According to the National Safety Council, more than 10,000 accidents happen in parking lots each year. These accidents lead to property damage but also significant bodily injuries. Many motorists are unsure of what to do after a fender bender in a parking lot, and the information online isn’t helpful. Call The Stano Law Firm to find out if you have a legal right to compensation. A Houston car accident lawyer can jump in and immediately gather evidence to use in a claim.
Low Speed Accidents Are Dangerous
One misconception is that parking lot accidents are minor because the cars are going slowly. But it only takes one “jolt” for a motorist to suffer a meaningful bodily injury:
- Whiplash
- Pinched nerves
- Displaced discs
- Spinal cord injury
- Airbag injuries
A low-speed accident is not “low risk.” Instead, anyone could end up in the back of an ambulance after getting struck by a car going 5 or 10 miles per hour.
Why Accidents Happen in Parking Lots
Parking lots bring a lot of vehicles together in tight quarters, so it’s no surprise that we see so many collisions. These accidents happen for many reasons:
- Impatience. Someone leaving the store might be impatient to get home, so they drive off in a diagonal across the lot. And someone just pulling into the parking lot could be anxious to get a good spot close to the entrance, so they take aggressive action.
- Distraction. There are many distractions in a lot, including people walking around and trucks pulling in and out of the loading dock. Many motorists also reach for a cellphone when they get into their car to scroll through messages, sometimes when backing up.
- Failure to use mirrors. A driver might not even check the mirrors when throwing a car into reverse and backing out of a parking spot. They can easily run over a pedestrian crossing behind the vehicle.
- Speed. Because they are impatient, many drivers are going too fast in a lot.
- Failure to yield. The rules involving the right of way in a parking lot are like those out on the road. A driver looking to make a left-hand turn to exit the lot must yield to cars already going in that direction. Some drivers just jump into traffic.
Determining Liability
Anyone hurt in a parking lot accident can request compensation for their damages. But a Houston car accident lawyer needs to first analyze liability. In short, who is legally responsible for the crash?
The Stano Law Firm will analyze:
- Witness statements. After the crash, talk to witnesses if you can. They can offer important testimony to bolster your own version of events. They might confirm that a driver was racing in a diagonal across the lot.
- Police report. You should report the accident to the police, especially if someone was seriously injured. This police report often contains critical information.
- Surveillance video. Big box stores often have multiple cameras pointed toward the parking lot for security purposes. If you call a lawyer quickly, we can try to obtain a copy of the footage, which can show what happened.
- Your vehicle. Pain smears can show which car struck the other one, which usually matters when determining liability.
By calling a lawyer quickly, you can secure the most important evidence, which strengthens our hand in negotiations. Don’t try to negotiate a claim on your own.
Challenges with Parking Lot Accidents
There are some hurdles to receiving compensation:
- Disbelief that you are hurt. High-speed accidents get all the love from insurance adjusters. When an accident happens at low speeds, these same insurance representatives might allege you are exaggerating your pain or injuries. We can help document the ongoing effects of the crash.
- Lack of evidence. Sometimes the police won’t come out to a parking lot accident, so you might not have a police report. That can delay a claim.
- Comparative fault. The driver who hit you might claim you are also to blame—or even more than 50% responsible. Texas law prevents someone who is more than 50% responsible for receiving compensation from an accident.
It is possible to win fair compensation for an accident in a parking lot, but hiring the right legal team makes all the difference.
Speak with a Houston Car Accident Lawyer
The Stano Law Firm has assisted injured motorists for almost a decade. Our Houston auto accident lawyers believe in the power of the legal system to provide redress when victims are injured by the dangerous conduct of others. Contact us today by calling 832-777-0390 and scheduling a consultation.