Parking garages have a lot of blind spots, tight corners, and people walking through them. You would think that drivers would proceed carefully because of all that, but you might be surprised at how common parking garage accidents are. If you or a loved one were harmed in such an accident, the negligence of someone else is probably to blame. A San Mateo County, California car accident lawyer can help you hold any liable parties accountable.
What Causes Most Parking Garage Accidents?
Most parking garage accidents can be traced back to negligence on the part of either a driver or the owner of the parking garage. Some big problems are:
Driver behavior: A parking garage should be driven through carefully and slowly. Some people do not do that. They speed, they ignore signs, or they pay more attention to their phone than their surroundings. A driver engaging in this kind of behavior can easily hit pedestrians or other cars, causing potentially serious injuries.
Poor maintenance of the garage: Sometimes the poor upkeep of the garage itself can be at least partially blamed for an accident. If the owner does not replace burned-out lights, deal with obvious safety hazards, or make sure that important signage is easy to see, they could be partly at fault for parking garage accidents that occur.
What Injuries Are Common in Parking Garage Accidents?
Parking garage accidents can cause serious injuries, even if most of them occur at lower speeds. Injuries can be especially severe when the accident involves a pedestrian. Common injuries include:
- Cuts and scrapes
- Broken bones
- Internal organ damage
- Whiplash
- Concussions
If you or a loved one were harmed in a parking garage accident, it is time to think about who should be held accountable.
Can the Owner of a Parking Garage Be Blamed for an Accident?
As we mentioned, a neglectful garage owner could be held accountable if they were aware of potential safety hazards and did nothing to fix them. In a personal injury lawsuit, you can sue multiple people. So you would be able to sue the car that actually hit you along with the garage owner. A lawyer can take a closer look at your case and let you know if this is a viable option.
Can I Pursue Compensation After an Accident?
Yes, we often suggest that drivers pursue compensation after parking garage accidents. These collisions can cause more damage than you might expect, and you should not be on the hook for those repairs and bills if someone else’s negligence caused the accident. You should be able to recover compensation that can help make up for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damages
If your injuries could affect you for a long time, factors like your loss of earning potential and mental anguish from disfigurement or disability should also factor in when compensation is calculated.
Set Up a Consultation With Our Law Firm
When you are ready to pursue compensation, contact the Law Offices of Allister R. Liao and schedule a consultation. We would love to tell you more about how our lawyers could be of assistance to you and your family in this difficult time.
