Few things are more irritating than finding your car damaged after you left it in a parking lot. Picture this scenario: you finish shopping at a store or watching a movie at the cinema only to come out and find your vehicle has new scratches and dents.
In an even worse scenario, you are actually in the vehicle when the parking lot accident occurs. This can cause property damage and potential medical issues for you and your passengers.
In either situation, you might have a legal case to pursue compensation. Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers at (504) 777-7777 for a free consultation to see if you are eligible to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit. A staff member can tell you more about your legal options and explain what a New Orleans parking lot accident lawyer can do for you.
Parking Lot Accidents Have Similar Causes as Regular Driving Accidents
There are many potential causes of parking lot accidents, such as:
Distracted Driving
A driver who is paying more attention to their radio or conversation can still be a hazard even in parking lots, where travel speeds are generally slower. Unfortunately, cell phone use is still a big cause of distracted driving, despite state laws forbidding it. A distracted driver might damage a parked car or be unable to stop in time to avoid a collision with a slower moving vehicle.
Aggressive Driving
Aggressive drivers exist in parking lots, just like they do on the road. On a busy weekend in a shopping center, multiple drivers may be seen rushing around, trying to find a parking spot in a crowded lot. A speeding driver might hit your parked car or collide with your vehicle as you look around for your own parking space. Other drivers might try to steal a spot from you, causing a collision in the process.
Driving Under the Influence
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), incidents of drunk driving in Louisiana outpace the nation as a whole. In Louisiana, 2.5 percent of adults admit to driving after consuming too much alcohol, compared to the national rate of 1.9 percent.
Parking lot accidents caused by drunk driving may occur in parking lots of restaurants, bars, or establishments that serve alcohol. If someone gets behind the wheel while under the influence, their judgment and reaction times are both affected. Driving while drunk can pose a threat to other drivers in the lot.
For a free legal consultation with a parking lot accident lawyer serving New Orleans, call (504) 777-7777
Our Legal Team Can Help You Pursue Property Damages
If your vehicle was struck while it was parked, you may be eligible to pursue compensative for your property damage. Depending on how fast the other vehicle was traveling, you might have been left with dents, scratches, or even more extensive damage to your car. Collisions can also damage specific parts of your vehicle, like your headlights and bumpers.
Car repairs are not cheap. If your insurance does not cover the damage, you may hire a lawyer to help you pursue compensation from the driver who struck your vehicle. If you are fortunate, the at-fault driver might leave their information for you to contact them. You may be able to settle things with their insurance company or pursue damages through a lawsuit if their settlement offer is not adequate.
If the other driver simply left the scene, your accident may be considered a hit-and-run. It may be harder to track down who collided with your car unless the parking lot has security cameras that caught the incident on tape or there was an eyewitness who stuck around to tell you what happened. It might still be possible to pursue damages in a hit-and-run accident, but it can be substantially more difficult.
New Orleans Parking Lot Accident Lawyer Near Me (504) 777-7777
Even Low-Speed Collisions Can Be Dangerous
Some parking accidents occur while the victim is still in their vehicle. Even though cars are typically traveling at lower speeds in parking lots, injuries may still occur. A common parking lot injury is whiplash, which occurs when a car occupant’s head jerks back and forth after being struck from behind. This “whiplash” can cause neck and upper back injuries, even if the vehicles involved in the accident were not moving fast.
These injuries can lead to medical bills and make your case a bit more complex. If you decide to pursue medical compensation after your parking lot accident, you can call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers at (504) 777-7777 for a free consultation. A New Orleans parking lot accident lawyer can help you pursue the damages you are entitled to collect.
Click to contact our New Orleans Car Accident Lawyers today
A Lawyer Can Manage Your Case for You
It is not mandatory to have a lawyer, but hiring one means that you have someone in your corner fighting for the best possible outcome. You can pursue compensation on your own. However, if you hire a lawyer, they can offer you their services, which may include:
- Filing your case
- Calculating your damages
- Gathering evidence to support your claim or lawsuit
- Finding the liable party or parties
- Taking care of communications on your behalf
- Keeping you updated on your case
- Bringing your lawsuit to court, if necessary
You do not have to build your case on your own. A lawyer can help you file your case and get the proceedings underway as you recover from your injuries, get your car fixed, or otherwise get your life back to normal. This is important because the Louisiana Civil Code (CC) §3492 sets the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury case to generally one year. If you wait too long, you might not be able to pursue compensation for the property damage or injuries you suffered.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Get a Free Consultation with Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers
If you or a loved one was injured or suffered property damage in a parking lot accident, our legal team may be able to help you pursue compensation. Contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers at (504) 777-7777 for a free consultation. One of our staff members can tell you more about how a New Orleans parking lot accident lawyer from our firm can help you with your case.
Call or text (504) 777-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
