Spring in Michigan ushers in warmer days and fresh blooms, but it also comes with plenty of rain. As the season washes away winter’s remnants, it unveils new hazards, especially in parking lots.

Potholes form through freezing and thawing cycles and become more common in the spring, often filling with rainwater. What looks like a shallow puddle can hide a deep hole, leading to serious trips, falls, and injuries. If you are hurt by an unfilled pothole on business property, the owners may be responsible for your damages.

Learn the dangers of hidden potholes and how an experienced Michigan slip-and-fall lawyer from Fieger Law can help you build a claim and seek fair compensation.

Deceptive Puddles: The Hidden Danger of Water-Filled Potholes

Rainwater can turn potholes into hidden hazards, making them difficult to spot until it’s too late. These water-filled holes pose a serious risk for pedestrians due to the following:

  • Optical Illusions: When water collects in a pothole, it reflects the sky or surrounding pavement, making the surface appear flat. This can trick pedestrians into thinking they are stepping onto solid ground.
  • Hidden Depth: Without clear edges, a pothole can look like a shallow puddle but may be much deeper than it seems. The water blends with the pavement, making it difficult to judge its true depth.
  • Blended Pavement: Water-filled potholes can match the color of wet asphalt, especially in dim lighting or heavy rain. Without a visible difference between the water and the pavement, pedestrians may not see the hole until they step into it.

If you were injured by a hidden pothole in a business parking lot or apartment complex, our premises liability lawyers can help you hold the owners responsible. Speak with Fieger Law today to explore your legal options.

Risk of Severe Injuries From Pothole Falls

A single misstep into a hidden pothole can lead to agonizing pain, costly medical treatments, and months of recovery. What seems like a harmless puddle could leave you with serious injuries, such as:

  • Fractures from a sudden drop, breaking bones in the foot, ankle, or wrist.
  • Sprains and torn ligaments caused by twisting unexpectedly and leading to lasting pain.
  • Head trauma from a hard fall, resulting in concussion or more severe brain injuries.
  • Back and spinal injuries from jolts or impacts that strain muscles or discs.
  • Facial injuries from impact, including broken noses, chipped teeth, or deep cuts.

Property owners must be held accountable for failing to maintain safe conditions when falls occur due to unmarked or neglected potholes. Our experienced Michigan premises liability lawyers at Fieger Law can help you recover compensation for costly medical bills, lost wages, and ongoing pain.

Why Businesses Must Fix or Mark Potholes Promptly

Business owners have a legal duty to maintain safe premises, including addressing potholes before they become hidden dangers. If a pothole forms and fills with water, they should take immediate action, such as:

  • Filling and repairing potholes before rain hides the depth of the hazard.
  • Placing warning signs to alert customers to the danger.
  • Roping off sections of the parking lot if the hazard cannot be fixed immediately.

Neglected potholes are a serious hazard that can change lives in an instant. If a business ignores a dangerous pothole and you suffer the consequences, you deserve justice. Our skilled slip-and-fall attorneys at Fieger Law are ready to hold negligent property owners accountable.

How a Lawyer Can Protect Your Interests

After a fall, proving liability isn’t always simple. The business may argue that the hazard wasn’t visible or that you should have been more careful. Our skilled lawyers at Fieger Law can strengthen your case by:

  • Reviewing security footage, which may capture the fall and show the pothole’s hidden danger.
  • Obtaining maintenance records to determine whether the business knew about the hazard and failed to fix it.
  • Collecting witness statements from people who saw the fall or can confirm the poor conditions.
  • Consulting medical experts to connect your injuries directly to the accident.
  • Calculating financial losses, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain from your injuries.

We’ve won millions in settlements and verdicts for slip-and-fall victims in Michigan and across the U.S., ensuring they receive the compensation they deserve. We know how to prove liability against negligent property owners and can develop a winning legal strategy to get you the financial support you need for recovery.

Call Fieger Law for a Free Consultation

Tripping over a hidden pothole can lead to painful injuries, costly medical bills, and missed work. At Fieger Law, we know how disruptive this can be, and we use our experience to fight for fair compensation for those injured due to unsafe conditions.

Don’t wait until medical bills pile up and evidence disappears. Our experienced team at Fieger Law is ready to fight for the compensation you need to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and the pain you’ve endured.

Call today for a free consultation.