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You may believe that your car accident in a parking lot or garage was not severe enough to warrant legal action. What you may not know is that the vast majority of car accidents in the country occur while the vehicles involved are traveling at 15 miles per hour or less. Even these accidents have the potential to do substantial harm.
You may also think that you cannot sue for car accidents that occur in parking lots, since they are private property. This is not the case. If you were involved in an accident in a parking garage or lot in Houston, you can pursue damages from the party that caused the accident. The responsible party could be the other driver who acted negligently or recklessly, but it could also be the person or entity in charge of keeping the parking lot safe for drivers.
At The Queenan Law Firm, P.C., we know that you deserve responsible, diligent legal assistance to help you recover for your harms, no matter how severe they are. You can speak to one of our experienced Houston parking garage and lot accident lawyers for free in your initial consultation. To schedule today, call our offices at (817) 476-1797.
Liability for Parking Garage and Lot Accidents in Houston
In most car accident situations, at least one of the drivers is at fault for causing the accident. This is still true if the accident happened in a parking garage. Drivers who speed in parking areas, drive through designated stop signage, or fail to account for cars that may be turning or reversing create dangerous conditions. Cars are also known to make frequent stops in parking areas. If a driver does not leave enough of a gap between their car and the one in front of them, it can cause a fender-bender. In the overwhelming majority of rear-end collisions, the driver of the car in the rear is found to be at fault for the accident.
The other driver may not be the only party that was negligent in causing your accident. Privately operated parking lots must be made safe for the drivers that utilize them. This means clear signage that indicates where vehicles can and cannot go, how fast they can go, and indicators of where other cars may be coming from. If there are dangerous conditions such as ice or snow on the pavement, the owner must take reasonable steps to either remedy this condition or clearly notify parking patrons that the condition exists. A failure to take these measures that leads to a car accident creates liability for the parking lot owner in a car accident injury lawsuit in Houston.
Some parking lot owners may hire third party companies, such as snow removal services or security firms, to ensure the safety of the premises. In such a case, liability may extend to the third party if it can be shown that they failed to abide by the terms of their contractual agreement with the owner or did not act reasonably under the circumstances. You have the ability to name more than one defendant in your lawsuit after sustaining injuries in a car accident. Your Houston parking garage and lot accident attorney can help you identify all the parties that you should name in your suit.
Suing for Car Accidents on Private Property in Houston
Many people mistakenly think that you cannot file a lawsuit for an accident that happens on a privately-owned parking lot. This causes plenty of potential plaintiffs to forgo their suit and miss out on the compensation that they have the legal opportunity to pursue.
Personal injury law still applies to car accidents even when they occur off the public roadway. Drivers are still legally obligated to operate their vehicle with the care of another reasonably prudent driver under the same circumstances. When they fail to do this, they incur liability for the consequences to their fellow motorists, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians who are harmed by their behavior.
Damages for Parking Garage and Lot Accidents in Houston
Car accidents are violent collisions that can cause serious injury, no matter how fast the vehicles are moving at the time of the accident. Fortunately, you may recover compensation in line with your injuries through a Houston car accident lawsuit.
Damages from your lawsuit will compensate you under a number of different theories. You can receive compensation that will cover the medical expenses that you incur due to your injuries. These medical expenses may include hospital bills, ambulance rides, surgery, physical therapy, specialist appointments, and prescription medication, to name a few. Even your hospital parking costs could be covered, so be sure to save all receipts and invoices from your care.
If you miss time at work due to your injuries, you can also recover your lost wages from the defendant in damages. This can be particularly valuable if your injuries prevent you from fulfilling the responsibilities of your job for an extended or indefinite period of time.
You can also recover compensation to match the pain and suffering you experienced because of your injuries, such as chronic pain and psychological conditions like depression and anxiety. While these are more difficult to articulate on a spreadsheet, that does not mean that they are not just as impactful on your daily life as any of the other consequences of your injuries. Your Houston parking garage and lot accident lawyer can help you estimate the value of your potential injury lawsuit so that you can make the best decision for your recovery.
Questions About Legal Options for Your Houston Parking Garage and Lot Accident? Call Us Today
The dedicated Houston parking garage and lot accident lawyers at The Queenan Law Firm, P.C. are waiting by the phone for your call to discuss your legal options for the recovery that you deserve. Call us for free today at (817) 476-1797.