Parking Lot Accidents

Car Crash Lawyers Protecting the Rights of Miami Residents

Parking lots are often crowded, confined areas, with both pedestrians and vehicles trying to navigate through. As cars are focused on finding an empty spot, and people are focused on getting into the store or finding their own cars, unfortunate collisions often result. The car accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon represent people in Miami and throughout South Florida who have been harmed because of the carelessness of others. Although these accidents often involve slower speeds, when there is a pedestrian involved or a strong impact between two unequally sized vehicles, injuries can still occur. Our firm serves individuals in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties, helping them pursue compensation from any parties at fault.

Complications of Parking Lot Accidents

Parking lots are private property, and therefore state and local traffic laws do not apply. This makes the process of establishing who is at fault a little more complicated, since police officers will not often issue a ticket, and witnesses can have conflicting opinions as to what exactly happened. Sometimes, emotions run high in crowded garages, as drivers fight for limited parking spaces and drive quickly to beat others for a coveted spot. These aggressive driving practices can lead to serious accidents and injuries, especially if a pedestrian is struck. Injuries that may result from these collisions include broken bones, brain trauma, and spinal cord damage. Determining liability in these types of accidents can involve several factors, including a parking lot owner’s responsibility if an accident is caused by faulty lighting, inadequate security, or damaged pavement.

Bringing a Negligence Claim for Compensation

When accidents occur in a parking lot or structure, the question of who is responsible is quickly raised. To establish liability, a person seeking damages must show that the defendant, usually another driver, was negligent. To prove negligence, the victim must show that:

  • The defendant owed him or her a duty of care to act as an ordinary, reasonable person would behave under the circumstances;
  • That duty was breached by the defendant’s actions;
  • The breach caused the victim’s injuries; and
  • Damages resulted that can be compensated.

The duty of care is generally defined in the context of operating motor vehicles as behaving in a way that avoids foreseeable risks of harm to others. Any conduct that falls below this standard may be considered a breach. Once the elements of duty and breach are shown, the victim then would need to draw a direct causal link from the defendant’s careless conduct to the accident. Damages can be both economic, or objective, and non-economic, or relatively subjective. Some commonly sought forms of compensation after a car crash include lost wages, medical expenses, the costs of future treatment or rehabilitation therapy, repairs to a vehicle, and pain and suffering.

Even if a victim is partially at fault for a parking lot accident, he or she may still pursue compensation. Florida follows a pure comparative fault theory of liability, which means that damages are awarded in proportion to each party’s degree of fault. When a victim is partially responsible, the overall amount of damages will be calculated and then reduced according to his or her percentage of responsibility.

Consult a Miami Attorney after a Motor Vehicle Collision

If you have been involved in a motor vehicle collision near Miami, either as a driver or a pedestrian, the lawyers at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon are available to help you pursue a claim against those responsible. Making sure a proper investigation is performed at the scene of the accident can be crucial to these types of cases, and we are dedicated to making sure your rights are properly protected throughout settlement negotiations and any litigation that may be necessary. Call 877.499.4878 or Contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation about your case.

Client Reviews
★★★★★
"Thank you to Robert Dixon & Kristopher Torres for an amazing experience handling with my first injury lawsuit. Very much hassle-free and down to earth experience working with this law firm. I would definitely use them again! My case was settled and I am satisfied with the results! Glad to have them fighting on my behalf." Diamond Epps
★★★★★
"This firm goes out of there way to make sure all of your needs are met. They are wonderful and within a year, my settlement was reached. In addition, I never waited more than a couple hours for someone to get back with me. I highly suggest this firm." Melissa Ellis
★★★★★
"I had the pleasure of working with attorney Torres when I was involved in a car accident last year. He was always checking up on me, always making sure that I was getting the proper treatment that I needed. Whenever I called the office everyone was so nice and willing to help me. I'm glad he was my attorney and thank you for such a wonderful service from you and your firm." Natalie J.
★★★★★
"I'd like to say that the Law Office of Robert Dixon has been great to work with since the inception of my case back in 2016. Robert and team made me feel rest assured that patience would constitute a much larger settlement and that truly was the case. ... I highly recommend this law firm for anyone needing help from a very compassionate team of hard workers. Thanks again everyone for this positive experience as this was my first time ever dealing with the courts or a law firm...." Paul Carlson
★★★★★
"Jodie, Jennifer and the WHOLE Team are AWESOME! Everyone I have spoken to, have been very professional, patient and kind. The ladies take their time to ensure you understand everything that is happening every step of the way. Each time I would have a question, they were available via e-mail or a quick phone call." Nathalie Perez