Potholes & Trip Hazards – Keeping Your Parking Lot Liability-Free

Key Takeaways:

• Claims such as slip and fall can be the most expensive liability claims.
• Car accidents caused by potholes and trip hazards can lead to negligence claims against the owner of a parking lot.
• To avoid liability risks, parking lots must comply with ADA standards.
• Staying up-to-date with parking lot maintenance can free you from trip hazards, potholes, or other asphalt damages.
• A professional asphalt paving contractor can identify potentially dangerous potholes before they become a severe problem.

Maintaining a safe and efficient parking lot is an essential responsibility for any property owner in Durham, NC. From minimizing trip hazards to ensuring optimal navigation and accessibility, the basic upkeep of your lot can make all the difference between providing visitors with a comfortable experience and creating potential liability issues.

Potholes and typical parking lot damages can be major safety hazards for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. The recent incident in Durham, where a bicyclist took a hard fall swerving around potholes and severely injuring his face, neck, jaw, wrists, and back, is a stark reminder of why it’s crucial to prioritize parking lot repair and maintenance. Additionally, if someone gets injured on your property due to negligence, you could be held liable for any medical bills or other financial damages incurred as a result.

Fortunately, a professional asphalt paving contractor can resolve any pavement-related issues to ensure safety.

Let’s discuss the necessary information about pothole repair so that you can guarantee accident-free conditions in your parking lot.

Parking Lot Liabilities

Claims such as slip and fall can be the most expensive liability claims. Keeping your asphalt in good condition is essential to avoid costly liabilities, as a damaged surface can create dangerous situations for visitors.

Aside from ADA compliances, you must also consider safety regulations and your professional reputation when ensuring that your parking lot is protected against liability risks. It’s essential to carry out regular maintenance and repair any asphalt damage at the earliest to avoid accidents.

Car accidents caused by potholes and trip hazards can lead to negligence claims against the owner of a parking lot. These are expensive, time-consuming, and can cause further damage to your professional reputation.

That’s why you must ensure your parking lot is secure, free from potholes or other asphalt damage, and meets all ADA compliance requirements.

What Are the ADA Compliances for Parking Lots?

To avoid liability risks, parking lots must comply with ADA standards. These are as follows:

• Parking lots should provide easy access to wheelchair users and those with other mobility impairments. This includes wide asphalt pathways and ramps, proper signage indicating the location of accessible spaces, and curb cuts or level surfaces at intersections.
• The asphalt surface should be smooth enough for wheelchairs but free from trip hazards such as cracks and holes.
• There should be adequate, accessible parking spots that meet the required size specifications for wider vehicles and van lifts.

Reasons to Consider Parking Lot Maintenance

Saves Costs in the Long-Term

Parking lot TLC is an effective way to decrease liability costs that come with personal injury lawsuits. Regular asphalt repairs, asphalt seal coating, and asphalt crack repair can prevent accidents before they happen and protect the owner’s assets in case of a lawsuit.

Prevents Damage

Major asphalt issues such as potholes and trip hazards can create dangerous situations for people visiting your business or property. Timely asphalt repairs help reduce potential liabilities from personal injuries. It also prevents minor repairs from becoming more expensive over time due to a lack of maintenance.

Improves Aesthetics

Parking lot maintenance improves curb appeal making it more inviting for customers or visitors. This can be accomplished through regular asphalt seal coating, asphalt patching, and asphalt resurfacing.

Here’s some more information about the importance of seal coating.

Meets ADA Compliances

ADA compliances are essential to ensure a parking lot is up to legal standards. Potential liabilities may arise if the parking lot does not meet legal requirements for handicapped parking spaces and other regulations by ADA.

Hiring an asphalt paving contractor specializing in asphalt maintenance can help keep your parking lot up to code and comply with local laws.

Reduces Liability

Parking lot safety is paramount for any business. Staying up-to-date with parking lot maintenance can free you from trip hazards, potholes, or other asphalt damages, reducing liability in case of a personal injury lawsuit.

Liability insurance costs can also be significantly reduced when parking lots are adequately maintained to identify damages before they become hazardous.

Tips for Maintaining a Parking Lot

Clear Markings

Enhancing visibility with proper markings can help reduce parking lot accidents. Parking lots should be marked with pavement striping to guide drivers to the appropriate spaces.

Inspect Drainage Systems

Check them at least twice a year for any clogs or obstructions that could cause flooding in the parking lot area.

Remove Snow and Ice Promptly

Removing standing water or icy patches for those living in areas with cold winters is essential, as these can cause hazardous conditions in the parking lot.

Proper Lighting

Well-lit parking lots allow drivers and pedestrians to avoid tripping over unseen obstacles and be able to see where they are going. Check regularly whether lightbulbs need replacing or if new lighting solutions need installing.

Things to Consider Before Maintaining a Parking Lot for Potholes

Costs

The asphalt paving contractor you hire will need to be paid, and depending on the size of your parking lot, this can become expensive. Make sure you know all costs before starting any maintenance work.

ADA Compliance

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) states that public parking lots must adhere to specific regulations. These include having designated handicapped parking and expansive spaces than regular ones. A professional contractor can make sure your parking lot is ADA-compliant.

Time

Maintaining a parking lot requires time-consuming processes such as sealing asphalt cracks or patching potholes. Make sure you factor in the time it will take to complete the job when deciding whom to hire.

Reasons to Hire a Professional Asphalt Paving Contractor

Quality Materials

A professional asphalt paving contractor has access to high-quality asphalt and other materials, ensuring that your parking lot will be durable and long-lasting. They also possess the specialized skills necessary to complete the job efficiently and correctly.

Safety

The safety of your customers is paramount when it comes to keeping your parking lot liability-free. A professional asphalt paving contractor can identify any trip hazards or potentially dangerous potholes before they become a problem so you can prevent them from happening in the first place.

Costs

The cost of hiring a professional contractor may seem costly at first. But asphalt pavements can last up to 25 years with proper care and maintenance, so you’ll essentially be investing in your business for the long term.

All in all, keeping a parking lot liability-free should be a priority for any business. Even the smallest pothole or trip hazard can lead to serious personal injury and costly legal fees.

By addressing potential hazards, you can ensure your parking lot is up to code, and by taking the necessary steps, you can protect yourself and your visitors.

Paved Assets offers a comprehensive range of asphalt-related services in Durham, NC. If you’re looking for seal coating, crack filling, line stripping, or pothole repair services, get a free estimate today!

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