When you visit Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, you expect a safe place to park. However, dangerous conditions in nearby parking garages can lead to serious injuries before or after a game. If you get hurt, determining who is responsible depends on what caused the accident, who maintained the property and whether the danger could have been prevented.
Common hazards in parking garages
Parking garages serving Yankee Stadium can present several potential hazards, including:
- Potholes and uneven pavement: Damaged surfaces can cause trips and falls.
- Poor lighting: Dim areas make it harder to see obstacles.
- Icy patches: Poor drainage or lack of snow removal can leave slippery surfaces.
- Inadequate security: Lack of proper safeguards may increase the risk of assaults.
These hazards can cause broken bones, head injuries and injuries from assaults.
When can a garage operator be responsible?
Under New York premises liability law, those who own or operate a garage must keep it reasonably safe. They may be responsible if they create a hazard or fail to address one despite having actual or constructive notice of it.
Actual notice means they knew about the hazard. Constructive notice means the hazard was visible and remained there long enough for a reasonable inspection to reveal it.
For assaults, a garage operator may be responsible if the attack was reasonably foreseeable and inadequate security contributed to it.
If negligence caused your injury, you may seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering.
What should you do after an injury?
Getting medical care, taking photos and reporting the accident can help document what happened. Witness details, parking receipts and security footage may also support your claim.
In New York, you generally have three years to sue a private party for an injury. If your claim involves a public agency subject to special notice rules, you generally must send it a formal Notice of Claim within 90 days. You also have one year and 90 days to file a lawsuit.
How legal guidance can help after a parking garage injury
The Yankees do not operate surrounding parking garages, so identifying who controlled the property is important. A Bronx premises liability attorney can examine maintenance and security records, identify potentially responsible parties and determine whether negligence contributed to your injury. This can help clarify your legal options and the evidence needed to support a claim.