Accidents happen every day. We often think of accidents just on Los Angeles roads and don’t think about parking lots. But parking lots can be a treacherous place, especially for pedestrians.
In Southern California, parking lot accidents happen frequently and while injuries aren’t usually life-threatening, these accidents can cause serious damage to your vehicle and leave you with a painful injury.
When you have an accident that occurs in a parking lot, you may not know how to react. Are the rules the same? Who is at fault? How can I make sure that I am not involved in a parking lot accident?
If you are in an accident that has occurred in a parking lot, don’t let it overwhelm you. Take a deep breath, make sure everyone is okay, and take the steps needed to handle it.
Most Common Causes of Parking Lot Accidents
Accidents happen in parking lots for many different reasons and knowing why they happen can help you avoid causing one. When you are aware These reasons include:
- Distracted driving
- Poor lighting
- Sharp corners
- Poor pavement conditions
- Unmarked lanes and spots
- Speeding
What often causes the most serious injuries is when a pedestrian is hit by a moving car. Even though the cars are traveling at slower speeds in a parking lot, when a large vehicle strikes a person with any force, it can result in severe injuries.
If you are injured in a parking lot, you need to be sure to contact a personal injury lawyer to make sure you don’t have to spend any money out of pocket.
Who Has the Right of Way in a Parking Lot?
Knowing who has the right of way in a parking lot may not always be as cut and dry as when driving on the road; however, there are still rules.
If are driving in a parking lot and you are driving in the through-lane, you have the right of way, and all other vehicles must yield, whether they are parked or approaching the through lane unless there is a stop or yield sign.
Vehicles exiting a parking space must also yield to approaching vehicles in the through-lane and are considered at fault in the event of an accident.
Do I Still Need to File a Police Report if the Accident Occurs in a Parking Lot?
It is a common misconception that if accidents that occur in the parking lot don’t need to be reported to authorities. In California, you must report an accident, even if it occurs in a parking lot.
Accidents that happen in a parking lot should be treated the same as accidents that happen on the road. If you are involved in a parking lot accident, stay at the scene and call the police to make a written report. When making the report, you want to remember never to admit fault. You may also want to check for witnesses that may have seen the accident and can make a statement.
How to Prevent Parking Lot Injuries
The best way to prevent parking lot car accident injuries is to pay attention to your surroundings. Whether you’re driving a car or walking into a store, knowing where you parked, looking for other vehicles, and understanding where you’re going are all keys to making sure you’re safe in a parking lot.
Distractions are the most common cause of parking lot accidents, and this can be especially dangerous with pedestrians walking to and from their car. Common distractions include:
- Talking to passengers
- Changing the radio
- Texting
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Even though other drivers are responsible for their actions, you can take certain steps to help avoid an accident. By being defensive and paying attention to your surroundings, you can help avoid the pain and suffering you might experience by avoiding the accident altogether.
What You Can Get Compensated For
When you’re injured in an accident, your first priority is to get better, but you shouldn’t be responsible for paying your expenses to recover. When you work with us, we’ll help you recover for:
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation costs
If you didn’t cause the accident, why should you bear the burden on paying for the consequences? The answer is, you don’t. This is why you need to hire an aggressive Los Angeles Personal injury attorney who has the experience needed to recover the full value of your claim.
Contact your Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer
If you’ve been injured in a parking lot accident in Los Angeles, contact a car accident lawyer you can trust to get you back on your feet and the compensation you’re entitled to so you can make a full recovery. Be sure to contact Steinberg Injury Lawyers to help you get compensated for your injuries.
When you work with us, we’ll investigate your accident, speak with witnesses, negotiate with insurance companies, review police reports, and review medical records. We do all of this at no cost to you. We only get paid when you win, and we only take cases we plan on winning.
Contact us today at 1-800-350-8888 for a free, no-obligation evaluation of your case to see how we can help you move forward.
