People do not typically think of parking lots as a place where an accident can occur. However, it is pretty common for accidents to happen in such a normal, everyday place. Property owners are obligated to care for their premises so that it is safe for people to be on. When property owners fail to keep their premises safe, they can put individuals at risk of becoming seriously injured. This standard of care is true even for parking lots. If a parking lot is not inspected regularly and kept in good condition, it can become a dangerous place and accidents may happen.

Causes of Parking Lot Accidents

There are many different ways an individual could find themselves injured as the result of being in a parking lot. This typically occurs due to dangerous conditions that are present in the lot. Some conditions may include but are not limited to:

  • Poor weather conditions (snow, ice, standing water, etc.)
  • Potholes, uneven surfaces, cracked surfaces
  • Loose debris
  • Hazardous materials

Whenever a person is seriously injured, it is very important to seek medical attention immediately. Once these injuries are taken care of, the individual may want to hold the owner of the parking lot responsible for their suffering. If this is the case, it is important to file a claim about the incident within a reasonable period of time. There are two reasons for this. First of all, evidence of the hazardous condition may be covered up if too much time passes. Secondly, the statute of limitations for a personal injury case only provides an injured person with 1 year to file a claim before they are no longer legally able to.

Liability

When people are injured due to the negligence of another, they often want to hold that party accountable for what happened. In Maryland, all property owners are responsible for providing the public with a safe premises. This requires the property owners to keep their grounds safe for visitors on their property so that they may not be hurt. They must handle all issues that arise, such as loose debris, inadequate lighting, snow or ice, dangerous spills, or other hazardous within a reasonable period of time. If the property owner fails to do this, they may be held liable for any injuries that may be sustained in their parking lot.

Proving Negligence

If an individual wishes to hold a property owner responsible for their injuries, they must prove that the property owner was negligent. In order to do so, they must satisfy the “burden of proof.” The burden of proof requires the injured party to collect any evidence against the property owner that proves negligence. The evidence must show the property owner knew about, or should have reasonably known about, the dangerous conditions that caused their injury. Finding evidence can be challenging, but an experienced attorney can help. Evidence that may be helpful in court can include medical documentation of the injury, security footage of the parking lot during the accident, pictures of the property, and witnesses to the incident.

Contact our Firm

If you or someone you know has been injured as a result of poor parking lot conditions and seek legal representation, contact the Law Offices of Timian & Fawcett, LLC. today.

If you are in this situation, it is important to discuss this situation with an attorney. The attorneys at Timian & Fawcett, LLC provide effective legal services to clients in Prince George’s County, Washington, D.C. and all of Maryland. Our firm is dedicated to our clients. If you need our help, we are ready to serve. Contact Timian & Fawcett, LLC.