Parking Lot Accident Lawyer in Providence

Parking lots should not be dangerous places. By moving slowly and remaining alert to their surroundings, drivers can keep these areas safe. Unfortunately, not everyone follows the rules, and as a result, serious accidents occur. Get help from a Providence car accident lawyer from Gemma Law if you have been hurt in a crash.

Our firm has 50 years of experience and is committed to excellence. We strive to give every client superior service, loyal support, and exceptional representation. You can count on your parking lot accident lawyer in Providence to demonstrate our commitment to fighting for your justice.

Types of Parking Lot Accidents We Handle

Our Providence personal injury lawyers can help you with any case of negligence, meaning someone owed another person a duty of care and failed in that duty of care, causing an accident that resulted in injuries. There are many ways that such accidents can happen. Some examples of the types of claims we handle on a routine basis include:

• Vehicle accidents: One vehicle backs into another. One turns the corner in a tight parking lot and strikes the other. In these situations, determining fault requires considering all relevant details. There are times when both drivers may be responsible, and fault is split as a result because they failed to seek clearance before moving.
• Rear–end collisions: These accidents typically occur when one driver is not paying attention to the other or when there is insufficient following distance between the vehicles. This can also occur if the brakes fail. Fault is typically on the person who struck the other, but there are times when the driver up front could be accountable.
• Pedestrian accidents: Unfortunately, pedestrians often suffer serious and even fatal injuries in parking lot accidents. Poor walkways, parking lot conditions, and car congestion can increase the risk of these accidents.
• Bike and motorcycle accidents: With the activity that occurs in a parking lot, it is easy for a bike or motorcycle rider to be overlooked by a vehicle operator, leading to serious injuries and losses.
• Slips and falls: In some situations, parking lot accidents involve a slip-and-fall, such as due to ice, poor lighting that makes it difficult to see, poorly marked exit signs, or potholes. When a pedestrian is injured due to the property owner’s poor maintenance or upkeep, the owner may be liable under premises liability laws.

In each one of these accident cases, it becomes your responsibility, as the victim, to determine who is at fault and build a claim that documents that. It is our goal, as your Providence parking lot accident attorney, to give you all of the legal tools and resources to seek fair compensation after such a devastating accident. Review our frequently asked questions to learn more.

When Is a Property Owner At Fault for Parking Lot Accidents

Parking lot accidents can occur to drivers, those walking across them, or bike riders, and in some of the situations, it is the property owner who is at fault for the losses you suffered. Our Providence parking lot accident lawyer will examine all details in your case, but there are several situations where the property owner or management team could be held accountable for another person’s injuries. Some examples of when the property owner could be at fault include:

• Poorly maintained conditions with potholes, uneven surfaces, or other risks
• Parking lots with ice, snow, and other debris buildup that creates a tripping accident
• Lack of lighting on the property makes it hard for anyone navigating it to see well, leading to accidents
• Poor signage or a lack of any type of direction that provides people with where to walk and cars with where to drive

These are among the most common reasons parking lot accidents occur. Our team will work with you to gather evidence to build your case in these situations, and that can be challenging. Let us review all factors contributing to your losses. Our client case results demonstrate our track record of success.

A Parking Lot Accident Attorney in Providence Can Put an Accurate Value on Your Claim

Gemma Law’s Providence parking lot accident lawyers can help you file a wrongful death claim if your loved one dies in a parking lot accident, or a personal injury or premises liability claim to help you recover injury and property damage losses.

We cannot say how much your case is worth until examining its specific factors, but we can promise to fight for the highest compensation available, including:

• Medical expenses and future care needs
• Wages lost during recovery and future earnings if a return to work is not possible
• Costs for property repair or replacement
• Any additional expenses
• Acknowledgement of your suffering and diminished quality of life

Your Providence parking lot accident attorney will not overlook any details in assessing the value of your losses. Not all parking lot accidents are minor fender-benders. Some cause serious injuries, especially when victims are pedestrians. The NSC data also indicates there are hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries from parking lot accidents each year. Of those deaths, 9% are pedestrian fatalities caused by backup crashes.

Understanding Negligence in Parking Lot Accidents

Getting compensation for a parking lot accident requires proving that another party’s negligence caused the incident. Proving negligence involves showing the other party owed you a duty or care–they had an obligation to avoid certain behaviors or take proactive measures to preserve your safety. Then, you must prove that the party’s actions or lack of action represented their failure in fulfilling that duty. Finally, you have to show that failure caused the accident and the resulting damages.

In many parking lot accidents, another driver is the negligent party. In some cases, the owner of the premises may bear liability. The reason for the accident and injury is the main difference between premises liability and personal liability. Accidents caused by defects or unsafe parking lot conditions may prompt a premises liability claim.

Those caused by a careless driver represent claims involving personal liability. A Providence parking lot accident lawyer can manage either type of claim. 

Speed and Distraction Are Major Causes of Parking Lot Accidents

Driving too fast for conditions is a form of speeding and is one of the common factors that lead to collisions in parking lots. Even if a person “only” travels at 20 miles per hour through the area, that rate is too fast. Drivers may be motivated to get to a spot before someone else nabs it or may just want to make a quick exit. Either way, these actions are reckless. 

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), distraction can often cause parking lot injuries. In a nationwide public opinion poll the Council conducted,  drivers said they would engage in these behaviors while driving through a lot:

• Make phone calls: 66%
• Set up GPS systems: 63%
• Text: 56%
• Use social media: 52%
• Compose or read emails: 50%
• Take pictures or watch videos: 49%

These risky behaviors contribute to the tens of thousands of accidents in parking lots and garages each year, per the NSC.

