Parking garages and parking lots are spread all over the California state. These parking structures allow people to easily get into businesses, schools, retail establishments, office buildings and airports. Parking garages and lots offer convenience, but these can present dangers to pedestrians as well. Every year, thousands of people slip and fall in these structures due to the poor design or poor maintenance of the property. Under some circumstances, those slipped, fell and injured on California parking lots may be entitled to pursue compensation for damages from the concerned property’s lessee or owner.
Reasons for the Slip and Fall Injury
The most frequently reported injuries to occur in countrywide parking lots are slip and fall injuries. The most probable causes of such a slip and fall accident includes the following.
- Substances such as oil spilled on this area or the consequent slippery surfaces;
- Debris;
- Uneven or cracked pavement;
- Damaged, cracked, poorly located or missing tire stops;
- Parking garages with missing banisters of the stairwell;
- Adverse weather conditions; and,
- Poor lighting.
The Steps You Must Take After an Injury-Causing Fall
When you are hurt in a California parking lot accident, taking the below-mentioned measures can help protect your legal rights and health.
- Seek Immediate Medical Attention: Act fast to get the necessary medical attention to prevent aggravation of the injuries and protect your rights. You should do this regardless of whether there is any external sign of the injuries – what if you are internally hurt?
- Report Your Accident: You have to report the slip and fall accident to the parking garage or parking lot owner or the concerned property’s manager and the police. Quickly reporting your accident will set off a significant paper trial, which is done to substantiate it.
- Write Down the Accident Facts: You have to record what you remember about the incident, including the time and date of your fall, the way you fell, plus the symptoms you experience. Do this step as soon as possible.
- Photograph That Parking Area: Take photos of the place where you fell, and do not forget to include conditions that caused the fall in your set of pictures.
- Get Witness Details: If any person saw the event, ask for his or her contact details and for a statement with regards to what he or she saw.