Just because parking lots are private property does not mean you have no grounds for a lawsuit after an accident. Likewise, just because many parking lot accidents happen at low speeds does not mean you are without injury. When reckless drivers or poor premises maintenance cause injury, a personal injury lawsuit may be able to provide compensation for your physical and financial hardships.
An Albany parking lot accident lawyer can walk you through the process of filing, gathering documentation, and arguing your case. Bader Law Injury Lawyers wants to aid victims of injustice wherever their injuries occurred, including in a parking area. Contact our team today for your free consultation at (404) 888-8888.
More than Just Fender Benders
Think of all the moving parts in a given parking lot: cars pulling in and out of spaces, drivers zooming through to get a good spot, and pedestrians traveling to and from businesses.
These variables can result in any of the following accident scenarios:
- Entering or exiting a space
- Turning
- Speeding
- Hit and runs
- Rear-end collisions
- Pedestrian accidents
While many parking lots are private property, that does not mean drivers can ignore the traditional rules of the road. Barreling through a crosswalk or striking a vehicle without leaving a note are still acts of negligence that can carry legal repercussions for the driver.
For a free legal consultation with a parking lot accidents lawyer serving Albany, call (404) 888-8888
Parking Lot Negligence Is Still Negligence
In accidents on public roads, the police may issue a ticket to the party deemed responsible. For parking lot accidents, the police are not always involved, and your case may lack such clear-cut documentation of liability. However, you still may be able to pursue a claim. Your injury claim relies on proving the driver was negligent, regardless of whether the police said so.
Negligence involves a driver acting in a way that is contrary to what a reasonable person would do under the same circumstances. For instance, a reasonable person would be expected to check the area before pulling out of a parking space. A driver who fails to do so and hits another car may therefore be found negligent.
Some negligent behaviors that occur in parking lots are:
- Not checking mirrors
- Texting while driving
- Talking on the phone while driving
- Eating while driving
- Driving too fast
- Failing to yield
- Aggressive driving
If any of these actions were involved in your parking lot accident, you may be able to hold the other driver liable for negligent behavior.
Right-of-Way and Failure to Yield
Parking lots, like all roadways, have rules about right-of-way. For example, a car driving through a lane has the right of way, while a car pulling out of a parking space is expected to yield. For this reason, in many accidents where a car backing out of a spot strikes another car, the driver that failed to yield is held liable.
That being said, if the driver traveling through the lane was being reckless, such as speeding or texting while driving, they may be held liable for running into the car that was backing out. However, the negligent driver in this kind of scenario may try to argue that they had the right of way and therefore are not responsible for your injuries.
A parking lot injury attorney can help combat this argument. The team at Bader Law Injury Lawyers can study your case and help build a body of evidence to illustrate that you were the victim. Call us today to get started at (404) 888-8888.
Evidence Beyond a Police Report
Even without the benefit of a police report, negligence could be demonstrated with other resources. Our legal team can use:
- Photos of the scene
- Phone records
- Surveillance footage
- Witness statements
- Expert assessments
- Medical testimony
Many parking lots have security cameras and are populated by other visitors and customers. These pieces of evidence can be especially helpful in hit and run cases, not only highlighting how the accident happened but potentially identifying the guilty party. Likewise, your Albany parking lot accident lawyer can consult experts and doctors to add credence to your injury claims.
Albany Parking Lot Accident Lawyer Near Me (404) 888-8888
Parking Lot Accident Claims Extend Beyond Drivers
You may not have sustained your injuries in a collision as a driver. Parking lot accidents can also result in pedestrian injuries and be caused by poor maintenance of the parking lot itself. In this case, there may still be grounds for a lawsuit.
Pedestrian Accidents
Parking lots are, by their nature, filled with people not in cars, heading into stores, walking through crosswalks, and entering and exiting vehicles. If you were injured as a pedestrian, you have the same right to pursue compensation as you would if you were driving a vehicle.
Premises Liability
Whoever owns a parking lot is required to maintain it in a safe manner, according to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) §51-3-1. The property owner can be held liable for damages if they failed to take reasonable steps to maintain safe conditions on the premises.
- Broken curbs
- Lack of signage
- Insufficient lighting
- Potholes
- Confusing layouts
If any of these or similar maintenance problems led to your parking lot accident, contact Bader Law Injury Lawyers to learn how to pursue the property owner for your losses.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Injuries Represent Injustice
Even a low-speed collision can lead to painful injuries that require time and money to rectify. The head can still move forward and then snap back with a great deal of force in a low-speed collision, which can easily lead to whiplash, among other injuries.
In addition, parking lot accidents can result in:
- Bruises
- Lacerations
- Soft tissue injuries
- Neck injuries
- Head injuries
When pedestrians are involved, the injuries can be even more severe, including broken bones or even wrongful death.
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Do Not Suffer in Silence
Whether you were struck by a car pulling out of a space, injured while using a crosswalk, or rear-ended by an overeager shopper, you may be able to pursue compensation for your parking lot accident injuries. Depending on the circumstances of your case, Georgia’s statute of limitations is generally two to four years, according to OCGA §9-3-33. This means you have up to two to four years to file your claim.
File with the help of an Albany parking lot accident lawyer and get started on your claim today. Contact a team member from Bader Law Injury Lawyers now at (404) 888-8888.
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