Unsafe Parking Lot Conditions

Low visibility is another risk factor. Poor lighting lowers visibility, putting pedestrians at very high risk. Property owners also need to remove debris that could cause obstacles and prompt drivers to swerve unexpectedly.

The same applies to ice, slush, and snow, which could lead to skidding or loss of vehicle control. These conditions can be devastating far beyond a fall. Many people strike their head or are hit by a car as a result of these types of accidents.

The Impact of the Comparative Negligence System on Compensation

Rhode Island follows a system of pure comparative negligence for personal injury claims. As a victim, you have the legal right to seek damages even if you are partially culpable for the accident. Still, your level of culpability can affect the compensation available to you.

When you are assigned a percentage of blame, the compensation you can collect is lowered by that same percentage. If you are 30% to blame, you can only collect 70% of the calculated compensation amount. Our team will work to minimize your liability and challenge any accusations the other side may make against you.

It is your right to seek financial compensation for all losses you have, but it is also critical that you prove fault as much as possible. Insurance companies will work overtime to try to limit the amount of compensation paid to you, and they will put you at risk along the way. Let us take a look at your claim to determine if you are at fault to any degree and determine how we can reduce that fault.

We Will Take Care of All Elements of Your Parking Lot Accident Claim

The sooner you reach out to us for representation, the better for you and your claim. You are likely to be in pain and stressed out after involvement in a crash. Keeping track of legalities and handling insurance issues only adds to that stress. We will take all of those tasks off your shoulders.

Quick access to your case allows us to analyze the accident and compile evidence of the at-fault party’s negligence while that information is still available. Many parking lots have cameras, but as time passes, footage may get erased. Witnesses’ memories can fade, and physical evidence can go missing.

Rhode Island sets the statute of limitations for personal injury at three years. An early connection gives us time to accurately identify the negligent party and file a claim within that deadline.

What to Do After a Parking Lot Accident and When to Call a North Providence Parking Lot Accident Lawyer

If you are in a parking lot crash of any type, for any reason, we encourage you to take the following steps. Doing so protects your right to compensation and may help minimize complications to your health and well-being. In every situation, we encourage you to focus on these steps when it is safe to do so:

• Call 911 for help if there are any injuries involved in the accident or if there is significant damage to any vehicle or other asset. Parking lots may be private property, but if an injury occurs, you want a police officer to document the incident.
• Seek safety as a priority. Get out of the way of further injuries if you need to do so. Then, check on others involved and offer help when you can do so safely.
• Document the scene of the accident as thoroughly as possible. This includes gathering photos of the accident location, placement in the parking lot, the damage to each car, and any injuries present. The more detailed you are, the better.
• Get the other person’s name and contact information, and document their insurance information as well. Taking a photo of their driver’s license and insurance card is an easy way to do this.
• Get the name and contact information for anyone else involved in the accident, as well as witnesses who saw what occurred. They can serve as valuable tools for you later.
• Get medical care immediately. Even if you feel okay right after the accident, it is best to seek a checkup with the urgent care or emergency room. Many hidden injuries can take hours to become apparent. You want to make sure they are clearly understood.

      Alert your insurance company and that of the other party as soon as possible. In this situation, your goal is to simply let them know what occurred. Do not file a claim or even talk about the injuries you have.

Then, contact our Providence parking lot accident attorney. Let our legal team evaluate the accident, start working on building your claim, and answer any questions asked by the insurance companies or other parties. Our objective is to pursue fair compensation for you consistently. You are not alone in this process.

What to Expect from Our East Providence Parking Lot Accident Lawyer

At Gemma Law Associates, we believe in providing our clients with outstanding legal representation and support throughout every part of their case. To do this, we examine all factors contributing to your injuries and losses and build a strong claim. Take a closer look at what you can expect after the incident occurs:

• An investigation. The first step will always be an investigation that looks at all evidence to demonstrate fault. This may include parking lot cameras, photos taken by those involved, witness statements, and other relevant data. An investigation allows us to determine why the incident occurred and who was at fault.
• A full assessment of your losses. Our experience allows our legal team to work diligently to examine all potential losses you have after a parking lot accident. We speak to your doctors, gather evidence from your employer, and discuss with you how this incident is impacting your life.
• We file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. Expect our attorney to work by your side to answer questions and negotiate a fair level of compensation for you. We do not back down just because a settlement is the easier option.
• We file a lawsuit. The act of filing a lawsuit in a courtroom encourages insurance companies to get into action and carefully analyze your case. It is very common for cases to settle after this accident.
• Go to trial for you. In cases where the insurance company refuses to provide fair compensation and treat you with respect, expect us to go to trial, build your case, and defend you to the fullest level possible.

You are not in this process on your own, but with a legal team dedicated to your best possible outcome. We know what is on the line, from your medical costs to living a quality of life you enjoy. Let us speak to you, build a claim for you, and make sure you are taken seriously in every situation.

You Pay Us Nothing for Our Legal Services Upfront

We serve all of North Providence, East Providence, and Providence itself with exceptional legal insight and support. You do not pay for a consultation with us, and you will not pay us anything unless we win your case for you. Let us go to work today to build a strong claim that holds others accountable for what happened to you and the implications on your future.

We Can Make a Positive Difference in Your Life

Gemma Law has deep roots in Rhode Island. We care about every resident, are dedicated to fighting for injury victims, and we get results for individuals and their families.

A parking lot accident lawyer in Providence from our team is ready to make a positive difference in your life by fighting for the compensation you deserve. Connect today to arrange a free case review.