Did you know that one in five car accidents happen in a parking lot or parking garage? At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, we’ve helped parking lot crash victims rebuild and get the answers and compensation they deserve. However, most people don’t realize that collisions are the only cause of parking lot accidents. Potholes, debris, spills, poorly maintained pavement, unmarked wheel stops, and poor lighting can also cause unsuspecting pedestrians and drivers serious injuries.
In this blog, we’ll outline common parking lot injuries and their causes, types of accidents, how to protect yourself in a parking lot, and what to do if you or someone you love has been hurt by someone else’s mistake.
Common Parking Lot Injuries and Car Accidents Can Cause Serious Problems
It was dusk, and your arms were full of grocery bags, so you didn’t see it: an unmarked concrete wheel stop at the edge of the parking lot. You trip over the low barrier, hurting your knees on the pavement, and fracturing your wrist in the fall. At first, this seems like a minor injury, but your injured knees prevent you from playing with your young children, and your injured wrist keeps you from going back to work for several weeks as it heals.
This scenario is all too common. Seemingly minor parking lot injuries keep innocent people from living their lives, going to work, and caring for their families. Other common injuries include:
- Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Back and neck injuries, such as whiplash from a rear-end collision
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue damage, like sprains, strains, and bruises
- Lacerations, road rash, and other skin injuries
- Torn tendons and ligaments
- Depression and anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
Hundreds of people die from parking lot injuries every year. However, people survive and are left facing a long and difficult recovery. Many parking lot injuries take months or even years to heal. You may find yourself burdened with thousands of dollars in medical bills and lost wages, even before you consider your pain, suffering, and emotional distress.
What many don’t realize is that multiple factors contribute to your injuries:
- Distracted driving, including cell phone use while navigating the parking lot
- Drunk and drugged driving
- Failing to yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
- Speeding
- Ignoring traffic control devices, like stop signs
- Poor lighting
- Confusing or missing signage
- Unclear right of way
- Poorly maintained pavement
- Dangerous blind spots
- And more, depending on the situation
If your injury seems simple at first glance, you may be missing a contributing factor. For example, an unmarked wheel stop may have been even harder to see in poor lighting. Or a driver who was speeding through the lot was also driving distractedly and looking at their phone.
If you’re still suffering after a parking lot crash or slip and fall, an experienced personal injury lawyer can help you identify every contributing factor in the crash and hold the responsible parties accountable. And if you experience a hit and run accident, we can help identify the responsible party.
How to Protect Yourself From Common Parking Lot Injuries and Car Accidents
The best way to avoid common parking lot injuries is to pay close attention to your surroundings while you’re in one. Double-check to make sure the way is clear when driving through a lot, parking, and pulling out of a parking space. Maintain low speeds when driving in a parking lot. And check for uneven surfaces and avoid them and choose parking spots where the lighting is clear and bright.
As proactive as we can be about our own safety, businesses, property owners, and property managers are responsible for making sure parking lots don’t put patrons at risk. This includes making sure there’s good lighting, damaged pavement is repaired, barriers and steps are well-marked, and there is clear signage to help drivers safely navigate the space.
Even when you take precautions, drive defensively, and are cautious and aware, accidents can still happen. If you’re involved in a car accident or slip and fall in a parking lot, you should:
- Call 911 if you need emergency medical services
- File a police report, if possible (some police departments will not go to minor injury accidents on private property)
- Collect the at-fault driver’s name, address, phone number, and insurance information
- Write down any witnesses’ contact information, especially if the accident was a hit-and-run
- Notify the business or facility of your injuries, especially if you suffered a slip and fall
- Take pictures of the crash scene
- Seek medical care for your injuries
- Consult with an experienced injury attorney
- File injury claims with the correct insurance companies
To get the compensation you deserve, you’ll need a team of legal experts who are ready to aggressively investigate and pursue your legal injury claims.
RELATED: June’s Story: A Victim of Negligence Finds Justice With Help From Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys
Still Having Problems Because of Someone Else’s Mistake? A Lawyer Can Help You Recover
Recovering from a crash, fall, or car accident in a parking lot is never easy. Your injuries may persist as medical bills pile up. Stress may cause you to disconnect from your family and friends. And returning to work at full capacity is never a given.
“If you’re struggling to recover financially, physically, or emotionally, an experienced personal injury lawyer can help you put the pieces back together. When you hire an attorney to help you with your case, they can organize your medical bills, communications with the insurance company, and help you understand the true value of your case.”
If you’re struggling to recover financially, physically, or emotionally, an experienced personal injury lawyer can help you put the pieces back together. When you hire an attorney to help you with your case, they can organize your medical bills, communications with the insurance company, and help you understand the true value of your case. This is important because the insurance company for the other driver or lot manager might offer you an extremely low settlement when you file your insurance claim. When you understand how much your case is worth, you won’t be tricked into accepting something less than fair. And if the insurance company refuses to take responsibility for what the case is worth, your lawyer can help you take the necessary legal steps to ensure you find justice and relief.
Hurt in a Parking Lot Car Accident or Fall? Call the Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys Team Today
At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, we’ve worked with countless clients like you who’ve been injured in dangerous parking lots. We understand how important safety is and are committed to fighting for victims and their rights. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a crash, slip, or fall in a dangerous parking lot, don’t wait to contact us. We can help you understand what the insurance company owes you, work through the fault determination process, and decide what to do next.
To schedule your free consultation with our legal team, call our office today at 251-888-8888 or filling out our online contact form. Initial consultations for personal injury cases are always free and confidential.
We look forward to hearing from you!
References
Why hundreds are killed in crashes in parking lots and garages every year. (2016, November 21). CBS News. Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/parking-lot-accidents-distracted-drivers-national-safety-council/
The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.
Andy is the owner and CEO of Citrin Law Firm, P.C. He founded the firm in 1995 with the goal of helping injured people put their lives back together. His passion for protecting injured people has only grown since he opened the doors of Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, and he has a history of winning numerous multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements for his clients.