Parking garages and pedestrian safety
Whether you are trying to get to your car in a downtown structure or hurrying across a busy parking garage at the airport, pedestrian accidents lurk around nearly every corner. Since parking structures were built for the ease of use central to drivers, pedestrian safety is often overlooked in the design and maintenance of even the most modern structure.
What can commonly lead to pedestrian injuries in a parking structure?
- Environmental factors: Pennsylvanians understand the role the weather can play in the safety of both drivers and pedestrians. Without proper drainage and maintenance, pools of water, ice and snow can become dangerous hazards for pedestrians. Whether they are forced to step into traffic lanes to avoid slick spots or the slippery pavement causes them to fall into the path of a vehicle, these weather factors must be cleaned and maintained to prevent accidents.
- Engine leaks: Even a new, well-maintained vehicle is not immune from leaking various fluids. Fluids can include oil, coolant or water dripping from the air conditioning system. Unfortunately, these fluids can pool or stain the pavement causing dangerous slippery spots for pedestrians.
- Poor maintenance and construction: With these hazards in mind, the owners and operators of a parking structure must take steps to maintain the safety of pedestrians. From fixing broken pavement and stairs to ensuring there is adequate lighting and structure security, there are numerous human elements to reducing accidents.
If you were injured while walking through a parking garage, you might suffer serious injuries such as head trauma, spinal cord damage, broken bones, crush injuries or amputation. After a severe collision, you will likely face mounting medical debt. It is wise to seek the guidance of an experienced attorney who can provide answers regarding your options for recovering monetary compensation.