When most people imagine vehicle collisions, they think about crashes that take place on streets or highways. However, accidents also commonly occur in parking lots due to driver inattentiveness.
Regardless of whether an accident occurs in a parking area or highway, negligent drivers can be held legally accountable for the harm they cause. Even in parking lots, drivers must follow the rules of the road as well as keep their attention on their surroundings.
A Columbus parking lot accident lawyer at our firm can help if you were injured by a negligent driver in a parking area. Our dedicated Columbus car accident attorneys will work to obtain evidence of defendant negligence, measure your losses, and pursue fair compensation for all your injuries.
What Causes Collisions to Occur in Parking Lots?
Parking lots and garages can be hazardous areas. This can be partially due to unpredictable traffic patterns. While driving on a road or highway can allow drivers to assume what other vehicles will do, parking lots are often more chaotic. A driver may suddenly pull out of a parking space, unexpectedly turn into a lane, or come around a blind corner in a parking garage. A driver who is not paying attention to their surroundings could easily be involved in a collision.
It is also common for accidents to occur between drivers and pedestrians. Many parking lots and garages will post speed limits at only five or ten miles per hour, yet few drivers take these limits seriously. When a driver fails to drive attentively, they could accidentally strike a pedestrian while backing out of their parking space or when making a sudden turn. Our well-practiced attorneys in Columbus can provide more information about the common causes of accidents in parking lots.
Working to Prove Defendant Negligence in Columbus
The mere fact that a wreck occurs in a parking lot or garage is not enough to prove defendant fault for the accident. As is the case in all personal injury claims, the plaintiff bears the burden of proving that defendant negligence caused their injuries. As a result, it is essential for people to examine the facts that led to the parking garage or lot collision with our experienced local lawyers.
Every driver must keep their eyes and attention on the road, even when within a parking lot. A driver who is talking on a cell phone or who is searching for an open spot to park may violate their duty to keep others safe by becoming distracted. Likewise, a driver who speeds in a parking lot or who does not check behind their vehicle while backing out of a spot may also be held liable.
Our team of attorneys can also help protect a claim against accusations of comparative negligence. There is no such thing as a no-fault accident in Columbus, and juries in trials will evaluate the actions of all parties to assign blame. According to Ohio Revised Code §2315.33, they will use the concept called modified comparative negligence to determine fault for an accident.
This means that if a jury believes a claimant bears some responsibility for an accident, such as by not crossing a parking lot in a crosswalk, that jury can reduce the overall damage award by the percentage of fault a plaintiff is assigned. If the percentage of blame for a plaintiff exceeds 50, the court cannot award any compensation. A Columbus parking lot crash attorney at our firm can help prove that a defendant was the primary liable party in a collision.
Call a Columbus Parking Lot Accident Attorney for Help
Accidents that occur in parking lots are just as serious as those that occur on the open road. These crashes can inflict life-altering physical injuries, emotional traumas, and economic losses. A driver who is at-fault for these crashes is liable to provide compensation for all your losses. However, collecting these payments can be difficult on your own.
A Columbus parking lot accident lawyer can help you. Our team of trustworthy attorneys can explain your rights, gather evidence, and use that evidence to build a strong claim of negligence against the at-fault driver. There is a limited time to pursue your claim, so contact our office today to get started.
