Parking Lot Slip and Fall Accidents

Going just about anywhere outside of the downtown area of Boston means you are probably taking an automobile and that you will probably have to park in a parking lot. Parking lots can hold thousands of cars and they may hold only a few. Regardless, parking lots are an area of high foot traffic and can be an area that is ripe for slip and fall injuries to occur. If you or a loved one was seriously injured as the result of a slip and fall which occurred in a parking lot, contact the slip and fall experts at Altman & Altman LLP today.

Parking lots provide a space to keep our cars when we go into an establishment to grab a coffee, get a bite to eat or go prepare our annual taxes. Parking lots are primarily large square footage areas of paved cement or blacktop which provide a hard, smooth surface and are generally safe to traverse on foot.

However, as with many other surfaces, parking lots may become seriously dangerous in the event of severe weather, such as heavy rains or snow, ice and hail, which may cause a slick and unsafe surface to develop. If a wrong step is placed onto the surface of an icy or wet parking lot, it may result in a slip and fall, which can result in serious injuries, such as:

• Twisted, sprained or broken ankles
• Broken hips
• Concussions as a result of head trauma from hitting the ground
• Knee ligament or cartilage injuries
• Deep lacerations or contusions

Injuries are especially prevalent during the winter time in Massachusetts, when many people are walking through parking lots which may be covered in snow. This compacting of the snow can create spots of severely clipper ice which may not be easily seen by other people walking, and can lead to slip and fall injuries.

As is the same as within their place of business, property owners, business owners and property managers have a responsibility to keep their parking lots free of hazardous conditions so that their visitors can enjoy a reasonably safe environment when traversing the parking lot to their destination.

This means that property owners have a responsibility to ensure that slippery parking lots are plowed of snow and iced during severe winter weather, and that slick spots are sanded or properly cautioned against if it is known to be a hazardous spot of the parking lot.

However slip and falls don’t only have to come as a result of ice or water. Loose gravel, dirt, or other debris may also cause a dangerous slip and fall. Similarly, a parking lot which has uneven surfaces may cause someone to trip and fall, which can also lead to serious injuries. Parking lots and their major walkways should be free of dangerous debris and obstructions, or otherwise noted that they exist so people can be made aware.

If you or someone you love was seriously injured after slipping or tripping and falling in a parking lot, and you believe the incident could have easily been avoided if someone took the proper precautions they are legally required to take, contact a personal injury attorney from Altman & Altman LLP today to get started on a claim for damages, which may help pay for medical expenses or help recoup from money lost from being unable to work.

We have over 50 years of experience holding negligent property owners accountable for their errors which cause harm to our clients. With locations in Boston, Cambridge and Salem, we service those injured from all over Massachusetts.

Call us for a free consultation to go over the details of your specific situation today at 617.492.3000 or toll-free at 800.481.6199. We are available 24/7.