According to the National Safety Council, there are over 50,000 car accidents that occur in parking lots each year. Even if these accidents do not often result in fatalities, they can still cause serious injuries. Furthermore, there may be numerous parties responsible for your parking lot accident injuries. If you have been injured in a crash that occurred in a parking lot or any other traffic incident, you may be entitled to substantial financial compensation in a settlement.

Drivers Fail to Estimate the Risks in Parking Lots

Many motorists think that they are in a safer place just because they are not on a roadway. They may think that they can use less focus in a parking lot because they are not traveling at as high a speed. Some may think that a parking lot is a place where they can make phone calls or begin to prepare themselves for their journey. This is absolutely not the case! Parking lots have their own unique set of dangers that drivers must appreciate anytime they are in one.

What Are the Dangers in Parking Lots?

There are numerous dangers present in parking lots that you may not have to deal with on the roadways, including:

• Drivers have additional blind spots
• Motorists are often driving in reverse
• Drivers must contend with both other motorists and pedestrians
• The design of the parking lot may not facilitate safety
• Drivers may over-rely on technology to spot dangers

Pedestrians are the ones who are most at risk of suffering severe parking lot accident injuries. Drivers may not see them walking in their path, or they may back up over a pedestrian when exiting a parking spot.

What Are the Common Causes of Parking Lot Accidents?

Distracted driving is the single biggest cause of parking lot car accidents. Motorists may focus on what they must do when they arrive at their destination. Others may be trying to catch up on their texts and check their emails when they first get behind the wheel. Either way, the driver may not be looking for other motorists or pedestrians in their path.

Then, a driver may be traveling far faster than would be reasonable under the circumstances in a parking lot. Even if there are no explicit speed limits in a parking lot, a driver must always exercise due care by going as slow as circumstances permit. A driver who is speeding may not see other motorists coming around the corner or pulling out into traffic.

The conditions in the parking lot themselves may have been to blame for the accident. For example, the design of the parking lot could be a danger, not allowing drivers to see others in their path. Alternatively, the parking lot owner may not have cleared the roadway of ice and snow in enough time to prevent danger. The owner of the parking lot also owes you a duty of care to act reasonably under the circumstances.

Parking Lot Accidents May Still Be Serious

You may think that car accidents that happen at lower speeds may mean that you would not suffer serious injuries. Even if these accidents may not lead to many fatalities, they could still result in serious injuries. Whiplash is perhaps the most common injury that you would suffer in a parking lot accident. This injury occurs when your head and neck snap violently forward from the impact while the rest of your body remains still. Whiplash injuries are paradoxically more serious when they have occurred at a lower speed. Whiplash can result in permanent and debilitating injuries to many parts of your body. Approximately 10% of car accident victims who suffer whiplash injuries may be permanently disabled.

Who Can I Sue for a Parking Lot Accident?

In most cases, your claim would be against the other driver who was involved in the accident. You would file a claim against their insurance or a lawsuit against the motorist in court.

There may be other potential defendants that you could add to your case. In some cases, the design of the parking lot itself or the conditions at the time of the accident could have caused your injuries. In this case, you may be able to file a premises liability lawsuit against the parking lot owner. At the very minimum, you may add them to your claim, thereby gaining a deeper pocket that can cover more of your damages.

How Can I Obtain Compensation for a Parking Lot Accident?

Like any other car accident, you would need to prove that the other driver was negligent in order to receive any type of financial compensation. Negligence means that the driver did something that would be considered unreasonable under the circumstances. You would have the burden of proof to demonstrate that the driver was negligent. Your car accident lawyer could prove negligence by using a number of types of evidence, including:

• Testimony from witnesses who saw the accident
• Pictures from the scene of the accident
• The police report of the accident
• Video camera footage from the parking lot
• Testimony from an accident reconstruction expert

Given that the accident occurred in a parking lot, there is always a chance that it was captured on some type of surveillance camera. Although you may not have ready access to this footage, your car accident lawyer may be able to subpoena it as part of the lawsuit process. Even if your lawsuit is not against the parking lot owner, they may still be obligated to turn over evidence if they are served with a subpoena that goes through the court.

How Much Is My Parking Lot Accident Case Worth?

Like any other type of personal injury case, your compensation is dependent on the scope and extent of your injuries. You may be entitled to the following in a parking lot accident settlement or award:

• Medical expenses
• Property damage
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Emotional distress
• Embarrassment and humiliation

Why Do I Need a Parking Lot Accident Lawyer?

You need to go through the insurance company to get the compensation you deserve after a parking lot accident, and this is not always easy. You would almost always do better financially when you have an experienced car accident lawyer representing you throughout the legal process.

The Law Offices of Duane O. King have been helping injured clients since we opened our doors in 2007. We firmly believe in taking on powerful interests on behalf of our clients and do not rest until you have gotten every dollar you deserve.

Contact a Washington, D.C. Parking Lot Accident Lawyers at the Law Offices of Duane O. King Today

When you have suffered an injury, a Washington, D.C. parking lot accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Duane O. King is here to fight for you. To schedule a free initial consultation, call us at 202-331-1963 or contact us online. We have offices in Washington, D.C., National Harbor, Maryland, and Falls Church, Virginia and proudly serve clients in Prince George’s County, including Laurel, Beltsville, Adelphi, College Park, Greenbelt, Mitchellville, Woodmore, Greater Upper Marlboro, Springdale, Largo, Bowie, Capitol Heights, District Heights, Forestville, Suitland, Seat Pleasant, Clinton, Oxon Hill, Temple Hills, and Fort Washington.