According to the National Safety Council, parking lot car accidents account for thousands of fatal and non-fatal injuries each year. The silver lining to these experiences, however, is that under many states’ laws, including Missouri’s, injured parties have the right to seek compensation.
Be that as it may, there is no question that a victim of such an incident in Columbia, MO, will face many challenges, be they financial, physical, or emotional. Thankfully, a Columbia parking lot accident lawyer from Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers can guide you through each of these challenges and fight for fair compensation for your injury-related losses. Contact us now at (314) 444-4444.
How Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Parking Lot Accident in Columbia, MO
Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers works to help people in Columbia, Missouri, fight for compensation after experiencing any kind of traumatic accident. Our team of Columbia car accident attorneys has over a century of combined legal experience standing up to insurance companies and at-fault drivers on behalf of our many clients.
In the event that you are injured in a parking lot collision caused by someone else’s negligent or wrongful acts, our Columbia personal injury lawyers will provide the following forms of assistance:
- Reviewing your situation and advising you of your legal rights
- Collecting evidence for your case
- Preparing a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurer and negotiating to settle it
- Litigating your case if the insurance company refuses to fairly resolve it
Though they often occur at low speeds, parking lot accidents can still cause severe injuries. Do not hesitate to contact Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with one of our Columbia car accident lawyers to discuss your injuries and the compensation we can seek for them under Missouri law.
Causes of Parking Lot Accidents In Columbia
Parking lot accidents can take many forms, from collisions between multiple motor vehicles to crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists.
Causes of parking lot accidents are generally just as plentiful, and they include the following:
Improper Lookout
An improper lookout happens when drivers do not adequately check the areas around their vehicles before making their next move.
For instance, a driver may back out of a parking space using only their mirrors as a means of checking behind them, as opposed to looking over their shoulder. Similarly, drivers may move ahead despite only looking for vehicles, thus failing to spot pedestrians or cyclists. These risky driving behaviors can easily lead to parking lot accidents.
Distracted or Inattentive Driving
Parking lots often buzz with activity from drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike, which means even a momentary lapse in focus can result in a collision. Distracted driving, in particular, occurs when a driver splits their attention between driving and another task.
Such tasks can include the following:
- Texting
- Talking (either to passengers or on the phone)
- Eating
- Programming a GPS
- Reaching for objects
Inattentive driving is slightly different; while distractions often involve multitasking, inattention results from internal issues, like fatigue, powerful emotions, or daydreams. In both cases, though, the driver cannot see or react to others in the parking lot and may hit them as a result.
Speeding
Parking lots usually do not have posted speed limits, but drivers are nevertheless expected to drive slowly to minimize the risk of a collision. Many accidents take place when drivers simply go too fast; they often cannot stop in time to avoid a pedestrian walking in front of them or a driver backing into their path.
Challenges Faced in Columbia Parking Lot Accident Cases
As parking lots often lack traffic warnings such as stop or yield signs, posted speed limits, or pedestrian crossings, accidents in them typically present challenges when seeking injury compensation. Some drivers argue that, without those warnings around, they have the right of way and are not legally required to yield to others.
Another challenge is the fact that the police may decline to investigate crashes that happen on private property (which parking lots often are) unless a serious injury or death occurs. As a result, some parking lot crashes lack accident reports that would otherwise help an injury lawyer identify and recover evidence.
Despite these challenges, though, a parking lot crash victim can still seek injury compensation.
How a Columbia Parking Lot Accident Lawyer Fights for Injury Compensation
Negligence happens when drivers fail to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances. In other words, a driver is required to exercise the level of caution expected in an area crowded with vehicles and pedestrians, regardless of a lack of signs, lane strips, or crosswalks.
Moreover, parking lot owners and managers must exercise reasonable care in the design and maintenance of their properties. Lots with ice or standing water, debris, or blind corners may present clear hazards to drivers, and the property owner or manager may be liable for any crashes that result from them.
An experienced Columbia personal injury attorney can help you hold the at-fault party accountable and pursue full compensation on your behalf.
Contact Our Columbia Parking Lot Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Parking lot accidents can have serious consequences, including property damage and disabling injuries. Contact Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation with a Columbia parking lot accident attorney to learn how we can help prove liability and seek compensation from the other driver.
