Many places inherently have high slip and fall risks. A supermarket can have a lot of spills, slippery surfaces and trip hazards to cause falls. The same applies to restaurants, hotels, factories and other locations where obstructing equipment and liquid spills are common.
Parking lots might not look like places with high risks of slip-and-fall injuries. They’re big and open spaces, so some would think there shouldn’t be too many obstacles to trip onto. On the contrary, parking lots have a lot of hidden slip-and-fall dangers that can catch people unaware.
Slip and fall hazards in parking lots
They may not be immediately recognizable, but the following hazards can cause people to slip or trip in parking lots:
- Antifreeze and oil spills
- Cracks and potholes on the ground
- Damaged features such as tire stops, drainage systems, manhole covers, ramps and curbs
- Ice-slick surfaces
- Speed bumps
Many of these hazards are the result of poor property maintenance. Parking lot operators are responsible for keeping their property safe and should regularly inspect the space for damages and risks to fix.
Filing a premises liability lawsuit
If you slip and fall in a parking lot, you may be able to hold the parking lot operator responsible for your injuries through a premises liability lawsuit. You’ll have to take note of the operator of the parking lot. A public parking lot might mean the city is responsible for your injuries. But if it’s the parking lot of a business or apartment complex, you may have to name those establishments in your lawsuit.
Note that Texas observes modified comparative negligence regarding slip-and-fall cases. This means that the damages you’re entitled to will be adjusted according to the level of fault determined by the court. The property owner you’re suing could use this opportunity to place most of the blame on you, reducing your award. And if the court determines that your share of the fault was more than 50%, you may be unable to recover compensation. Consider speaking with legal counsel before filing a lawsuit to determine if you have a solid case.