I Got Hit in a Parking Lot: What Should I Do?
According to the National Safety Council, one in five car accidents occur in parking lots. These car accidents have the potential to cause serious injuries and property damage, making it important that victims seek legal counsel to help them with their case. If you have been in a car accident in Winter Haven, Lakeland, Tampa, FL, or a surrounding area, the attorneys at Moody Law can provide you with reliable legal guidance. In this blog post, we discuss parking lot injuries and how to know if you have a lawsuit.
Types of Parking Lot Accidents
There are many types of accidents that occur in parking lots and garages, including:
- Backing up into a parked vehicle: In the majority of cases, the driver who hits a stationary object is found to be at fault for the accident.
- Pulling out in front of a moving vehicle: It is the parked driver’s responsibility to check both ways before slowly backing out of their parking space. The driver who is legally moving along the parking lot’s roadways generally has the right of way.
- Hitting an adjacent vehicle: It is common for drivers to accidentally hit or scratch an adjacent vehicle, especially in tight parking spaces. But again, the driver who hits a stationary object is typically at fault for the accident.
- Two vehicles backing up into each other: The vehicle that starts backing up first has the right away. However, without cameras and witnesses, it can be difficult to determine fault in these cases.
- Two drivers aggressively going after the same parking spot: In a crowded parking lot or garage, it’s common for two drivers to go after the same parking space. The right of way in these cases is typically the driver who entered the parking space first.
- Backing up into a pedestrian: Backing up into a pedestrian is typically the most dangerous type of parking lot accident. Pedestrians have the right of way, and drivers are typically at fault for these accidents.
Causes of Parking Lot Accidents
The National Safety Council has found that as many as two-thirds of drivers may be distracted in parking lots. Cell phone use, entering GPS information, adjusting music, texting, checking social media, checking emails, and taking photos are all forms of distraction that put fault on the driver. Driver distraction, in addition to speeding, driving the wrong way, and other driving violations, all contribute to driver errors and fault in the accident.
Types of Parking Lot Injuries
While most parking lot injuries are minor, there are cases in which serious property or catastrophic injuries occur.
At a minimum, parking lot accidents cause property damage, which could range from body damage like scratches or damaging the frame of the car, causing it to be totaled.
In addition, victims may suffer whiplash, broken or fractured bones, lacerations, brain injury, neck injury, spinal cord injury, or even death if the accident was severe.
Contact Moody Law
If you are having difficulty getting your or the other driver’s insurance company to offer a reasonable settlement, or you or a loved one has suffered catastrophic injuries, contact the attorneys at Moody Law in the Tampa area today.