Parking Lot Accidents in South Carolina

In South Carolina, most people drive to work, shopping centers, and more. Once drivers get to retail stores, restaurants, apartments, offices, or any other venues, they need to park their cars.

Parking lots are not immune to pedestrian, car, and other types of accidents. In fact, parking lot accidents are fairly common. If you’re injured in a parking lot, our South Carolina car accident lawyers file claims against the responsible parties. We demand compensation for all your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost income, property damage, loss of bodily function, disfigurement, and all other financial and personal damages.

Who are the victims of parking lot accidents?

The victims of parking lot accidents can be drivers, car passengers, and pedestrians. These victims have the right to file a personal injury claim. If a parking lot accident is fatal, the family of the deceased has the right to file a wrongful death claim.

Why do parking lot accidents happen in South Carolina?

Most accidents in parking lots happen because a driver is focusing on getting a parking spot or getting out of the parking lot as quickly as possible. These drivers are not always focused on other shoppers or customers. They often don’t drive in straight horizontal and vertical lanes. Some of the common reasons for parking lot accidents include the following:

• Speeding or driving too fast for conditions. These conditions may include the weather, other cars that are looking for parking spots, slow walkers, and other conditions.
• Backing up accidents. Drivers often back out of parking spaces without carefully looking for nearby cars or pedestrians.
• Competing for the same parking spots. Some crashes happen when two cars aim for the same spot, especially a spot close to the stores or other buildings.
• Driving while distracted. Driver distractions include more than just looking for a spot without looking at the people and cars in the parking lot. Driver distractions include texting while driving, talking on a smartphone, eating, drinking, or other distractions.
• Going the wrong way. Some parking lots have marked lanes of travel. Many parking lots rely on the general driving rule that drivers should drive on the right side of the road.
• Poor signage and lighting. Parking lots should help drivers by indicating through signs and marked lanes where they can and can’t drive, where the parking spots are, whether the parking lanes go in one or both directions, and other helpful directions. Parking lots should have quality night-time lighting.
• Driving through parking spots. Generally, drivers should go up and down the parking lanes instead of cutting through parking lanes and parking spots.
• Driving in pickup lanes. Some venues, such as grocery stores and supermarkets, allow cars to park for a short duration to pick up the people who made purchases, so they don’t have to carry their packages a long distance. The drivers who use these pickup lanes need to be extra cautious not to hit any pedestrians.

Parking lot accidents may also be due to difficulties maneuvering vehicles and fitting into small parking lot spaces. Drivers should understand who has the right-of-way when driving through parking lots.

Can drivers cut through parking lots?

Generally, parking lots should be used by the people who are visiting the buildings or venues that the parking lots service; such as for-profit businesses, community activities, schools, hospitals, sporting locations, and other venues.

Drivers can be held liable for any accidents they cause if they drive through a parking lot to avoid traffic, avoid traffic signals, or drive through parking lots without stopping. Cutting through a parking lot may be permissible in emergencies or to avoid hazards, but drivers can still be held liable if their actions cause an accident or violate general traffic safety laws.

Drivers who cut through parking lots are likely to strike other vehicles who are driving slower to get into and out of parking spots and pedestrians who are walking to their destination or their car.

Who is liable for parking lot accidents in South Carolina?

The driver who strikes another person or car is responsible if they fail to drive carefully and their negligence causes your injuries or the death of a loved one.

Other responsible defendants may include:

• The responsible driver’s employer
• The owner of the car that the negligent driver was operating, if the owner and the driver differ
• The owner of the parking lot
• The owner of the building that the parking lot benefited
• Maintenance and repair companies

What types of injuries do parking lot accident victims suffer?

Pedestrians are vulnerable to catastrophic, permanent, and serious injuries – even when drivers are going slowly. Passengers can also suffer serious accidents. Our South Carolina car accident lawyers work with your doctors and our network of doctors to verify the full scope and severity of your injuries, including all your medical care and treatments.

We represent parking lot victims who have:

• Traumatic brain injuries and other types of head trauma
• Spinal cord damage including paralysis
• Traumatic amputations/loss of limb
• Broken bones/fractures
• Neck, shoulder, and back injuries
• Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries
• Organ damage
• All other types of serious injuries

Parking lot accidents are inexcusable. At McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips LLC, we understand why parking lot accidents happen, why they are avoidable, and who should be held accountable. We’re prepared to guide you through each step of the claims process. We’ve helped many car and pedestrian accident victims obtain the full compensation they deserve.

Please call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We handle parking lot accident claims on a contingency fee basis. This means we only receive compensation if your claim is successful.