Solar Lighting and Premises Liability

The Delray Beach, Florida Personal Injury Attorneys at Aronberg & Aronberg, Injury Law Firm are well educated on the dangers of darkness and premises liability. It is not uncommon for a property owner to find themselves a defendant in a lawsuit as a result of inadequate lighting.

Premises Liability and How To Protect Yourself

A poorly lit walkway can be hazardous for guest walking at night. Potholes, parking curbs, tree roots and changes in surface level can cause serious harm if they are concealed by the darkness of night. Further, businesses are not the only ones who should be concerned about lighting. We recently settled a large six figure case involving a woman who stumbled off a 6-inch step leading to someone’s private home. The woman was unable to see the change in surface level because the outside of the home (located in a rural area) was VERY dark. Unfortunately, the woman fell in an unusual way and fractured her spine. Had there been just one exterior light on, the entire episode would have been avoided.

In addition to dangerous falls, dimly lit properties (most notably parking lots) may attract unwanted criminal activity. A property owner has a duty of keeping tabs on the people and type of activity which frequent their property. If a property owner suspects there to be criminal activity on their property, it would be wise to brighten up the place to help deter crime.

Solar lighting is a great option for outdoor lighting especially if you do not have any electrical wiring available. Beyond removing the need for an electrical socket, solar lights are also utilizing free and green energy from the sun. Lastly, these are hands down the easiest types of light to install at home.

There are different types of solar lights that can be grouped together based on how they are installed. In fact, choosing which way is the first step in navigating through the hundreds of products out there.

1. Stick It On The Ground

#1: AMIR Upgraded 2 in 1 Solar Lights

Wall montage is always a possibility when installing any type of lighting, but if there is a huge garden that needs more lights, this might not be enough. Solar lights like the AMIR solve this problem by allowing them to just stick these pieces of solar lights on the ground. This is secure from the wind and provides a great lighting mood. You can even use it as a way to highlight favorite parts of the garden.

2. String Them

#2: NeutralPure ECO Snowball Solar Powered String Lights

Nothing can be prettier than soft glows of light that illuminates your favorite tree or bush. With these solar powered string lights, you can brighten up a bigger space without making it blinding. You can string them wherever you want, over the balcony railings, the wall (which gets hit by sunlight), and even windows.

3. Attach Them To The Wall

#3: iThird 21 LED Solar Powered Security Lights

This method is still the most secure when done correctly. It can be installed overhead, and when you purchase one with a motion detector, there is no struggle in getting it on and off.

4. Buy a Good Ol’ Lantern

#4: Smart Solar 3960KR1 San Rafael II Solar Mission Lantern

Hi-tech has invaded even old items, allowing those who love antique things like lanterns still have a chance at outdoor lighting. A solar lantern looks just like any lantern, except the candles inside never melt.

Tips on Installing

If you have decided which type of lights you want to install, you need to follow these steps.

1. Identify The Highlights

You want to be clear from the very beginning on what you want to illuminate. You can also just choose highlights, too.

2. Avoid Any Obstruction

Anything that blocks the light from reaching the solar panels will make your new solar lights useless. When deciding, try to monitor it at different times of the day and see which direction the panels should be directed to.

3. Maximize the Sun

Naturally, you need to find the sunniest spot at home in order to get enough for light production. At best, place them where there will be consistent sunlight or where the panels can be easily adjusted to catch the sunshine.

4. Charge First

Before installing your new lights, charge the battery fully first. This allows you to get the most of the light from the very beginning.

Solar lights are, in fact, one of the easiest and most flexible lighting solutions available to homeowners. With the huge range of lighting types and shapes, you can be sure to find the perfect one for you and at the same time, using the sun’s power to recharge it every day.

Be extra careful when commuting or walking in dark areas and if you have a home with dark places where others commonly walk, make sure they are well lit at night, even with motion detected lights are fine.

If you have had an accident involving premises liability, call Aronberg & Aronberg for a consultation to make sure your rights are protected and you have the proper legal representation for your claim should you have one.

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