Who Is Liable for a Parking Garage Accident?

When you park your car in a garage, you may never suspect that you may soon incur serious injuries and damages. But unfortunately, you cannot rule out this possibility, as parking garages may pose great dangers. Continue reading to learn who is possibly liable for your parking garage accident and how an experienced Hillsborough County personal injury lawyer at Merricks Law Group, P.A. can help you identify them.

Who is the liable party for a parking garage accident?

Most commonly, a reckless driver is the root cause of a parking garage accident. But even a pedestrian holds a certain responsibility to proceed with caution through a garage; so there are certain circumstances in which they are to blame. On the other hand, the liable party may not even have to be present at the time of your accident (i.e., the parking garage owner). Examples of how each possible party may be at fault are as follows:

• A negligent driver:
  • Failing to yield to pedestrians, yield at stop signs, and overall check blind spots before proceeding through the garage.
  • Failing to check the rearview mirror, side mirrors, backup camera, and overall surroundings when backing out of a parking spot.
• A negligent pedestrian:
  • Failing to use designated walkways and sidewalks when navigating through the garage.
  • Failing to check before crossing behind a vehicle that is reversing out of a parking spot.
• A negligent property owner:
  • Failing to safely design a garage with big enough spaces for cars to park or make turns, along with ceilings tall enough for cars to pass through.
  • Failing to install adequate lighting or security systems for drivers and pedestrians to remain safe from theft or violent attacks.

How long do I have to file a claim against the liable party?

The state of Florida holds a deadline for filing auto accident claims, pedestrian accident claims, slip and fall accident claims, and every other type of personal injury claim. This deadline, otherwise known as the statute of limitations, is generally two years from the date on which your parking garage accident occurred. Missing this deadline means missing your opportunity to get financial compensation and overall justice for this unjust situation. Specifically, if you slipped and fell in a municipal parking facility, then you may have to meet a deadline sooner than that of the statute of limitations. This is because you will be required to first submit a Notice of Claim, which is essentially an advanced notice to a governmental entity regarding your intention to commence a lawsuit against them. With all things considered, there is no time like the present to bring your personal injury claim forward. So reach out to a skilled Hillsborough County personal injury lawyer from Merricks Law Group, P.A. today.