You might not put a lot of thought into a parking lot when you first pull into it. It is not until something goes wrong that we fully consider how much a poorly maintained parking lot can affect those who use the space.
Parking lot premises liability claims in Indianapolis focus on how property owners failed to uphold their responsibilities. If you have been injured in a parking lot, contact a premises liability lawyer today to discover if you are eligible to get financial compensation for your loss.
If poorly maintained, parking lots can create hazardous conditions that increase the risk of visitors slipping and falling or getting into car crashes. Some of the most common hazards in parking lots include untreated icy or snowy spots, poor lighting, inadequate signage, potholes, obstructed views, and a lack of handrails or curb markings. Hazards like these in Indianapolis can create dangerous conditions, resulting in an increase in parking lot liability claims.
A parking lot is often the extended property of a commercial space or rental property. The owners of these spaces have a responsibility to anyone who is considered an invitee or visitor of the space. This was affirmed in a state Supreme Court case (Burrell v. Meads, 569 N.E.2d 637 (Ind. 1991)), which states that property owners have higher levels of responsibility to those who are invited onto a premises for business purposes. As a result, Indianapolis property owners have a duty of reasonable care that requires them to conduct routine inspections of their premises, make reasonable efforts to discover hazards, and provide timely repairs or adequate warnings.
As an invitee entering a parking lot of a commercial space or apartment building, visitors are granted the highest level of duty of care.
Someone who has been injured in a parking lot should, first and foremost, seek immediate medical care for their injuries. Once they are able, they should report the incident to the property owner as soon as possible.
The injured party or someone they trust should also document the conditions. If possible, they should consider doing this immediately so that the conditions are accurately captured. These might include photographs, video, and notes about the time of day the accident occurred.
If there were any witnesses to the accident, the injured person should try to obtain their contact information as well as their statements could be useful in a future lawsuit.
If you have been injured in a parking lot, you may have the right to compensation. This financial payment can include medical expenses accrued, future treatment for ongoing conditions, lost wages, or pain and suffering. A personal injury lawyer can help you gather evidence to demonstrate a breach of duty of care. Using the evidence collected, a lawyer will determine liability and negotiate on your behalf to get a fair settlement offer.
If an agreeable settlement offer cannot be reached, a lawyer may recommend taking the case to trial. If this happens, the lawyer will present the evidence clearly and compassionately to demonstrate negligence and convince a jury to award damages.
You do not have to handle parking lot premises liability claims in Indianapolis on your own. The experienced team at McCready Law is here to help. Call today to learn more.
