Parking Lot Accidents in Boston, MA

How Common Are Parking Lot Accidents?

Some estimates suggest that as many as 20 percent of car accidents happen in parking lots and garages. 

That means there are tens of thousands of car accidents in these structures each year. Moreover, there are thousands of injuries and hundreds of fatalities associated with these accidents. Parking lot accidents tend to be most common around major holidays.

What Are the Causes of Parking Lot Accidents in Boston?

Carelessness and failing to pay attention to surroundings are two common causes of parking lot accidents. Parking lots can be particularly dangerous because many cars are backing up simultaneously. There may also be many pedestrians walking in the path of moving vehicles.

Rear-end collisions, truck accidents, and pedestrian accidents can frequently occur in parking lots due to the volume of people and cars.

There are several situations in which parking lot accidents may happen, including:

• A vehicle is backing up and the driver fails to adequately check their rearview mirrors, hitting a pedestrian or another vehicle
• Two vehicles backing up at the same time collide with each other
• Rear-end collisions
• Collisions caused when a driver accidentally fails to switch their vehicle from drive to reverse, or vice versa

In each of these situations, you’ll need to determine who was at fault for the parking lot accident if you want to seek compensation for any resulting injuries.

Be sure to document any information you have about the cause of the accident, including the contact information for any witnesses.

Who is Liable for Damages From a Parking Lot Accident?

Determining fault can be difficult in a parking lot accident. All of the following factors need to be examined to determine who bears the legal responsibility for an accident:

• Whether there is a dotted line dividing the lanes of the parking lot
• Whether the lanes are one-way or two-way in the parking lot
• The angle of the vehicles when contact was made
• The speed of the vehicles when the accident occurred

In some cases, both drivers may be partially at fault for the accident. Massachusetts follows a modified comparative fault law when two parties are at fault. This means that even if you bear some responsibility for the parking lot accident, you may still be able to seek a financial recovery for your injuries.

Automatic Fault

In some instances, automatic fault will be assigned to a party involved in a parking lot accident in Massachusetts. These cases may include the following examples:

• When a driver hits a pedestrian or parked vehicle. This rule remains even if the vehicle was parked illegally
• When a driver rear-ends another vehicle
• When a driver fails to use their turn signal and causes a collision
• When a vehicle is left unattended, rolls and crashes into a pedestrian or other vehicle in the parking lot
• When a driver leaves a parking spot and hits something in the process
• When an open vehicle door causes an accident

If you were involved in a parking lot accident like these, you may be owed compensation from the at-fault party.

Employee Parking Lot Accidents

If you were injured in the parking lot at your place of employment, you may be surprised to learn that your employer may be held liable for your injuries because a parking lot is a part of their legal premises. A parking lot accident while on the job can lead to serious injuries.

If you are unsure what your next steps should be after being injured in a parking lot, contact a Boston parking lot accident lawyer who can help you identify who is at fault and provide you with the trusted legal representation needed to obtain the compensation you deserve.

When you work with Sweeney Merrigan Personal Injury Lawyers, you will work with an award-winning team led by our experienced co-managing partners, J. Tucker Merrigan and Peter M. Merrigan.

What Damages Can You Seek in a Parking Lot Accident Lawsuit?

You may seek many types of damages if your injuries were caused by another person’s negligence. 

Our personal injury lawyers help injured clients seek compensation for all of the following types of damages:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages for time missed at work
• Loss of earning capacity if you can’t return to your job
• Property damage to your vehicle
• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of consortium or companionship
• Loss of enjoyment

Don’t delay if you are interested in seeking compensation for your damages. Massachusetts has a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases.

If you don’t file your lawsuit within this timeframe, you will be forever barred from seeking a financial recovery.

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Boston Parking Lot Accident Lawyers

Our parking lot accident attorneys in Boston represent clients on a contingency fee basis. This means you don’t need to pay out-of-pocket for legal fees; we are compensated with a percentage of any financial recovery you receive. We don’t get paid unless you receive a settlement or award.

The Boston car accident lawyers at Sweeney Merrigan Personal Injury Lawyers are here to discuss your concerns and inform you of your legal rights after an accident. Contact us to schedule your free, no-obligation case evaluation today. You can give us a call at 617-391-9001 or fill out our contact form.