Columbia Parking Lot Accident Lawyer
It is the unfortunate reality that parking lots can be very hazardous places for drivers. Whether in a shopping center or office buildings, the inherent dangers of parking lots are drivers driving in reverse without looking, cars coming around blind corners, and vehicles traveling too quickly.
If you were injured in a parking lot collision, you should reach out to a Columbia parking lot accident lawyer. Whether your case resulted only in minor harm to you or more severe damage, you may be entitled to compensation. A skilled car accident attorney could help break down the logistics of your case and devise a legal strategy to bring a lawsuit.
Types of Parking Lot Accidents
Typically, a parking lot case will involve two drivers who may both believe that the accident was the fault of the other. This is because parking lots tend to create a situation where both vehicle operators may be competing for the same spot, or neither will have seen the other until after the accident. Some of the most common causes of a crash that drivers should be on the lookout for are:
- Two cars backing up and colliding into one another
- When a driver pulls forward out of a spot, and into the path of an oncoming vehicle
- When a driver fails to heed a stop or yield sign
- If two cars are competing for the same parking space and collide
- When a driver is distracted by a cell phone, looking for a parking space, or other outside influences
Providing a Colombia parking lot accident lawyer with a clear explanation of just how the collision occurred is the first step in building a case.
Traffic Laws Governing Parking Lots
Once in a parking lot, many drivers feel that the rules of the road become more relaxed than if they were on a typical city street or busy highway, this is not true. All traffic laws, including yielding at marked signs as per Missouri Code §300.270, adhering to angle parking signs and markers under Mo. Code §300.429, driving on the right-hand side of the road, and other rules are all applicable. This is relevant not just for a driver’s general safety, but essential for their case as well.
Shared Liability in Columbia Injury Claims
The precise details of the case are crucial for parking lot accident cases because of Missouri’s shared fault rules. If a plaintiff brings a lawsuit for their damages, they should anticipate that the defendant will argue that, even if they are found to be negligent, the plaintiff was partially at-fault for the accident as well.
Missouri operates on a pure comparative fault system, which means that if a court finds the plaintiff was not entirely faultless, their damages may be reduced by their determined percentage of the blame. Therefore, a plaintiff who is awarded $100,000, but is considered 20 percent at fault for the accident, will collect $80,000. A Columbia parking lot accident lawyer could help the plaintiff to fight to reduce this percentage of fault to the lowest possible degree if any, at all.
Unique Aspects of a Parking Lot Accidents
What differentiates parking lot accidents in Columbia from car accidents that take place on the street is that parking lot crashes are typically at lower speeds and result in lesser injuries. Parking lot crashes also occur on private property usually, which means there are different standards of proof. There are also different standards when it comes to people walking crosswalks and what they should and should not do.
Role of Slower Speed Limits and the Presence of Pedestrians
Slower speed limits and more pedestrians play a role in terms of changing the rules of safe driving in the parking lot. Parking lots are known for slower speed limits and more pedestrians, because different rules apply when driving in parking lots. This does not change the fact that a driver must always yield to pedestrians, regardless of whether they are in a crosswalk. This expectation of slower speeds and the addition of pedestrians in parking lots could also be used against the negligent driver to show that the standard shows that they are expected to drive slower in these parking lots.
Reach Out to a Columbia Parking Lot Accident Attorney Today
If you are injured from an accident, you should not have to live with the medical bills and other expenses you incurred as a result of the incident. To discuss how you may be able to bring a suit to improve your situation, you should reach out to a Columbia parking lot accident lawyer. Call today to find out more about what could be done to help you find a favorable resolution to your situation.