Slip and fall accidents send hundreds of thousands of people to emergency rooms throughout the United States each year, with injuries ranging from mild bruises to bone fractures and even death. These accidents leave their victims with thousands in medical bills, inflicting extreme physical, emotional, and financial trauma on them. The situation is even worse if the accident results due to someone else’s negligence and there is no apparent way to seek recourse.
Although parking lots might appear to be safe public spots, the fact remains that they are one of the most common locations where slip and fall accidents occur. If you or your loved one got injured as a result of such an accident, you might be able to sue for damages and obtain financial compensation through a lawsuit.
Causes of Parking Lot Slip and Fall Accidents
Parking lot slip and fall accidents result from a number of reasons, some of which include safety hazards like poor lighting, broken or uneven pavements, oil spills, open potholes, etc. If a parking lot lacks an adequate number of clear traffic/safety signs, it can also cause accidents resulting in serious physical injuries. Weather conditions like snow and rainfall might cause parking lots to become unsafe for pedestrians. Icy pavements and roads are very common causes of these accidents and often result from the negligent maintenance of parking lots at public or private properties.
Establishing Liability
All property owners have a legal responsibility to ensure safe conditions at their establishments, and this responsibility also extends to parking lots. This duty of care entails the display of proper safety signs and maintenance of broken pavements, open potholes, icy walkways, and more. If you or your loved one got injured in a slip and fall accident, you might be able to recover damages through a lawsuit. By filing a lawsuit against the negligent property owner, you can obtain financial compensation for your physical, emotional, and financial damages. You can also pursue legal action against any contractor who was in charge of the maintenance and upkeep of the parking lot, failed to do their job, and indirectly contributed to your accident and injuries.
Comparative VS Contributory Negligence
Depending on where you live, your lawsuit might be subjected to different state rules governing liability for your slip and fall accident. States like Alaska and California follow the comparative negligence law, which means that you can sue the property owner for damages even if the accident was partly your fault. On the other hand, in states like Washington D.C., Virginia, and Alabama, you might not be able to recover any damages if it is determined that you shared part of the fault for the accident and/or injury in a parking lot.
Hiring a Lawyer
Going through the process of filing a lawsuit can be challenging without professional legal help. Hiring an experienced parking lot slip and fall attorney is one of the most important steps you can take to secure your legal rights in the aftermath of your accident. A competent attorney will help you gather the required evidence, prepare the relevant paperwork, and file the lawsuit in a court of law.