Parking garages are beneficial structures, providing people with a safe location to store their vehicles. Not only does this allow people to keep their cars protected from bad weather, but it also helps free up parking spots on the street. Despite the benefits of parking garages, they can, like most locations, be the site of accidents and injuries. However, it’s essential to understand how parking garage accidents happen and who can face liability to ensure you recover the justice you deserve. Keep reading to learn more about these occurrences and how a Houston parking lot accident lawyer can help you through this process.
How Do Parking Garage Accidents Happen?
Parking garage accidents can occur because of a number of occurrences, but they can generally be divided into two categories – driver negligence and dangerous premises conditions.
Generally, driver negligence occurs when someone traveling through a parking garage is distracted, disobeys the signs and traffic patterns, or becomes aggressive. For example, many parking garages have very low-speed limits. If someone is traveling too fast, they may collide with a vehicle backing out of a spot or turning a corner. Similarly, because these lots are often narrow, a driver who is not paying attention may hit a pedestrian walking to or from their car.
Pedestrians are also at risk of injury due to unsafe conditions on the premises. For example, unsafe stairwells, inadequate lighting, broken elevators, and poorly maintained walkways can lead to slips and falls.
Who Can Face Liability for Damages?
If you are injured, understanding who can be held liable for any injuries and expenses you incur is vital. However, this depends on what kind of accident occurred. Generally, if you are injured because of a driver’s negligence, they will be held liable. However, if hurt because of unsafe property conditions the property owner assumes responsibility for the injuries suffered.
What Should I Do if I’m Injured?
If you are injured in a parking garage accident, ensuring you proceed carefully is vital. You should immediately seek medical attention for the injuries you’ve sustained. Unfortunately, if you do not seek or delay receiving medical treatment, the defense can hold that against you. They may claim your injuries are not severe, since you did not immediately need medical attention.
You must also contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible. Unfortunately, personal injury cases can be complex and challenging to navigate. As such, letting someone well-versed handle these legal matters. An attorney can fight for the compensation you deserve for medical expenses, time spent off work recovering, and any additional expenses you’ve incurred as a result of the accident.
When you need help, the Gonzalez Law Group is ready to help you through these challenging times. Contact our dedicated firm today to learn how we will fight for you during these challenging times.
