Parking Lot Collisions and What You can Do about Them
Between the drivers attempting to back out of parking spaces with little ability to see the traffic behind them, the drivers hunting for parking and failing to pay attention to other cars, and pedestrians wandering through the lanes looking for their cars, it’s a wonder that even more accidents don’t occur in parking lots and garages. Fortunately, most of these accidents don’t occur at high speeds, but victims can still incur expenses from repairing body damage or suffer serious injuries from whiplash-like symptoms. If you become involved in a parking lot accident in New Jersey, follow the guidelines below to ensure that you’re compensated for your damages.
One way to prevent a dispute over who is at fault is by gathering evidence at the scene of the accident, such as taking photos of the cars involved in the exact position they were in at the time of the crash. Provided there isn’t much passing traffic and you feel that you’re not putting yourself in danger by doing so, take photos of the cars in the position they were in at the time of the collision. This will provide the most accurate depiction of how the crash occurred and offer evidence of which driver was at fault. While inspecting your car and taking photos, speak with bystanders who may have witnessed the crash to see if they might be able to describe what they saw in an affidavit to support a claim.
The security office for the parking garage at which the accident occurred may also serve as a helpful support for your claims. Call a security guard to the scene of the accident to have that individual prepare an accident report to use in support of your claims. While you should generally report accidents that cause injuries or a large amount of property damage to the police, if there is a security force charged with protecting the private property on which the accident occurred, the officer will most likely defer to them.
Additionally, if the driver who caused damage to your car did so when you were not nearby and left the scene of the accident without leaving any identifying information, the security office may be able to provide valuable evidence to you. Ask if there was a security camera close to the scene of the accident, footage from which might allow you to identify the car responsible for causing your damage.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a New Jersey car accident or truck accident, seek the compensation you deserve for the injuries you incurred in the crash, and contact the compassionate and determined Wayne personal injury attorneys at Massood Law Group for a consultation at 973-696-1900.
