In New York, and throughout the country, certain areas are dangerous for motorists and pedestrians. For instance, most people know that intersections are highly dangerous sections of roadway, requiring caution and alertness, whether a person is behind the wheel of a motor vehicle or traveling on foot. In a parking garage, the risk for fatal collision is particularly high.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics studied parking garage safety for 10 years. Results of the study show that approximately 3% of employee deaths occur in parking garages. In fact, at least 15% of 206 annual worker fatalities are caused by reckless drivers in parking garages who hit pedestrians.
Property owners are obligated to keep their premises safe
There are numerous things a parking garage owner can do to improve safety for pedestrians and other visitors. The following list provides several examples:
- High-level security patrol
- LED signs to warn pedestrians of drivers who speed
- Closed-circuit surveillance systems with license plate capture capability
- Highly visible speed bumps strategically placed throughout a garage
If a property owner is aware of a latent danger or defect in a parking garage, he or she is obligated to warn patrons and guests of the hazard.
Loss of a loved one in a fatal collision
Be it in a New York parking garage or other location, the grief of losing a loved one is intensified when his or her death was preventable, were it not for another person’s negligence or reckless behavior. State law allows an immediate family member, such as a spouse or adult child, to seek restitution on behalf of a deceased loved one by filing a wrongful death claim in a civil court. If a property owner’s negligence was a contributing factor in a fatality, a premises liability claim may be filed, as well.