Incidents at Broward County Courthouse Raise Concerns About Business Liability

 Posted on October 04,2023 in Business Law

People usually expect a certain level of safety when using roads, parking lots, parking garages, and other areas that are open to the public. While this is true in nearly every location, facilities owned and operated by government organizations are often expected to be even more safe. Unfortunately, recent reports have shown that this is not necessarily the case at the Broward County courthouse. After some incidents that took place in the courthouse’s parking garage, people have realized that they may not have the protections they expect. 

For business owners, this raises the question of whether they may encounter liability issues if car accidents or other incidents occur in their parking lots or on other parts of their property. By understanding the potential business liability issues that may affect them and the steps they can take to protect themselves, business owners can make sure they are prepared to handle these concerns. Business owners can work with a skilled and experienced attorney to address these matters, provide themselves with legal protections, and respond to any incidents that may occur.

Lack of Security Cameras Leads to Liability Concerns 

According to a recent report by the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the parking garage at the Broward County courthouse sees hundreds of incidents each year. The newspaper detailed a situation in which a woman parked at the garage while serving jury duty, and while she was in the courthouse, someone sideswiped her car and caused $5,000 worth of damage. Unfortunately, she found that the security cameras in the garage only provide coverage for vehicle entrances and ramps between floors. Without any record of what happened, there was no way to identify the person who damaged her vehicle.

According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, there has been an average of one call or complaint related to the courthouse parking garage per day over the past several years. While the incident described above was one of the more serious matters that occurred in the garage, and no felony crimes have been reported, there are still a large number of issues that could affect people’s safety.

Business Liability for Parking Lot Accidents and Other Incidents

Business owners who are concerned about liability issues will need to understand their rights and their legal options in situations similar to those that have occurred at the Broward County courthouse. Most of the time, when motor vehicle collisions occur in parking lots, the driver who was at fault will be liable for any damages caused to others. A business owner generally will not be liable for accidents that were caused by others.

However, there may be some situations where a business owner may be liable for injuries or other damages. If it can be shown that an accident occurred because of the business owner’s negligence, the people affected may be able to file a premises liability claim and seek to hold the business owner responsible. For example, a person may seek to hold a business owner liable for a slip and fall accident that occurred because of a pothole in a parking lot, or customers may claim that a business’s failure to implement the proper security measures put their safety at risk, leading to assaults or robberies. 

To protect against potential liability, business owners can take steps to identify any potential hazards that could lead to accidents or injuries and correct these issues as quickly as possible. Performing repairs, installing security cameras, or placing warning signs to make sure customers know about possible hazards can help business owners avoid premises liability lawsuits or other related issues.

Contact Our Fort Lauderdale Business Law Attorney

At The Elliot Legal Group, P.A., we provide legal help and representation for business owners, advising them on the best ways to protect themselves and address any concerns related to liability. Our Broward County business liability lawyer can help a business respond to complaints, and we can provide representation during litigation related to accidents or injuries. To learn more about our services, contact us at 754-332-2101 and set up a consultation.