The National Safety Council reports that annually over 50,000 collisions occur in parking lots and garage, resulting in thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths. Although many of these accidents are avoidable if safety precautions are taken, careless or reckless drivers can leave a victim with no transportation, medical bills, potential lost income, and other damages.
Depending on the severity of the accident, victims of parking lot accidents may also face devastating personal injuries. A knowledgeable car accident attorney can help you navigate your case. Contact a dedicated Gautier parking lot accident attorney if you or someone you know is injured as a result of a parking lot collision.
Parking lot and garage accidents are often caused by a vehicle colliding with objects but can also involve collisions with two cars or with cars striking pedestrians. These accidents are often the result of drivers that are under stress or distracted. Often drivers do not take the dangers of parking lots as seriously as driving on the roadways. Drivers are often distracted by:
While most serious parking lot accidents are the result of driver negligence, other hazards may be present in a parking lot. Inadequate pavement, lack of signage, debris, potholes or cracks, poor lighting, and snow and ice can also lead to parking lot accidents. If a property is improperly maintained, and an individual suffers harm as a direct result, the injured may file a premises liability claim against the property owner.
After a parking lot accident, the driver should document the scene in a police report, collecting the at-fault driver’s information, potential witnesses, and hazardous road conditions. After filing a police report, initiating an insurance claim is the next step. If an insurance claim is unsuccessful or the suggested settlement does not cover the victim’s losses and expenses, the victim might then be able to file a lawsuit.
To file a personal injury claim in Gautier, the plaintiff must show that the defendant was negligent and failed to act as a reasonable person would in a similar situation. Negligence requires proof that the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff, breached that duty causing the plaintiff injury, and the plaintiff has damages as a result of the injury.
Victims in parking lot accidents are required, under Mississippi law, to bring their claim within three years of the accident. Proving fault where there are multiple parties can be complicated, and it is easy to feel overwhelmed when handling these claims alone. An experienced Gautier parking lot accident lawyer can help establish the elements of negligence and walk you through the claims process.
In personal injury cases, a plaintiff may pursue compensatory damages to compensate for their financial losses. Depending on the severity of a crash and the scope of the injuries, reasonable damages might include lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering, among others. A diligent attorney in Gautier could help calculate personal damages and recover needed compensation.
In Mississippi, a driver found to be partially at fault for the accident may be limited in recovering damages. Under Mississippi Code § 11-7-15, a victim’s compensation is reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to him or her. For example, if the victim is found to be 30 percent at fault for a crash, he or she could still recover 70 percent of the awarded damages.
When motorists disregard these traffic laws in parking lots, they may become liable for injuries and damages. With the help of a Gautier parking lot accident lawyer, you could better understand your legal options and decide how to best proceed. To see what a dedicated personal injury attorney could do in your case, get in touch today.