Can You Sue For A Car Accident In A Parking Lot?

Can You Sue For A Car Accident In A Parking Lot?

1 December 2021
 Categories: , Blog


If you've been injured in a car accident that happened in a parking lot, you have the right to recover damages for your injuries. The fact that an accident happened in a parking lot may create some minor differences in your case, but it's still very similar to an accident that happened on a public road. Here's what you should know.

Do You Still Need a Police Report?

Most states require you to file a police report for a car accident with injuries or a certain amount of property damage. It doesn't matter if the accident happened on a public road or in a private parking lot. Not reporting an accident could get you fined by the government.

A police report usually isn't technically required to win a car accident claim, but it can be very helpful. The police report may have witness statements as well as the officer's observations about how the crash happened based on where the vehicles ended up and where the damage was. The fact that the police officer cited a driver or determined they were at fault can also be helpful.

In a parking lot crash, police can't always write the same tickets that they could on a public road. That's because not all traffic laws are enforceable in a private parking lot. However, the fact that the police didn't write a ticket doesn't mean the other driver isn't responsible.

You Can Get the Security Camera Footage

Many stores have security cameras that record their parking lots. This can provide video proof of exactly what happened. You can often get this footage, but they won't just give it to you most of the time. You usually need your lawyer to get a court order to obtain the video.

It's important to talk to a lawyer as quickly as possible after your accident. Stores often don't keep videos for more than a few weeks if they aren't notified to save them for legal reasons.

You Can Still Be Seriously Injured in a Parking Lot Accident

You may think that a parking lot accident can't be that bad. However, you can still get serious injuries, such as soft tissue injuries, in a low-speed crash. In addition, you may even be at even more risk of injury if you were still in the parking lot and hadn't fully buckled up and settled in before you were hit.

To learn more about how to recover from a car accident in a parking lot, contact a local car accident attorney today.