Parking lot repair is an often overlooked aspect of running a business or managing properties in Nashville, TN. However, well-maintained parking lots help a business function, look good, be safe, and avoid lot accidents or personal injury claims.
If you are a Nashville parking lot owner that doesn’t prioritize parking lot repair, it reflects poorly on your company and puts customers at risk. This blog will discuss common parking lot liabilities, the risk lot owners have when maintenance is neglected, tips to avoid vehicle and personal injury lawsuits, and future parking lot repair services for preventive car park maintenance.
What Are the Hazards on the Parking Lot?
Parking lot Repair of well-maintained car parks is critical to the safety and enjoyment of employees, tenants, customers (and their guests), and any other party who may frequent that area. The most common car park liabilities associated with car park hazards include:
- Faded Parking Lot Striping – faded or missing lines can confuse drivers, potentially leading to car park accidents. It is essential to regularly assess and address any fading or missing striping to maintain a safe asphalt lot environment. Broken or uneven pavement can also lead to confusion and potential accidents for drivers. It is essential to inspect the pavement and fix it regularly.
- ADA Compliance – it is important to periodically assess the accessibility of the car park for individuals with disabilities, ensuring that handicapped spaces and ramps are appropriately marked and functioning.
- Insufficient Lighting – inadequate lighting can also create a hazardous situation for drivers and pedestrians. It is essential to regularly inspect and maintain lighting in the car park to ensure safety.
- Damaged Pavement – damaged pavement can create hazardous driving and walking conditions. It is essential to regularly inspect and repair any cracks, potholes, or other damage to maintain a safe environment.
- Surrounding Landscaping – overgrown or unkempt landscaping can obstruct driver visibility and create potential hazards. It is essential to regularly maintain the surrounding landscaping to ensure clear visibility and safe conditions.
- Improper Drainage – inadequate drainage can lead to pooling water and slippery conditions, posing a potential hazard for drivers and pedestrians. It is important to regularly inspect and address any improper drainage issues to maintain safe conditions.
Who is Responsible for Vehicle & Personal Injuries that happen in a Commercial Parking Lot?
Business owners are responsible when the incident can be directly traced to their negligence. As a lot owner, you must maintain a safe environment for employees, tenants, customers, and others who may frequent the area to avoid significant injuries. Neglecting car park repair and maintenance can result in liability for any vehicle or personal injuries on the premises.
Note: The Injured Person Must Prove their Vehicle or Personal Injury Claim that happened in your parking lot.
According to parking lot accident laws, if someone suffered injuries in your lot due to a pothole, their injuries do not automatically mean that you are held accountable. Instead, according to fault determination rules, they must prove that the lot owner owed a duty and was responsible for their injury.
If a pothole is seen or the lot owner has placed caution or yield signs around it, they cannot claim their injury resulted from their negligence. Furthermore, if the hazard claim is recently filed and the courts do not feel the parking lot owner had adequate time to correct or warn the public of the risk, they may not have a case.
More Information every Nashville Parking Lot Owner Should Know
The lot owner or property manager must have adequate time to respond or should have reasonably known about the condition. The person filing the claim must establish that negligence exists. To do that, they must determine that the owner or manager knew a risk and did not take reasonable action or common courtesy to fix it.
The person filing must pass the prudent person test. Furthermore, they must show that their actions did not contribute to the accident. Another person might have detoured away from the hazard; if such risks were noticeable. If the pothole is big enough, the courts might assume that the driver had the opportunity to see and avoid it; therefore, they should not have an injury claim. For further information on parking lot accidents, determining fault, property damage, legal rights, insurance claim, medical bills, injured victims, insurance settlement, reporting lot accidents, private property parking lot accidents, or car park slip and fall liability questions, make sure you have your insurance information and schedule a free consultation with a personal injury attorney or car accident attorney.
How Nashville Business Owners can Use Parking Lot Repair to Mitigate risk
Develop a regular parking lot maintenance schedule.
One of the most important ways to take care of your property is by developing a car park repair schedule. A proper maintenance schedule should outline the lifecycle of your lot, and it will help you keep track of lot maintenance liability issues.
Why bother with a parking lot maintenance schedule? For the same reason you take your vehicle in for maintenance. Keeping your parking lot safe and working can mitigate risk, extend its lifespan, and address problems while they are still minor, leading to long-term savings.
Parking lot Repair – Refers to actions intended to extend a pavement’s lifespan. Pothole Repair, Asphalt patching, Crack filling, and Infrared Asphalt Repair.
Parking Lot Sealcoating – Refers to a protective coating applied over the top layer of asphalt to extend its lifespan and improve its appearance.
Parking Lot Striping – Refers to the line painting done on a parking lot to designate spaces, lanes, handicap areas, arrows, and other ADA-compliant markings.
Parking Lot Landscaping – Refers to the upkeep and maintenance of any grass, trees, plants, or flower beds in a parking lot.
Improper Drainage Checks – Refers to checking and maintaining any catch basins, drain grates, or stormwater pipes in a parking lot to prevent pooling and flooding.
Conclusion
Accidents happen. When it comes to parking lot liability, you do not want to be caught by surprise; it’s crucial to maintain it properly to mitigate risk and liability. By developing a regular maintenance schedule that includes parking lot repair, sealcoating, striping, landscaping, and drainage checks, you can ensure your lot remains safe for all users. Taking these steps can also save you money in the long run by extending the lifespan of your pavement. Don’t wait until it’s too late – keep up with regular maintenance and address any issues as soon as they arise. If you’re a Nashville car park lot owner looking for preventive maintenance services, please call us today. Gaddes Strategic, LLC would be happy to help with all of your parking lot repair needs!