Parking Lot Accidents and Liability in Maryland

If you drive, you likely use a parking lot every day. Even if you are not a driver, you’ll still need to bike or walk through a parking lot to get where you’re going; whether it’s a restaurant, shopping mall, church, or school. The vast majority of time, that parking lot is pretty unremarkable – until it’s not. When things go wrong in a parking lot, both drivers and passers-by can experience serious injury.

What causes parking lot crashes?

Because parking lots are usually full of activity, with shoppers and carts and pedestrians coming from all directions, any number of things can occur to cause a car crash. These types of collisions typically involve two vehicles striking each other, one vehicle striking a pedestrian, or a pedestrian suffering an injury due to unsafe parking lot conditions.

Driver negligence is often a factor in parking lot accidents. In fact, the National Safety Council (NSC) reports that, in a public opinion poll, drivers said they would engage in the following distracted driving behaviors while driving in a parking lot:

• Make phone calls – 66%
• Program their GPS – 63%
• Text – 56%
• Use social media – 52%
• Send or receive emails – 50%
• Take photos or watch videos – 49%

The NSC also reports that nine percent of pedestrian deaths in parking lots are a result of backup incidents. Although many of today’s vehicles are equipped with safety technology like rear-view cameras to detect another vehicle, these cameras may not always detect pedestrians or motorcycles, which is why drivers must always be alert and not rely on their vehicle’s system.

What should I do if I am injured in a parking lot?

If you are involved in a collision or accident in a parking lot, you should take a few actions to protect yourself and your personal injury case. An attorney can help you determine whether your injuries were caused by a negligent motorist or by unsafe premises (if you were injured by a pothole or a slip and fall on snow or ice). If you are able, take these steps:

• Notify the police, who will call an ambulance if necessary. More importantly, they will take a report, which will be valuable for your injury claim and contain much of the information the insurance company will need.
• Ask any witnesses for their contact information, including full name and phone numbers.
• If possible, take photos of the scene of the accident, with multiple angles of the vehicles and the damage. If you were injured because of unsafe conditions, photograph or video the hazard that caused your injury.
• Get medical treatment as soon as possible, and ensure you obtain all documentation relating to your injuries. Follow your doctor’s orders to the letter and save all of your bills and receipts.
• Consult with an experienced Maryland injury attorney to determine the strength of your case and the amount of compensation to which you may be entitled.

Maryland has a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Many injury victims believe they should wait and see if their injuries heal or resolve on their own before taking legal action. This is never a good idea. Filing a suit can take a lot of time, and if you miss that three-year deadline, you will give up your right to compensation. Further, the sooner you begin working with an attorney, the fresher the details of your accident are in your mind.

The Maryland personal injury attorneys at Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. can help you with your injury claim today. We walk clients through the process and keep you informed every step of the way. To schedule a free consultation about your case, please call us at 410-730-7737 or use our contact form.