Parking Lot Safety

The experts involved in parking lot investigations vary from case to case, but often include civil engineers, architects, premises security professionals, or retail operations experts.

PARKING LOTS ARE DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENTS

Parking lots are unusually frenetic places; there are few other environments in which pedestrians and vehicles are required to co-function in close quarters; all the while managing a variety of distractions, ranging from children to mobile devices to retail advertising.

Parking lot safety can be improved by providing drivers and pedestrians reasonable access pathways, and signs and pavement markings similar to those they typically encounter on public roads and walkways. Within most parking lots there are good features and bad – some add to safety and some create hazards for drivers and pedestrians.

ENGINEERS & ARCHITECTS

Engineers and architects design parking lots to maximize safety and efficiency by providing appropriate guidance to drivers and pedestrians. They also design the walkways and roadways to minimize conflicts, control vehicle speeds, and conform to traffic patterns and features to which users are accustomed.

PREMISES SECURITY

Premises security professionals are involved in the design and operation of parking lots to promote user safety against assaults and other personal attacks. These experts are frequently involved in parking lot casework to assess the adequacy of active and passive security systems, including lighting systems and CCTV.

OPERATIONS

Retail professionals and property managers are often responsible for managing the day to day operations of a parking lot. Operations professionals are commonly retained in parking lot casework involving the management of snow and ice, the cleanup of any spills or contaminants, as well as shopping cart and litter management.

VEHICLE EVIDENCE & TESTING

Robson Forensic offers a fully appointed mechanical testing laboratory to assist our clients with the inspection and storage of evidence in parking lot cases. Our lab facilities can accommodate evidence items as large as a vehicle and are equipped to perform testing on a variety of electrical and mechanical devices. Visit our Mechanical Testing Laboratory page for more information.

DISCUSS YOUR CASE WITH AN EXPERT

Call or submit an inquiry to tell us about your case. Once we determine which expert is best qualified to assist, we will put you in direct contact.

Parking Lot Safety Experts

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11 Related articles

Pedestrians Struck in Parking Lots – Expert Article on Designing Parking Lots for Safety

In this article, civil engineer, Gordon Meth, P.E. discusses the prevalence of pedestrian v. vehicle strikes in parking lots. He examines the scope of the problem as well as parking lot design elements that affect pedestrian safety.


Each year the experts at Robson Forensic investigate hundreds of vehicle crashes, slips/trips, and assaults that occur in parking lots. The experts who investigate each matter vary based on the issues at hand. Please contact us to be put in touch with an appropriate expert for your case.

👤Gordon Meth, P.E., PTOE, PTP, RSP2I
Wheelstop (Parking Block) Safety - Expert Article on Parking Lot Safety

This article discusses standards relevant to wheelstops (parking blocks) and what can be done to prevent slip, trip, and fall injuries in parking lots. The premises safety experts at Robson Forensic have investigated many incidents involving these common parking lot features.

Parking Lot Layout - Expert Article

In this short article, the highway engineering experts at Robson Forensic provide an overview of parking lot design. The graphic provided highlights some of the common design elements we encounter through our casework, with an explanation of how they positively and negatively influence parking lot safety.

Parking Lot Design - Expert Investigates Pedestrian Death

In this case, a woman was struck and killed by a vehicle in a doughnut shop parking lot. An architect from Robson Forensic was retained to evaluate the design and maintenance of the parking lot.

Evaluating Lighting in Premises Liability Disputes - Expert Article

Adequate illumination is often a topic in premises liability claims. In this article, Architect & Premises Safety Expert Doug Peden discusses the standard of care for artificial illumination and the role that it has in maintaining a safe environment.

👤Douglas W. Peden, R.A., NCARB
Parking Lot Surface Hazards - Expert Article

Previously, our premises safety experts addressed parking lot design and the use of wheel stops as they relate to slip, trip, and fall injuries, and pedestrian strikes. This article discusses the surface of the typical parking lot, common forms of asphalt deterioration, and the resulting hazards that can be present.

👤Scott Klimek, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C
Parking Lot Trip Hazards - Expert Article

Parking lot safety can best be reliably established through proper design, construction, maintenance, and operations. This article discusses parking lot trip hazards, including a description of what constitutes a trip, relevant safety concepts, and links to other articles for more information.

Crime Prevention through Environmental Design: Parking Lot and Parking Garage Security

This article provides an introduction to CPTED as it applies to parking lot and parking garage security.

Curb Ramps - Expert Introduction to Design and Safety Aspects

This article discusses design standards relevant to curb ramp safety, specifically highlighting those design elements that are commonly associated with slip, trip, and fall incidents. The premises safety experts at Robson Forensic have investigated hundreds of incidents involving these common landscape features.

Parking Lot Operations & Management - Expert Article

Parking lots are host to a variety of vehicle, pedestrian, operational, and construction activities, sometimes simultaneously. Facility owners and operators must inspect parking lots on the premises and address any aberrations that could cause an injury or damage.

In this article, Facilities Engineering Expert Christopher Fogarty shares the standard of care for parking lot operation and maintenance, drawing upon his experience managing a 183-acre, multi-use facility.

👤Christopher C. Fogarty
Investigating Vehicle vs. Pedestrian Collisions – Expert Article

In this article, the experts at Robson Forensic discuss the typical components of a vehicle-pedestrian collision and delve into specialty technical issues that are frequently relevant to these incidents.

The experts involved in investigating a pedestrian strike vary as much as the cases themselves. While typically rooted in crash reconstruction or roadway engineering, these cases regularly involve experts specializing in human factors, biomechanical engineering, meteorology, premises safety, or toxicology. Contact us to discuss your case with a relevant technical expert.

👤Peter J. Leiss, P.E., C.F.E.I., C.V.F.I.