When most people think of car accidents, they envision vehicles that collide at high speeds or on the open road. However, you may be surprised to learn that collisions in parking lots are common, accounting for around 20% of motor vehicle accidents.
If you were injured in a parking lot accident in Clearwater, Florida, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. The experienced legal professionals at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers will help you determine your options and pursue the financial recovery you deserve.
Contact our car accident lawyers in Clearwater, FL at (727) 493-4418 for a free consultation. We’ll discuss your parking lot collision and evaluate whether you have a valid claim.
How Our Clearwater Car Accident Attorneys Can Help After a Parking Lot Crash
Colliding with another vehicle in a parking lot is more dangerous than you think. These accidents cause thousands of injuries and deaths each year. Unfortunately, an insurance company may question the severity of your injuries and undervalue your losses.
That’s where our Clearwater car accident lawyers can help. We’ll use our 119+ years of combined experience to your advantage and work towards a favorable outcome in your case.
Here’s how Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers can help after a Clearwater parking lot accident; we’ll:
- Provide an honest case assessment and legal advice
- Investigate the crash and gather evidence, including surveillance, eyewitness statements, medical records, and more
- Value your damages and fight for every penny
- Negotiate with insurance adjusters and protect you from low settlement offers
- Represent you in court if necessary
There’s no obligation when you meet with our Clearwater personal injury attorneys for a free initial consultation. We’ll provide preliminary guidance and explain the best available options.
What Causes Parking Lot Accidents?
Parking lots are bustling with activity, with cars coming and going, people walking everywhere, and shopping carts spread throughout. When you add distractions, it can result in accidents. In fact, over 63% of people indicate they’d make phone calls or program a GPS when driving in a parking lot.
The most common causes of parking lot accidents include:
- Distracted driving and driver inattention
- Failing to look when pulling out of a spot
- Limited visibility
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Driving the wrong way down a lane
- Failure to stop at crosswalks or stop signs
- Driving at unsafe speeds
- Poorly designed or maintained parking lots
These negligent actions and conditions can lead to collisions and pedestrian accidents. Our car accident attorneys in Clearwater will identify what caused the incident and who may be accountable.
Common Types of Parking Lot Accidents
Various scenarios can lead to parking lot accidents, including:
- Two cars reverse at the same time and back into each other
- Someone hits a parked vehicle
- A driver backs into a moving vehicle
- Two cars crash when competing for a parking spot
- A vehicle strikes a pedestrian
- Rear-end crashes
- Head-on collisions
- Multi vehicle accidents
- Left-turn accidents
Depending on the severity of the impact and other factors, accidents in parking lots can cause various types of injuries. You should be compensated for them if another party is at fault.
Who Is At Fault for a Parking Lot Accident in Clearwater, Florida?
Proving fault in a parking lot accident is often complicated, especially if two vehicles contributed to the collision.
Determining who is liable will depend on the circumstances. Most often, the driver who failed to follow Florida’s right-of-way rules will be at fault.
For example, if a car reverses and hits another vehicle that was traveling down the lane, the driver of the reversing vehicle is likely liable. They failed to yield the right of way to the oncoming driver and should’ve checked their mirrors before proceeding.
It’s the most difficult to determine fault in an accident involving two cars backing into each other. In this scenario, both drivers may share some degree of responsibility. However, if one driver started backing out first, the other driver will likely be primarily to blame.
The parking lot owner may also share responsibility in some cases under a theory of premises liability. For example, if there aren’t clearly marked lanes, this creates an unreasonably dangerous property condition. If people don’t understand the flow of traffic, they may be unaware of who has the right of way in certain situations.
Our Clearwater parking lot accident attorneys will help you determine and prove fault.
What Should I Do After a Parking Lot Accident in Clearwater?
After a parking lot accident, take the following steps to protect your health and legal rights:
- Call the police, especially if anyone is injured. If they respond, they’ll complete a accident report providing an objective account of what happened. If they don’t, you must self-report the accident to the FLHSMV within ten days if it caused any property damage.
- Exchange information with the other party, including contact and insurance details.
- Gather evidence. Take photos and video of the position of the vehicles, property damage, and any other relevant information.
- Note the names and contact information of any eyewitnesses.
- Jot down your recollection of events as soon as possible so you don’t forget any important details.
- Seek medical attention, even if you don’t think you’re hurt. You may have underlying issues, or your injuries may manifest later. Your medical report will tie your injuries to the parking lot accident.
- If possible, obtain the name of the parking lot owner. You may need security footage of the accident.
To protect your rights and ensure that you fulfill all legal obligations, contact our personal injury lawyers in Clearwater to discuss your parking lot crash.
Contact Our Experienced Clearwater Personal Injury Lawyers for Help With Your Parking Lot Accident Claim
Were you injured in a parking lot accident in Clearwater, FL? Regardless of the circumstances and how it happened, you may be able to file a claim to recover compensation.
Contact Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers to speak with an experienced Clearwater car accident lawyer regarding your case. We also handle cases like:
- DUI accidents
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Intersection crashes
- Red and yellow light collisions
- Lane change crashes
