The owner of the parking lot is typically either the owner of the business that is adjacent to the parking lot or the city. But in some cases, the owner of the parking lot is another business that is not related to the city or to the business adjacent to the parking lot.

The Cause of the Accident
You will also need to figure out why you fell. Was there a sudden change in elevation that caused you to lose your footing? Did you trip over a crack in the parking lot? Was the lighting so inadequate that you could not see the ground in front of you? If so, the property owner could be liable. But, if you fell because you tripped on your shoelace, the property owner would not liable for your injuries.

Proving Negligence
Whoever owns the parking lot is responsible for making sure there are no safety hazards that could lead to slip and fall accidents. But, this does not mean that the property owner is automatically held liable for every accident that occurs in the parking lot. In order to hold the property owner liable, you must be able to prove that he was negligent.

Property owners are negligent if they knew about the hazard, but failed to take action to fix it. They can also be negligent if they failed to inspect the property on a regular basis in order to identify potential hazards. An attorney may need to interview employees and witnesses, request security footage, and review maintenance records in order to find proof that the property owner knew or should have known about the hazardous condition. Proving negligence is key if you want to hold the property owner accountable and recover compensation for your injuries.

Have you been injured in a slip and fall accident in a parking lot? If so, contact James Rush at Rush Injury Law. James Rush will immediately begin to gather evidence related to the accident to prove that the property owner is liable for your injuries. Contact our office by calling 415-897-4801 or filling out the online form on our website www.rushinjurylaw.com to request a free consultation.