805-962-1930 Santa Barbara Parking Lot Accident Attorney
Getting into a parking lot accident can be inconvenient and infuriating. If you were injured in a parking lot accident that wasn’t your fault, then you also have to deal with expensive medical bills and other damages. When you are involved in any type of traffic accident, it is important to seek legal help right away after calling 911. Parking lot accident attorneys can review your case and make sure you get compensated if the other party is at fault.
Some parking lot accidents are confusing, making it difficult for you to know if you’re accountable for your damages. Let a parking lot accident lawyer step in and guide you in these difficult times. Reach out to our dedicated law firm to learn more. Contact Maho Prentice Law now for a free consultation.
Common Causes of Parking Lot Accidents
Car accidents can happen for many reasons in a parking lot, mainly due to driver error. Activities that can distract drivers include texting, making phone calls, talking to passengers, and other mistakes that take a driver’s eye off the road. Parking lot collisions can cause pedestrian accidents too, resulting in property damage and serious injuries. The most common causes of parking lot accidents include the following:
Backing Into A Car Or Pedestrian
A reckless driver can begin to back out without checking if there are any obstacles behind them. Car crashes like these often result in other cars or pedestrians getting hit. The car backing out would be at fault because the passing cars and pedestrians have the right of way.
Both Cars Collide While Backing Out
This can happen when two cars collide while backing out of opposite parking spaces. The fault usually falls on both drivers.
Speeding
Vehicle accidents can also happen when cars are speeding or driving too fast for the parking facility. Some parking lots are designed to accommodate a certain speed limit. Drivers need to limit the risk of getting into an accident by driving slowly and cautiously in a parking lot.
Wrong Way Accidents
When a car is going in the wrong direction in a parking lot, it can cause serious accidents. Some common causes of this include drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, drivers who are distracted by their cell phone, and drivers who are unfamiliar with the parking lot.
Parking Lot Accident Injuries
Parking lot accidents can lead to many different injuries depending on the severity of the car crash. The most common types of injuries that occur in parking lots include:
Whiplash
If another vehicle hits you while you are driving, the force of impact can cause whiplash that injures your head and neck. If a vehicle hits you from the side, your head and neck can be strained when thrown in an unnatural way.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Another vehicle can strike your vehicle from the rear while you are slowly moving forward. This type of impact could result in back injuries and damage to your spine, which can create a number of neurological issues. For example, fatal injuries to the spinal cord can leave you paralyzed depending on where the damage happens.
Broken Bones
A pedestrian can break a bone if another vehicle runs into them in a parking lot. They can break and fracture bones in their ribs, limbs, clavicle, face, and other areas.
Head Wounds
Car crashes in parking lots can be severe enough to cause brain injuries, especially to pedestrians, since they don’t have the protection that someone in a vehicle does.
Determining Fault in Parking Lot Accidents
According to personal injury law, the person at fault is the individual who caused the injuries and other damages to accident victims. Car accident cases require proof to show how the at-fault party is liable. A parking lot accident lawyer can help you find evidence to support your personal injury claim.
You can also contribute to your personal injury claim by gathering as much information as possible about the incident. The first thing that you need to do is contact 911 and get medical help if anyone was injured. You also need to call your insurance company and report the accident so they can send an adjustor out to inspect the damage to your vehicle. The insurance company will send you a letter with an adjuster’s contact information and ask for your version of events.
You should report the accident to the police department and request a copy of the police report. If any witnesses saw what happened, then they can help provide details about how the incident occurred, so get their contact information. Get information from the driver, including their license plate number, contact information, and insurance provider. If you were injured in the accident, then make sure that you seek medical attention as soon as possible so that you can receive treatment for your injuries. You will also need to preserve any evidence of damage on your car by taking photos before it is repaired.
Work With Santa Barbara Car Accident Lawyers
After you gather evidence for your accident, you can meet with personal injury lawyers who can help you to determine fault. They can also advise you on whether or not you should sue the other driver for economic and non-economic damages. The lawyer will need to review all of the facts to make an informed decision about how to proceed. They will file your car accident claim and provide legal representation for your personal injury case. Our law firm works on a contingency fee basis, so we don’t require an upfront payment. For more information, contact Maho Prentice Law for a free consultation on how to obtain a fair settlement.