The National Safety Council estimates that one in every five car accidents occurs in a parking lot. More than 50,000 accidents happen in parking lots every year, resulting in more than 60,000 injuries and 500 deaths.
If you or a loved one suffered an injury in such a collision, you are not alone. Contacting a Pasadena parking lot accident lawyer can put you on a path toward recovering the damages you may be owed and protecting your rights. A qualified attorney in Pasadena can help figure out the damages you are owed, ensure that all of your paperwork is submitted to the court in time, and protect your rights and interests every step of the way.
Distracted Driving
One of the reasons that so many parking lot accidents occur is that many drivers are distracted while pulling into or out of a parking spot. Legally speaking, a driver can be considered distracted when their attention is unreasonably focused on something other than the task of driving.
A common culprit is the usage of cell phones. Texting, calling without the aid of a hands-free device, and watching videos are all ways in which drivers in parking lots are commonly distracted, which can lead to a serious accident and possible injuries.
Types of Accidents in Parking Lots
There are several ways in which someone can be involved in an accident in a parking lot. Besides car-on-car collisions, parking lots are also frequent locations for pedestrian accidents in which a car collides with a pedestrian. Cars can also crash into walls, signage, and other property, leading to property damage lawsuits.
Unfortunately, hit-and-run accidents are also among the most common parking lot accidents. Sometimes, drivers will collide with a car and simply drive away before the injured person can get the appropriate information. On top of civil penalties, Pasadena residents who commit a hit-and-run may face criminal charges as well.
Recoverable Damages
Anyone who is injured or experiences any sort of damage from a parking lot wreck may have a legal pathway to recover several types of damages in Pasadena. Economic damages are more straightforward losses with specific dollar amounts associated with them. These can include past and future medical bills, damage to property, and lost wages.
Plaintiffs can also seek compensation for non-economic damages, which are typically more difficult to quantify. These are losses that tend to be more subjective in nature, such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium within a family relationship as a result of injuries sustained in the accident. Determining the appropriate amount of damages is one significant way in which a parking lot accident attorney in Pasadena can be of service to someone who has been injured.
Importance of Retaining a Pasadena Parking Lot Attorney
When stepping into any courtroom, experience and legal knowledge are important assets to have. People who suffer an injury in a parking lot accident can especially benefit from the experience of local attorneys. Since a full fifth of all traffic accidents occurs in parking lots, many attorneys in Pasadena have just that kind of experience.
If you or a loved one are involved in a car wreck that occurred in a parking lot, contacting a Pasadena parking lot attorney can be the best way to start your case on the right foot. Call now to take the first step in yours.
