Parking garages serve many purposes. Not only do they provide drivers with a secure location to store their vehicles, but they also help ease congestion on the streets. Unfortunately, incidents causing injury can occur in these locations despite their benefits. If injured, you may not know what entity you can hold liable for the injuries and damages you’ve endured in a parking garage. The following blog explores what you should know and how a Tom Green County, Texas personal injury lawyer can help you pursue the justice you deserve.
What Incidents in a Parking Garage Can Occur?
Generally, three types of incidents can occur in parking garages; collisions involving vehicles and pedestrians or injuries because of unsafe property.
Collisions involving vehicles are not uncommon in parking garages. Due to the nature of these spaces, there is often a very low-speed limit and many stop signs to ensure drivers stay safe. However, many may not adhere to these safety measures, leading to collisions. For example, a driver speeding may not have time to stop when another vehicle is backing out of a spot, or if a driver does not stop when indicated, they can crash into another passing car.
Similarly, drivers traveling in an unsafe manner may lose control of their vehicle and collide with a pedestrian walking to or from their car.
Pedestrians can also suffer injuries due to unsafe property conditions. For example, improper lighting, unsafe stairwells, broken elevators, potholes and cracks on the ground, and unsafe structural integrity can all lead to a number of injuries.
Who Assumes Liability for the Injuries That Occur?
If you want to pursue compensation for the injury you’ve sustained while in a parking garage, knowing who can be held liable is essential. Generally, if another driver caused the damages, you can hold them liable. However, if your injuries are the result of a premises liability incident, the owner of the garage can be held accountable. This is because it is their duty to ensure the location is safe.
Once you determine who is liable, you can begin the process of pursuing compensation. You will likely be able to recover economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include quantifiable and calculable damages, such as compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and rehabilitation costs. Non-economic damages are not as simple to determine, as these include things like loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, disfigurement, and humiliation.
As you can see, there are many things that must be taken into consideration when injured as a result of another party’s negligence. That’s why it’s in your best interest to contact an experienced attorney from the Mathis Law Firm to help you navigate these complex matters. Our dedicated legal team will explore all avenues possible to help you recover the compensation you deserve. Schedule your free consultation today.
