A Common but Risky Location – The Campus Parking Lot Risk Research Bulletin, October 2007

UE’s Claims Study From , UE involved with 114 parking lot claims resulted in losses totaling $32 million 53% of these claims involved personal injury 47% involved property damage to automobiles

UE’s Claims Study Personal Injury Losses -- $31 million Slips, trips, and falls – 90% Assaults – 10% Common Causes –Slips, trips, and falls: lost footing on snow or ice (50%); poor lighting; potholes and uneven surfaces; unsecured parking bollards –Assaults: poor lighting; overgrown shrubbery; failure to patrol regularly; inadequate response to prior assaults

UE’s Claims Study Property Damage Losses -- $1 million Damage to automobiles – 100% Common Causes –Protruding rebar from parking bumpers –Malfunctioning parking gates –Collisions –Falling objects (e.g., tree branches, metal parking signs)

An Institution’s Duty of Care 1. Take reasonable actions when the institution has actual notice of a dangerous condition in a parking lot. 2. Use reasonable efforts to inspect parking lots for such dangerous conditions.

Improving Parking Lot Management Practice 1: Know the properties for which the institution is responsible. Practice 2: Regularly inspect and patrol parking lots. Practice 3: Create and retain maintenance records and accident reports.

Improving Parking Lot Management Practice 4: Promptly repair unsafe conditions and remove snow and ice. Practice 5: Ensure regular communication between campus maintenance and security to address maintenance issues that affect safety.

Improving Parking Lot Management Practice 6: Inform students and other members of the campus community about parking lot dangers and encourage reporting. Practice 7: Review campus parking lot accident reports and maintenance records periodically.