Many of us use parking lots every day. Your workplace or school probably has a parking lot. You also likely park in one when you go to the supermarket or run errands. While parking lots can be convenient, they can also be poorly maintained. If parking lots are not properly upkept, hazardous conditions can arise that lead to slip and fall or trip and fall accidents resulting in serious injuries.
If you slipped and fell, or tripped and fell, in a parking lot due to the negligence of a store or landlord who was responsible for maintaining it, you may be able to recover for your damages in an action for premises liability.
How Do Slip and Falls or Trip and Falls Happen in Parking Lots?
There are countless factors that can contribute to a parking lot slip and fall or trip and fall. While weather conditions can contribute to falls, so can failure on the part of the responsible party to reasonably ensure the lot is free from dangers.
If you slipped and fell due to a condition that the property owner, landlord, store, company, or other responsible party knew about (or should have known about) and failed to remedy, they may be liable for your damages.
Parking lot slip and falls or trip and falls can arise year-round as a result of:
- Broken pavement
- Potholes
- Ice and slush
- Wet leaves
- Puddles
- Debris and spills
- Grease
- Inadequate lighting
- Wet paint
A responsible party may also be liable for your damages if they knew about a condition that could cause injury and failed to warn, such as by placing a danger sign near a pothole or depression.
What Kinds of Injuries Can You Incur in a Parking Lot Trip and Fall?
Tripping and falling on parking lot pavement can have devastating and debilitating physical consequences. You may have sustained soft tissue injuries, spinal cord damage, or traumatic brain injury due to the impact of the fall. Other common injuries can include broken bones, fractured hips, and neck injuries. Falls can also result in bruises, scratches, and lacerations.
Depending on the circumstances of the fall and the type of injuries you incur, you might require medical treatment such as emergency room treatment, surgery, physical therapy, medication, and acupuncture. Your doctor may also recommend you for certain testing, including MRIs, CT scans, and EMG-NCVs to diagnose nerve damage if you have radiating pain.
If another party is liable for your parking lot injuries, you may be entitled to recover unreimbursed medical expenses, time lost from work, out-of-pocket medical expenses, and non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.
What Kind of Evidence Do I Need to Prove My Parking Lot Trip and Fall Case?
Evidence is critical to prove liability in your parking lot trip and fall or slip and fall case. Slip and fall and trip and fall cases rely heavily on medical records — this evidence is key to proving that you have a compensable injury arising from the accident. Medical evidence can also demonstrate the harm you suffered.
Other crucial pieces of evidence may include surveillance videos to show how the fall happened, photos of the defect that caused your fall, incident reports, and witness statements. Your attorney will know which evidence is necessary to obtain based on the facts of your case.
Contact a New York Slip and Fall Attorney
If you suffered injuries in a New York trip and fall or slip and fall in a parking lot, it is important that you contact an experienced personal injury attorney who handles premises liability cases immediately since there are strict statutes of limitation that begin running from the day the accident occurred. A personal injury attorney can work to hold the responsible party accountable for their negligence and protect your legal rights.
The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. can help obtain you the maximum compensation you deserve for your parking lot injuries. The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. has convenient office locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, as well as mobile locations serving Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester, Rockland County, Nassau County, and Suffolk County. Contact us at (212) 970-6500 for a free consultation.