Parking Lot Accidents

Parking Lot Accidents

Parking lots, garages and structures can be dangerous places for drivers, pedestrians, and others. Conditions tend to be crowded with many moving persons and vehicles. Visibility can be low as larger vehicles and obstructions block lines of sight. Tight turns and badly parked cars can also block lines of sight and make it difficult to navigate and see pedestrians and other vehicles. Often people are busy, not paying attention, and in a hurry trying to get their shopping done or make it to an appointment on time.

If you have been the victim of a Louisiana auto accident in a parking lot or parking structure, you are entitled to make an insurance claim and/or file a lawsuit to recover money damages for your injuries and for damage to your vehicle or other property.

Do not make the mistake of thinking that parking lot accidents can only result in minor injuries. Even a slow-moving accident can result in severe injuries and major property damage. Injuries are not necessarily about the speed of the vehicles involved but about relative sizes and masses. For example, a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in a parking lot is often seriously injured just by virtue of the differential in masses between a vehicle and a person. Likewise, even a so-called “minor” rear-end Louisiana car accident can result in brain injuries, spinal damage, and other severe medical conditions.

Like other Louisiana auto accidents, liability for the at-fault driver is based on the theory of negligence. To be held liable, it must be shown that a driver violated his or her duty of care to others using the roads, highways, and parking lots of Louisiana. Among other things, the duty of care requires that drivers be watchful for the safety of others including distracted and unobservant pedestrians. That duty of watchfulness is heightened in busy parking areas for all the reasons mentioned. Further, drivers have a duty to be extra careful to avoid their own distractions while moving around a parking area. Distractions include dealing with family members, answering phones and texts and grabbing a bite to eat in the car. Most certainly, a driver’s duty of care mandates that all drivers avoid aggressive driving. like speeding to get that “perfect” parking spot, and road rage. Further, drivers are required to obey traffic control devices like stop signs in parking areas. Any failure to comply with traffic controls is also a violation of a driver’s duty of care.

If you have been the victim of a vehicle accident in a Louisiana parking lot, you can recover for the following categories of damages:

• Ambulance charges
• Medical bills
• Lost wages and income
• Pain and suffering
• Damage to your vehicle or other property (like merchandise just purchased)
• And more

If a loved one witnessed the injury and was also in the “zone of danger,” your loved one might also have a claim against the at-fault driver, including claims for emotional distress and for fear and apprehension of harm.

Mansfield Melancon Attorneys can Help

If you have been injured in a Louisiana parking lot accident, contact the Louisiana personal injury attorneys at Mansfield, Melancon, Cranmer & Dick LLC. We have a proven track record of success handling many types of Louisiana personal injury cases, including, but not limited to, car accidents, boating accidents, motorcycle accidents, premises liability accidents, and cases involving nursing care facility abuse/neglect. Contact us by calling one of our offices: New Orleans at (504) 500-1108, Baton Rouge at (225) 612-0800, or Lafayette at (337) 409-0003. You can also request a free consultation by using our “Contact Us” page.