Properties in New Jersey need adequate lighting and signage. Often, property owners do not fulfill their responsibility of ensuring the safety of visitors, residents, and workers through lighting to improve visibility.

The lack of sufficient lighting may lead to significant injuries as a result of slip and falls or tripping hazards. If you were injured because a property owner failed to correctly illuminate their premises, you can file a lawsuit based on their negligence.

Common Places Where Poor Lighting Accidents Happen

A lack of proper lighting and warning signs can cause accidents anywhere, but there are a few places where these occurrences are more common. Poor lighting can cause slips and falls in the following spaces:

• Parking lots and garages
• Stairwells
• Retail malls and shopping centers
• Food and beverage establishments
• Common areas of apartment buildings and condominiums
• Sports stadiums, arenas, and event venues
• Food stores and supermarkets
• Gasoline stations
• Bus terminals, airports, and train stations

Accidents Caused by Insufficient Lighting

A lack of adequate lighting increases a person’s odds of accident injury. The following incidents may lead to a lawsuit over inadequate lighting on public or private properties:

• Slip and fall accidents

Slip and fall accidents are more common in public properties and buildings with inadequate lighting. It might be too dark for you to see the pothole in a parking lot or crack in the walkway. If you take one improper step in the dark, you could suffer long-term injuries and financial costs that affect your quality of life.

• Criminal activities

Businesses and individuals must put security measures in place to ensure the safety of those on their premises, including providing adequate lighting. Parking lots at shopping malls, stadiums, and bus terminals can all become crime scenes.

An inadequate lighting environment can lead to robberies, muggings, assaults, and other incidents that can cause emotional and bodily harm.

Injuries Resulting from Poor Lighting

People are less likely to see objects they can grab to prevent falling in the dark, thus increasing the likelihood of injury. They can also suffer severe injuries because of criminal activities that happen in dimly lit areas. A lack of lighting can cause several injuries, including:

• Broken bones
• Lacerations and abrasions
• Muscle strains
• Psychological trauma
• Traumatic brain injuries and other concussions
• Spinal fractures
• Soft tissue injuries, such as torn knee ligaments
• Wrongful death

When you fall because of poor lighting, it’s important to seek medical attention right away. Your doctor can review the extent of your injuries and record them for you, which may prove useful in a lawsuit.

Time Limit for Filing a Personal Injury Claim in New Jersey

New Jersey has a two-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims. You will likely lose your right to make an injury claim if you do not file your claim within two years of the date of your injury.

The New Jersey courts evaluate your personal injury claim based on the evidence you present. Your personal injury lawyer can help you gather the evidence you need to support your claim:

• Photographs of the spot where you fell
• Copies of the facility’s maintenance records
• Previous building code violations that show a pattern of neglect
• Witnesses’ testimonies of the accident
• Medical records that confirm your injuries
• Surveillance video of the accident

Recoverable Damages for a Poor Lighting Accident

Considering your current and future financial and emotional circumstances is a critical step in calculating damages in New Jersey courts. These are the most common types of compensation:

• Economic damages

Economic damages, or special damages, cover your quantifiable financial losses such as:

Past and future medical bills

• Installation of medical devices
• Loss of wages
• Reduction of benefits
• Loss of future income or earning capacity caused by a permanent inability to work or continue to work in the same job
• Non-economic damages

Non-economic damages, also called general damages, are losses that have no specific monetary value. These are often more difficult to prove, including:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of companionship or consortium in a wrongful case

To win general damages, the plaintiff must demonstrate that their injuries are a direct result of the defendant’s negligent behavior.

Get Real Justice for Your Injuries with a Personal Injury Lawyer in NJ

When you or someone you care about in New Jersey has been injured due to poor lighting on a property, you may need compensation for the injuries. If so, a personal injury lawyer in NJ can help.

Contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible to help you through this process and ensure that you file your claim within the two-year statute of limitations. Schedule a free attorney consultation today to discuss your case.