Property owners and managers have a responsibility to the public when they make their facilities accessible to others. It is important that they maintain safe and reasonably secure facilities. Adequate maintenance can go a long way toward defraying the potential premises liability a business or property incurs.
Premises liability doesn’t just involve people who slip and fall on someone else’s property. It includes any sort of injury or harm someone suffered through the negligence or failures of the person who owns or manages the property. Inadequate lighting can easily give rise to premises liability claims by people who get hurt and victims of crimes.
Inadequate lighting can lead to preventable accidents
Without proper lighting, people can’t see inside a space to travel safely through it. Especially in more dangerous environments, such as stairways, property managers and owners need to maintain lights for the safe passage of residents and visitors. Whether a property management company refuses to install a light fixture over the stairs or they allow the light bulbs to burn out without replacing them, if someone falls down the stairs as a result, they may be liable.
Lighting can have an impact on criminal activity too
Lighting isn’t just necessary inside a building and in stairways. It’s also crucial outside in parking lots, alleys and entrances. Criminals with the intent to assault or rob someone may specifically target areas where they know there are no lights or security cameras.
Property owners should do everything in their power to deter criminals from targeting people on their property. Not installing lights or security cameras in high-traffic areas could result in criminals targeting people there intentionally.
Whether you were the victim of a robbery in an area where there should have been cameras or you fell down the stairs because you couldn’t see the handrail, you may have a premises liability claim against the property owner or manager based on their failure to maintain proper lighting for safety and security.