ICY PARKING LOT SLIP FALL INJURY ATTORNEYS – MINNESOTA
Our lawyers represent people who have been seriously injured because they slipped and fell in an icy parking lot in MN. One incident we handled involved a newspaper delivery carrier. He went to pick up his newspapers at about 2:00 a.m., just as he was supposed to. It was cloudy at the time of the incident, but there was no precipitation. In fact, it had not snowed for several days.
The parking lot served a newspaper distribution center. Therefore, 2:00 a.m. was a very busy time. Every day at that time, dozens of delivery people come to pick up newspapers.
Unfortunately, despite the very high nighttime usage, the parking lot was poorly maintained and had insufficient lighting. After the accident, a safety and lighting expert evaluated the parking lot. The evaluation was on a night when the moon was in the same phase as the night of the incident. Also, the snow cover was approximately the same. Also, it was less cloudy than the night of the slip fall accident. In other words, the lighting conditions were approximately the same from all sources.
The safety expert hired by our top slip fall lawyer measured the light in the parking lot where our client fell. He determined that the amount of light in that area was far less than the recommended level for a parking lot with that level of usage.
PROPERTY OWNER RESPONSIBLE FOR ICE ON PARKING LOT
The property where this slip fall accident occurred is basically a warehouse. There are several loading docks which the delivery people use to enter the building and then bring out their stacks of newspapers on dolly carts. Our client parked approximately 40 feet from the loading dock and started walking toward the ramp to get his newspapers. He had done the same thing many times before.
Knowing that it was winter and that the parking lot was not well maintained, he was wearing rubber soled shoes. As he was walking toward the loading ramp, he hit a patch of ice that had accumulated in an indented/dip area of the parking lot. This caused him to fall forward onto his right knee. Despite being very cautious, he simply could not see the patch of ice in the poorly lit parking lot.
BAD LIGHTING A FACTOR IN PARKING LOT FALL
Our experienced slip fall accident attorneys interviewed and obtained statements from several witnesses. Each of the witnesses told us, and was willing to testify, that there was insufficient lighting in the parking lot. The only lighting in the parking lot comes from lights affixed to the outside of the building. However, the light from those fixtures simply does not shine far enough from the building to light the parking lot.
The witnesses also stated to our lawyer that while the parking lot was regularly plowed during the winter, it was not adequately salted or sanded for ice. Photos taken the night of the incident show that there is packed snow throughout the parking lot, with some areas appearing icy.
Our client’s medical bills in that case because he fell in an icy parking lot were well over $100,000. In addition, he missed months of work. Because of the expert report and the witnesses, our lawyers were able to get a significant settlement for our client. The settlement in this parking lot case paid all his medical bills, lost wages, and compensated him for his significant pain and suffering.
SLIP FALL INJURY ATTORNEYS MN
If you are injured because you fell on ice in a parking lot in MN, try to have a friend or family member go out to the parking lot as soon as possible to get pictures. If is also helpful if you can get the names of any witnesses so our best lawyers can follow up with them. At the Rochlin Law Firm, we have more than 25 years’ experience successfully representing people who are injured because they fell in an icy parking lot. You are welcome to call our office and speak with a slip fall attorney for a free consultation.
Our lawyers will explain your rights to you and proceed with investigation of your case if appropriate. Our slipped fell attorneys can meet you at our offices in Minneapolis, Woodbury, and St. Louis Park. A lawyer will also meet clients at their homes to discuss an icy park lot injury in St. Paul, Roseville, White Bear Lake, and Brooklyn Park. Also, Anoka, New Hope, Plymouth, Golden Valley, Chanhassen, Chaska, Albert Lea, Mankato, Bloomington, Richfield, Burnsville, and other cities throughout Minnesota.