Although most people think of highway collisions or minor fender-benders in congested street traffic when considering an auto accident, a large portion of these wrecks actually occur in parking lots. Unfortunately, parking lot accidents in Altoona can also be some of the more complicated civil cases in terms of establishing liability.
If you were involved in a collision while in a parking lot or parking garage, you could benefit from speaking with an accomplished Altoona car wreck attorney. A hardworking lawyer could provide vital guidance to help you reach a positive resolution to your case.
In parking lots, vehicles are closer to one another, which increases the opportunity and probability for collisions in the confined space. Additionally, people are walking through a parking lot much more frequently than they are alongside busy streets. It is an area where cars and people are mixed by necessity.
Unfortunately, parking lots also have decreased visibility. For drivers pulling in or out of a space between two cars, it can be very difficult to see oncoming vehicles or pedestrians because of the lack of vision caused by other parked vehicles.
Although parking lots and parking garages have lower speed limits many people do not obey the posted speed limits, which could result in devastating harm if they strike somebody walking.
Insurance companies are always looking for ways to decrease the value of your personal injury claim. They do this by minimizing damages and questioning liability to determine who is at fault for the collision.
That involves looking at the police report and pictures of the scene to see how the two vehicles came into contact with one another. For instance, if two vehicles were backing out of a space and rear-end each other, who had the right of way? Liability can be highly contested in a parking lot, because it is not always clear as to who is responsible for the accident.
Pennsylvania is comparative negligence jurisdiction. This means in any type of personal injury accident, parking lot or otherwise, the court or the jury will apportion a percentage of fault between the plaintiff and defendant.
This greatly impacts the potential recovery as the plaintiff will have his or her recovery reduced by the percentage that he or she is at fault. For instance, if a plaintiff is 20 percent at fault and the total available recovery is $100,000, then he or she can only recover up to $80,000. However, if the plaintiff is found to be 51 percent or more responsible for a parking lot collision, he or she cannot recover compensation in Altoona.
Since liability can be extremely difficult to establish in cases involving parking lot accidents in Altoona, it is vital to work with a legal team experienced in personal injury claims. The seasoned lawyers at Marcus & Mack are well versed in handling complicated civil cases and could use this knowledge to assist you.
There is a limited time for you to file a claim for legal recourse, so do not hesitate to reach out to our team. Call our office today and schedule your initial case consultation for free. We look forward to hearing from you.
