Parking lot and parking garage accidents are very common across the globe. One out of every five car accidents, in the US, occurs in a parking lot/garage which is why drivers must use extra caution in these situations. Although these accidents typically occur at low speeds, they can cause significant property damage and personal injuries. Even when a car hits a pedestrian at a low speed, the pedestrian can still sustain substantial injuries due to the power of the vehicle. The most frequent causes of parking lot and garage accidents occur when drivers are backing out of a parking space, distracted because they are talking on the phone, or when drivers are speeding.
Florida laws are different for parking lots and garage accidents because they are considered private property. Many times the police will not respond unless there are injuries. The speed limit in parking lots ranges from 10 to 15 miles per hour. Florida law also requires property owners to provide adequate lighting and maintenance of their parking lots and garages. Therefore, if it is determined that your accident was caused by improper maintenance, you may also be able to file a civil suit against the property owner.
Determining who is at fault can be difficult in parking lot and garage accident cases. An individual who is backing out has a duty to yield to oncoming traffic. In order to determine who is at fault, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant had a duty of care. The plaintiff must also prove that their injuries and damages were a result of the defendant breaching that duty of care. In many parking lot and garage accident cases, liability for an accident is shared between the plaintiff and defendant with varying percentages of fault.
At Cullen & Hemphill, PLC, we offer a free, no-obligation consultation to automobile accident victims and their families. If you choose to hire us to fight for the compensation you deserve, you will owe us no money upfront. In fact, you don’t pay us at all unless we win for you. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by calling us today.
