What To Do After Getting Hit By Car In The Parking Lot

Getting into a car accident can be a scary and confusing experience. Even relatively low-speed impacts in parking lots can cause property damage and injuries. Many people are not quite sure how to handle accidents that happen in parking lots. At Soloff & Zervanos, P.C., our Philadelphia car crash lawyers want to help you understand what you need to do after an incident in a parking lot.

Do you have to report parking lot accidents?

Many people assume that they do not have to report a car accident that happens in a parking lot, especially if there were only minor damage and no injuries. Take caution that kind of response – it could cost you. Often, property damage is much worse than people initially realize. In many cases, a person is injured and does not realize it right away.

Not filing a report or calling the police could leave you out of the compensation you are entitled to for property damage and injuries.

If you are involved in a parking lot accident:

1. Call the police to file a report: Depending on the seriousness of the incident, they may or may not show up. However, call them to get the incident on record.
2. Seek medical care for any injuries: If you are injured, make sure you are seen by a doctor. Even low-speed accidents can lead to injuries.
3. Get contact information: Get the name and insurance information of the other drivers and passengers involved. If there were any eyewitnesses, get their names and contact information
4. Take photos: Use your smartphone or another camera to get photographs of any damages, injuries, causes of the crash, and more.
5. Report the incident to your insurance carrier: Most policies require reporting of any incident within a few days. Make the report, but stick to the basic facts – you were in a parking lot accident, this was the date, here is the other driver’s information. Do not discuss anything else and avoid admitting any fault.

Injuries and property damage

Most parking lot accidents will not lead to serious injuries (there are exceptions), but it is not uncommon for victims in these incidents to suffer from concussions and whiplash injuries. If the crash caused the airbag to deploy, a victim could suffer from facial injuries.

Property damage, even for low-speed incidents, can easily reach into the thousands of dollars, all money that you do not want to be on the line for paying.

Let us help you through this situation

If you or somebody you care about has been involved in a car accident in a parking lot, you may need to seek legal assistance. At Soloff & Zervanos, P.C., we know that these cases can become incredibly complex, regardless of whether there are injuries. We will thoroughly investigate what happened and work to secure the compensation you deserve, which can include:

• Coverage of any medical bills
• Compensation for property damage
• Lost income if you miss work
• Possible punitive damages in cases of gross negligence

If you need a Philadelphia car accident lawyer, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 866-597-8572.