Devices known as wheel stops or parking blocks are common in parking lots. They are intended to stop motor vehicles from moving beyond a certain point when the driver is parking. Commonly made of concrete, they can pose a significant tripping hazard for pedestrians. If you have been seriously injured after tripping over a wheel stop and falling on the pavement, you may contact a personal injury lawyer for help.

Premises Liability

Property owners may be legally responsible for incidents in which pedestrians are seriously hurt because of conditions in the parking lot. These episodes are categorized under the legal concept of premises liability. Property owners are expected to keep the premises reasonably safe for anyone who comes there. 

Preventing Tripping Incidents

To prevent tripping over wheel stops, property owners should make sure those devices are highly visible to everyone and do not blend in with the pavement. The concrete should be painted a color that is noticeably different from the asphalt or concrete and other features it might blend in with. Typically, the devices are painted yellow and the parking space lines are white. The wheel stop should not be hidden by weed growth or litter.

Wheel stops should be illuminated at night or have reflective or glow-in-the dark tape applied. Parking lots normally are well lit, at least during business hours, but the property owners may want to take a walk around the lot at night occasionally to see how safe the pavement is for pedestrians. 

Serious Consequences

Tripping and falling over one of these obstacles and landing on hard pavement can have serious consequences. Pedestrians in parking lots are often carrying bags or items in their hands, which makes trying to land safely more difficult. A very common injury is a broken hand, wrist, or forearm when trying to break the fall. People may suffer other types of fractures as well as head injuries. 

Proving the Case

Trip and fall cases can be difficult to prove in regard to premises liability. The plaintiff is required to prove the case if the insurance company will not pay the claim. For instance, the adjusters may state that the injured person was distracted and should have been more careful while walking through the lot. That's why it's imperative to have a lawyer providing professional legal representation. The lawyer can have the team conduct an investigation of the parking lot conditions and find evidence to support the case. Contact a personal injury attorney for a free initial consultation at the earliest convenience.