Recovering Compensation After a Car Accident in a Parking Lot

During the holidays, more people than ever are busy shopping for gifts for their loved ones. Distracted shoppers and drivers are a dangerous combination. Although parking lot accidents may be considered insignificant by some, parking lot accidents can cause severe injuries and significant property damage. Whiplash, concussions, and concussions are common injuries in parking lot accidents. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries if you have been injured in a car accident in a parking lot.

North Carolina parking lot accidents can occur in a wide variety of ways. However, there are some common causes of parking lot accidents. Many parking lot accidents are caused by distracted drivers and pedestrians who are not focusing on their surroundings. Other common causes of parking lot accidents include the following:

• One driver backs out of a parking space without paying attention to oncoming traffic
• Two drivers are backing up out of a parking lot space at the same time and collide with each other
• A driver backs out of a parking space and collides with a pedestrian or bicyclist
• Negligent drivers collide with a pedestrian or bicyclist who was using a crosswalk near a parking lot
• One driver rear-ends another driver at a stop sign or in traffic in a parking garage or lot
• Two drivers compete for the same parking space and collide as a result

Parking lot accidents can involve two or more vehicles, but they can also involve pedestrians are bicyclists. One of the more dangerous aspects of parking garages and parking lots is that these areas have more pedestrians, bicyclists, and other areas. There may even be people on electric scooters driving through parking lots. Drivers are focused on finding a parking space and may not see bicyclists, pedestrians, or scooter riders.

Accidents involving vulnerable parking lot users can be more severe than those involving two drivers. Bicyclists, pedestrians, and scooter riders do not have any external protection. They are likely to suffer more severe injuries when involved in car accidents.

Even when parking lot accidents occur at low speeds, they can still cause significant injuries. Whiplash is a common injury among those involved in parking lot accidents. When a person's neck is thrown forward and backward due to the force of a car accident, it can cause damage to the tendons and nerves in the neck. Whiplash can be extremely painful and make it difficult for someone to turn their neck.

Whiplash and other back and neck injuries can take months of chiropractic care and rehabilitation, adding to the victim's medical expenses. When pedestrians and bicyclists are involved in accidents, the injuries may be more severe. They may suffer spinal cord injuries resulting in partial or complete paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, concussions, broken bones, and more.

Under North Carolina law, victims injured because of another person's negligence are entitled to pursue compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. The first step in recovering compensation through a lawsuit or an insurance claim is determining who is liable or at fault for your injuries. There may be multiple parties who are responsible for paying your damages.

The first and most obvious at-fault party would be the driver responsible for colliding with another vehicle, bicyclist, or pedestrian. Drivers are not the only potentially liable party. The owner or operator of the parking lot could also hold some or all of the liability for an accident. Victims of parking lot accidents may be able to hold the property owner accountable when their negligence caused the accident, such as:

• Inadequate design of the parking lot
• Failure to properly maintain parking lot lines or signage
• Failure to remove obstacles or debris from the parking lot
• Failure to install adequate lighting
• Negligent security practices contributing to an assault or battery in a parking lot

When you work with the attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, you can rest assured that we will thoroughly investigate your case and determine which party or parties are liable for your injuries. After we develop a legal strategy, we will aggressively pursue the full and fair amount of compensation you deserve.

You only have a limited amount of time to pursue compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, and other damages. Contact the skilled North Carolina car accident attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, today to schedule your free case evaluation and learn more about how we can advocate for you.