When damage to a vehicle or worse, injury to a person occurs on your commercial property, you probably have one question looming in your mind; “Am I Liable?” Odds are, if you knew about the issue, such as a pothole or crack, and did not rectify the issue in a timely manner, you can most likely be held liable.
“All Maryland businesses, corporations, employers and business owners have a legal obligation and responsibility to properly maintain all areas of their property. This includes parking lots, driveways and sidewalks…these accidents can ultimately lead to life altering injuries that can take significant amounts of time, energy and money…management companies, cleaning companies, outsourced security companies and other corporate entities can also be held responsible for your injuries,” warns one Baltimore, Maryland lawyer who advertises himself as a “Harford County Parking Lot Accident Attorney.”
“Potholes and sinkholes can easily develop in parking lots and sidewalks, especially during the winter. Property owners have a responsibility to make sure either that these hazards are repaired or that people walking and driving on their property are warned against them,” added a New York attorney who advertises himself on his website as a “Bronx Sinkhole Injury Attorney” and a “Brooklyn Parking Lot and Sidewalk Injury Attorney.”
What’s worse, if someone is injured on your property as a result of your negligence and improperly maintained premises, your insurance may not cover the damages. Improperly maintained premises – including those awful potholes that sometimes spring up overnight – are considered the fault of the policyholder. You and you alone are responsible for maintaining your parking lot, sidewalks, and driveways. But no one said you couldn’t ask for a little help.
PTG Enterprises, Your Baltimore Asphalt Contractor
PTG Enterprises is a full service commercial asphalt contractor in the Baltimore, Maryland area. We have been in the asphalt paving business for more than a decade, paving thousands of miles of asphalt lots. If your asphalt needs patching give us a call today! Failing to patch a crack or pothole allows water to penetrate the surface, slowly degrading the asphalt from the inside out, worsening the problem or causing premature failure of the pavement.
PTG Enterprises can also help with missing signage and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.
- Missing Signage: Not only do new paint, signs and wheel stops give your parking lot a “WOW” finished look, but missing signage and improperly marked parking lots could put you at risk for lawsuits.
- ADA Compliance: Americans with Disabilities Act, Title III guarantees persons with disabilities are provided accommodations and access equal to, or similar to, the general public into commercial facilities and areas of public accommodation. These standards are enforceable under civil rights law, meaning a person is able to file a lawsuit if he/she has “reasonable grounds” for believing that discrimination has occurred, rather than filing a grievance after the fact. A civil law suit can be filed with penalties of up to $100,000 imposed per offense.
Our crews work quickly and professionally. So why would you call anyone else?
If you have any questions about our blog, “Am I Liable? Potholes, Trip/Fall Hazards, Missing Signage, & ADA Compliance,” please contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777, or click here today! You can check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
Sources:
Parking Lots Potholes are Valuable – to Attorneys and Plaintiffs
Tags: ADA Compliance, Am I Liable, Potholes
