Car accidents don’t only happen between moving vehicles on the road. They can also arise when a car is parked and another vehicle crashes into it. Significantly, just because your car wasn’t moving doesn’t mean you cannot be a victim of another driver’s negligence. If you were injured while sitting in a parked vehicle struck by another, you may be entitled to pursue a personal injury action for the damages the careless driver caused you to suffer.
Common Causes of Parked Car Accidents
No one expects to be in an accident while sitting in a parked car. Unfortunately, if a driver is speeding, driving under the influence, texting, or inattentive, they can collide with a stationary vehicle. Whether a driver backs up into a parked vehicle, sideswipes it, or hits it head-on, they can cause not only significant property damage — but also severe injuries to anyone who might have been occupying the vehicle at the time.
Parked car accidents can occur in a variety of locations where vehicles are parked, including the following:
- Parking garages — Due to poor lighting and cramped conditions, parking garages are a common location where parked car accidents can occur.
- Parking lots — Parking lots are one of the most frequent places where parked car accidents arise. If a driver backs out of or pulls into a spot and fails to pay attention, they may strike a parked vehicle, causing any occupants to suffer injuries.
- Driveways — Whether it’s a public or private driveway, accidents can happen if another vehicle tries to maneuver around a parked vehicle or backs up into one.
- On the street — If a driver is under the influence, texting, or inattentive, they may lose control of their vehicle and collide with or sideswipe a parked car on the street.
A parked car accident can cause you to sustain debilitating injuries, depending on the impact and the part of your vehicle that was struck. If you were sitting in a parked vehicle at the time of the collision, you may have suffered soft tissue injuries, nerve damage, traumatic brain injury, broken bones, and various other injuries. These types of injuries can often involve extensive medical treatment, time out of work, and a considerable amount of pain and suffering.
Who’s Liable for a Parked Car Accident?
Liability for a parked car accident is typically straightforward when a car is parked legally. However, there can also be other contributing factors, depending on the facts and circumstances of the collision. In addition to the negligent driver being held accountable for their actions, a parking lot owner might be to blame if they failed to maintain the premises properly. A manufacturer may also incur liability if it can be established that the accident was caused by a vehicle or part defect, such as faulty brakes.
If you can demonstrate that someone else was responsible for the injuries you sustained as a result of being struck by another vehicle while in a parked car, you may be entitled to recover your economic and non-economic damages. An award of economic damages covers unreimbursed medical bills, lost wages, future lost earnings, and out-of-pocket costs. Non-economic damages are meant to compensate for the physical pain and mental anguish you endured, as well as the loss of enjoyment of life you suffered in connection with your injuries.
Contact an Experienced New York Personal Injury Attorney
If you sustained an injury in a parked car accident, it is essential to pursue compensation for your economic and non-economic losses. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney can work to recover the damages to which you’re entitled and ensure the negligent party is held accountable. The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. has represented victims of negligence for three decades and strives to obtain the best possible outcomes in each of their unique cases.
The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. has convenient office locations in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn, as well as mobile locations serving Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester County, Rockland County, Nassau County, and Suffolk County. Contact us today for a consultation.