When we were growing up, most of us were told by our parents to stay away from dark alleyways. Some parents instilled fear into the hearts of their children by describing in graphic enough detail the potential horrors of such a place, while others kept it to the generic €because dark alleys are dangerous.€ It was good and accurate advice: Dark alleyways can be dangerous places. However, alleys are not the only dangerous places when adequate lighting is not available. In fact, almost any scenario is more dangerous when it is dark. That danger does not have to come from unsavory characters, either. Rather, it can be in the form of physical hazards that go unnoticed until they result in a personal injury. If you have been injured due to insufficient lighting in an area in or near Boynton Beach, you should contact a personal injury lawyer in the area to discuss your legal options.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides businesses with safety guidelines. Among those are regulations regarding the appropriate lighting of hallways, passageways, and stairways for both employees and customers. However, the need for adequate lighting extends to other areas, as well, including parking lots. In addition to the fact that a dark parking lot can provide cover for those intent upon criminal activity, it can also mask or hide other dangers such as cracks, potholes, and ice patches. Because of the danger of personal injury, business owners are obligated to ensure that their parking lots are lit well enough that customers can be reasonably expected to notice any ice patches or debris. Several years ago, a man who slipped and fell on a patch of ice in a restaurant parking lot, sustaining a personal injury, incurred over $200,000 of medical expenses, according to his lawyer. His lawyer was able to negotiate a sizeable settlement to cover his medical and other losses by proving that the restaurant owner did not reasonably provide for the man's safety.

Whether you have fallen in a dark stairwell, twisted an ankle in a pothole in a poorly lit parking lot, or caught your heel on torn carpeting in a darkened hallway, if you have sustained personal injury, the property owner could be liable for your medical expenses and other damages. The only way to know whether you have a potential case is to consult with a personal injury lawyer in Boynton Beach. Your lawyer will meet with you to evaluate your case, discuss legal options, and advise you as to the best course of action. Despite our parents' best advice, there are times when poorly lit areas cannot be avoided.