When searching for parking in New Jersey, if street parking is unavailable, you can usually find a secure parking space for your vehicle in a parking garage. However, it’s vital to remain vigilant when navigating these facilities, as drivers and pedestrians tend to let their guards down. Unfortunately, as a result, nearly 50,000 car accidents occur in parking garages every year. Despite these structures being convenient, they can also be quite dangerous. Various types of accidents can happen in parking garages, such as trips, slips, falls, and collisions. If you have been injured in a parking garage accident due to someone else’s negligence, contact our qualified Essex County Personal Injury Attorneys, who can help you obtain the compensation you deserve. Please continue reading to learn about the most common causes of parking garage accidents.
What are some of the most common causes of parking garage accidents in New Jersey?
Sadly, whether on foot or inside a vehicle, parking garage accidents can occur due to negligence. Similarly to the roadways, parking garages must have sufficient lighting. Drivers and pedestrians need proper lighting to navigate these compact facilities safely. When visibility is low, drivers will have trouble seeing potential hazards, resulting in a collision. Poor lighting conditions can also cause pedestrians to be more susceptible to trips, slips, and falls as they cannot see the ground. Another common cause of parking garage accidents is a lack of maintenance. When the appropriate parties fail to exercise reasonable care by maintaining safe premises toward patrons, these facilities can be highly hazardous to drivers and pedestrians. Any uneven surfaces, poor design, confusing warning signs, and other unsafe property conditions can cause many accidents.
In addition, accidents in parking garages also occur due to distracted driving. Drivers who are not attentive while behind the wheel can cause devastating accidents in parking areas. Distracted driving is a hazardous practice in any location. However, parking garages’ likelihood of a collision increases due to their narrow spaces, blind spots, and tight corners, making navigation challenging. If drivers are not paying attention, they may strike another vehicle or pedestrians because their eyes are not on the road. Ultimately, there are numerous reasons why parking garage accidents may arise, meaning motorists and pedestrians must stay alert while navigating these facilities.
Who can be held liable?
If you were injured as a pedestrian in a parking garage or injured while in your vehicle due to negligence, you can take legal action against the responsible party to seek monetary compensation for your losses. However, you will be burdened with proving the other party’s negligence directly caused your damages. In some cases, a parking garage may be privately owned or could be a government-owned facility. If you were injured in a parking garage owned by a municipality, you would have to file a Notice of Claim, as you cannot file a lawsuit against a government agency without its permission. Notably, the timeframe for filing a claim against a government entity is 90 days from the accident date. If you fail to file within this strict deadline, you will be barred from taking legal action to recover compensation for the damages you’ve endured.
To ensure you file your claim within the right timeframe, it is imperative to contact a determined attorney from The Law Offices of Christopher T. Howell, Esq. With years of experience, our firm is prepared to help you consider your legal options and fight to obtain the just compensation you may be entitled to.
