Robotic Parking Systems Reduce Liability
Robotic Parking Systems are viewed by insurance companies as lower hazard / less risk and therefore, may be considered for lower insurance rates.
LOWER INSURANCE HAZARD RISK
In discussions with top insurance companies that provide coverage for parking facilities, it was found that insurance underwriters preferred parking garages over open lots as an insurable risk. Conventional garages and parking lots are generally considered moderate to high hazard by insurance companies.
These same underwriters reviewed the design and processes of the Robotic Parking System and were very favorable. In a detailed review by Best Underwriting Guide, the Robotic Parking System was assigned a low hazard risk in several categories.
COVERAGE |
OPEN LOT |
STANDARD PARKING GARAGE |
ROBOTIC PARKING SYSTEM |
Workers’ Compensation |
Moderate hazard due to exposure to traffic and crime. |
Higher hazard due to exposure to traffic, falls from elevators, crime. |
Lower hazard due to low traffic exposure, lower crime exposure. |
Garage Keepers |
High hazard – thefts, traffic, driver records. |
Moderate hazard due to building security. |
Historically was a higher exposure due to ineffectiveness of the driverless elevator now considered low risk due to technology. |
General Liability |
Low hazard due to open space, good visibility but subject to trip and fall in potholes, etc. |
Higher hazard due to elevator. Security breaches, and assumption of liability as operator. |
Low hazard due to better security from no outside access. |
Property / Inland Marine |
High hazard – damage to vehicles left in open lot. Wind / hail / theft. |
Moderate hazard due to protection from building. Theft still an issue. |
Low hazard due to limited access and protection of the building. |
PALLET VS NON-PALLET SYSTEMS
A major factor in the reduction of product liability for Robotic Parking Systems is the use of pallets as a key component of the company’s parking design and technology. Utilizing pallets in the automatic parking system prevents the dripping of oil, acids or salt water onto cars from either the parking system machinery or the cars on upper levels. It also guarantees that no machinery or other people ever touch the vehicle. This design feature, coupled with the quality maintenance program, ensures one of the highest standards of product liability for automated parking facilities.
SECURITY FEATURES REDUCE RISK AND POTENTIAL INJURY
Automatic parking literally eliminates personal exposure to violent crime due to walking through dark aisles, eliminates theft and vandalism and makes the common fender benders and vehicle dings and dents that occur while parking virtually impossible.
A study by the US Department of Justice found that one out of 12 rapes occurs in parking garages. And, every day there are news stories about accidents, theft and violence in conventional parking garages and parking lots. Over 40% of sexual assaults by strangers occur in garages. (Reference “The Garage of the Future Must be Green” by Samuel Schwartz, P.E.)
In a Robotic Parking System, there is no need to walk to and from the car through rows of vehicles or levels of parking decks. The driver pulls into a very well lit and spacious terminal located next to the street and leaves the car to be picked up by computerized machinery. When leaving, the driver returns to a well lit lobby where the car is quickly delivered to a ground floor terminal. This increases safety, reduces the risk of injury as well as potential accidents.
Additionally, vehicles are stored in a fully enclosed building, are 100% secure from access by others eliminating theft and vandalism and are protected from weather related damage.