Hit By Car in Parking Lots in TN

Every year, several pedestrians are hit by a car in parking lots in TN. As they walk to or from their destination, they’re often surrounded by distracted drivers competing with one another for a  parking spot. A single moment of inattention can be all it takes for you to be struck by a motor vehicle and left with severe and sometimes permanent injuries. If that happens, Attorney John R. Colvin and his team will help you hold that negligent driver and their insurance company responsible for the compensation you need to recover.

Why Do Parking Lot Accidents Happen?

A National Safety Council report estimates that one in five accidents occurs in a parking lot, and a lot of them are due to distracted driving. According to the NSC survey, 66% of drivers make phone calls while navigating through busy parking lots. Respondents also admitted to texting, programming GPS systems, and using email or social media. 

Researchers found that the slower travel speed gave these drivers a false sense of security, making it easy to forget that the consequences of distraction can be deadly. Whether a driver is going at 5 mph or 50, they can and do injure and even kill other people, especially pedestrians.

Parking lot accidents can also be caused by:

  • Driver speeding
  • Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
  • Ignoring traffic and directional signs
  • Entering and exiting the lot in the wrong direction

The property owner may also fail to properly maintain the lot, which could lead to accidents. Poor lighting, potholes and faded parking spot pavement markers may also contribute to pedestrian parking lot accidents. When this happens, the owner has failed in their duty of care to you and can be held accountable. 

Common Injuries in Tennessee Parking Lots

Vehicle-pedestrian collisions within the boundaries of a parking lot can have serious consequences, even when they occur at relatively low speeds. 

The severity of contact injuries can range from bruises and sprains to broken bones, traumatic brain injury, and death. Your face and head are especially vulnerable, which is why so many fatal parking lot accidents are due to irreparable brain injury. Other common injuries include:

  • Spinal cord damage
  • Fractured or broken bones 
  • Disfigurement
  • Burns
  • Wrongful death

Even injuries that don’t seem severe in the beginning can have a life-altering effect as their symptoms develop. It’s a distressing outlook that you should not have to face alone.

What Should You Do After a Parking Lot Accident?

If you are able to move to a safe spot out of the line of traffic, do so. Then call 911 or ask a bystander to do it for you. 

This step is imperative even if you don’t think you suffered more than a few bruises. Some dangerous injuries, like traumatic brain injury, don’t always show symptoms right away, so never leave an accident scene even if you think you’re fine. You also want a record of the accident for your personal injury claim. This record will consist of medical and police reports.

While you’re waiting for the police and an ambulance to arrive, take photos of the accident scene if possible. You also need to get the driver’s license plate and insurance information and the contact details for any witnesses. They can back your version of events if the driver or their insurer attempts to present a different story. If you are too injured to communicate, a police officer can get this information for you at the same time they complete an accident report.

What Damages Can You Claim?

While every case is different and your compensation will depend on the nature and extent of your economic and noneconomic losses, damages frequently claimed in parking lot accidents include:

  • Bills for current and upcoming medical care
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of earning ability
  • Treatments like physical therapy
  • Mobility devices
  • Emotional distress
  • Pain and suffering

What if the Driver Claims You Contributed to the Accident?

Under Tennessee’s comparative negligence rules, you can still claim compensation even if you contributed to the accident, as long as you aren’t found to be 50% or more at fault. For example, if your damages total $15,000 but you were 20% at fault, you would receive 80% of your claim, or $15,000.

It is common for auto insurers to use comparative negligence in order to reduce, delay, or deny claims. You stand a better chance of getting a fair settlement if a Tennessee pedestrian accident lawyer advocates on your behalf.

Why Should You Call a Personal Injury Lawyer After a Parking Lot Accident?

If you’re involved in an accident while walking across a parking lot, you have very little protection, unlike the motorist. As a result, pedestrians often suffer severe and debilitating injuries that require extensive and costly medical treatment. Getting back on your feet can take weeks or even months. In some cases, a car accident may even result in a lifelong disability.

When a distracted driver leaves you injured, they should be held liable for the damages they caused. Unfortunately, it can be challenging to get compensation, as insurance companies will fight you at every turn. The company will try to reduce the value of your claim or deny you the money you need. The person who caused your injuries will also inevitably try to shift some of the blame onto you. 

Hiring John R. Colvin as your personal injury lawyer will level the playing field. With decades of experience advocating for personal injury victims, he will give your case the edge it needs to get the compensation it deserves.

Attorney Colvin will:

  • Do a thorough investigation to determine the cause of your parking lot accident and who to blame
  • Collect medical reports, police reports, accident photos, and surveillance footage of the accident scene
  • Demand that your injury claim be taken seriously by insurance adjusters
  • Seek compensation from all liable parties
  • Identify sources of compensation in the case of an uninsured driver
  • Protect you when the driver or the insurance agent tries to blame you for the accident

Get an Experienced Lawyer on Your Case Now!

If you’ve been hit by a car in a parking lot in TN, you have to act quickly, as you only have up to one year from the date of the accident to file a claim. Don’t let an act of driver negligence leave you to cope with your medical losses, pain, and suffering on your own.

John R. Colvin is a caring and experienced personal injury attorney who has decades of experience securing meaningful compensation for his clients. He’s here to listen and help you when you need it most. To schedule a confidential consultation, please call (877) 580-7968 or contact us online.

Licensed to Practice in Tennessee & Alabama