A lot of the risk your business faces lies outside the door in the parking lot itself. Every parking lot poses a risk for cars, pedestrians and property, as customers and employees can be involved in accidents or cause damage.

Improperly maintained parking lots may also pose an increased risk for your business. Proper maintenance and strategic improvements can help, but it’s also important to weigh the pros and cons and proceed with caution. Here’s what to know.

General Parking Lot Risks

Businesses may face complaints, injured parties or damages to property as a result of the current state of your parking lot or lot improvements you make that don’t meet accessibility requirements.

  • Complaints – Complaints can arise for several reasons. Lots that are poorly maintained may elicit complaints. A lack of designated parking spaces for employees, customers and those with handicap accessibility needs may lead to a complaint.
  • Injuries – Injuries can result in parking lots with inadequate stop and yield signage that does not protect the right-of-way for cars and pedestrians. A lack of speed limit markers, reserved parking and van-accessible spaces can also result in injuries.
  • Damages – Damages can occur due to poor lot design. Without large aisles for cars to maneuver through, and spots that allow drivers to pull in and back out easily, damage is more likely. In lots without parking wheel-stop barriers along the front of spots, the risk of damage to landscaping or buildings is greater.

The risks of complaints and liability for injuries and damages can be reduced by protecting your business with the proper insurance and making smart improvements to the lot. Review your parking lot’s accessibility and structure to see where you can make adjustments to reduce the risk and make your business safer and more welcoming.

Lot Improvement Benefits

Improving parking lot design and accessibility has many benefits, including:

  • Better experience for customers and guests
  • Improved neighborhood curb appeal
  • Less risk of an ADA accessibility complaint or claim
  • Decreased risk of pedestrian trip, slip and fall accidents
  • Lower risk to pedestrians and vehicles traveling through the lot
  • Less risk of damage to buildings, landscaping, vehicles and property

When making parking lot improvements, consult the ADA Standards for Accessible Design, which was last updated in 2010. Follow the requirements set by the Americans with Disabilities Act for parking lots and access to public facilities. Key standards include:

  • Lots must have at least the required minimum number of accessible parking spaces, which varies depending on the total number of parking spaces in the lot. For a facility with 1 to 25 spots, at least one must be accessible to cars and vans. Larger lots require more spaces.
  • Van-accessible spaces are required to offer a spot and access aisle that are each 8 feet wide with vertical clearance of 8 feet.
  • Accessible parking spaces must meet the minimum signage and pavement markings required to identify them.
  • Accessible spots must have no more than a 2 percent pavement slope in any direction.
  • Parking lots undergoing any planned alteration should plan to bring the lot into compliance with the latest regulation.

Parking lot improvements that increase safety and enable accessibility can lower the risk your business faces. Prevent claims by improving safety and accessibility by maintaining and improving your parking lot.

Lot Improvements to Prevent Property Damage

Damage to your buildings, vehicles owned by your business and those owned by customers doesn’t always occur as a result of vandalism or natural disasters. Customers and even employees can have accidents and cause damage.

Often simple lot improvements can be made that reduce these risks as well.

  • Designate Parking Spaces – Mark specific spaces for employees and customers to park in. With some planning, you can make it less likely for them to bump into other vehicles and property. Leave extra space around dumpsters for sanitation workers, too.
  • Use Natural Barricades – Fencing is an option in some cases, but not all. If you can’t have a fence, consider natural protective barricades around the lot such as ditches, landscaping or bushes. Park vehicles behind these barricades for additional protection.
  • Consider Parking Lot Design – Lots should have large aisles for cars to maneuver through. Drivers should also be able to back out of spots easily. Restripe parking lines, if necessary, to improve the design and minimize fender-benders.
  • Add Traffic Signage – Helpful, lawful signage helps protect right-of-way for cars and pedestrians. Stop and yield signs, reserved parking signs for handicapped and van-accessible spaces and speed limit markers are options businesses can adopt.
  • Add Parking Barriers – For customer parking, consider adding wheel stop barriers along the front of parking spots to help ensure cars are parked safely within the spaces. These barriers can also prevent vehicles from damaging landscaping or buildings.

More Risk Management Solutions

Your business’s parking lot risks to people, cars and buildings can be minimized with the right maintenance and improvements. However, your business may need additional protection.

Lockton Affinity Aftermarket offers insurance solutions specifically designed to protect repair shops, parts retailers and other aftermarket businesses from common business exposures. Our program offers coverage for technician errors, employee tools, customer complaints, employee claims and more.

To learn more, get started with our quick, 5-minute quote request.