After sustaining an injury in a Norwalk parking lot accident, a lawyer may be necessary if you are interested in recovering compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and future needs. To start your personal injury claim, reach out to a dedicated legal professional who uses aggressive tactics and who could obtain the compensation you need.
How Parking Lot Wrecks Differ From Accidents on the Street
Parking lot accidents have the potential to be just as serious as those accidents that take place on the street. The one defining difference is that parking lot accidents are often low-speed accidents. Despite these lack of high speeds, the injuries victims could sustain may still be life-altering or burdensome in nature. Broken bones, traumatic head injuries, and even paralysis could afflict a victim of a parking lot wreck.
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Safety Rules and Garages
Slower speed limits and more pedestrians play a large role in the rules regarding safe driving in parking lots. There are more hazards in a more confined space, whereas on streets and interstates, pedestrians are not normally seen at low-speed limits. However, that does not mean it is any less difficult to drive under those confines.
The deadline to file in Connecticut
Connecticut law generally gives you two years from the date the injury is sustained or discovered to bring a claim, and in most cases no more than three years from the act or omission complained of, even if the injury is discovered later. That deadline comes from Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584.
How shared fault affects your claim
Connecticut follows modified comparative fault under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h: when the victim and the defendant share fault, the court reduces recoverable compensation by the victim's percentage of fault, and a victim whose share of fault is more than 50 percent may not recover at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do parking lot wrecks differ from accidents on the street?
Parking lot accidents can be just as serious as street accidents, but they are often low-speed collisions. Despite lower speeds, victims may still suffer life-altering or burdensome injuries such as broken bones, traumatic head injuries, or even paralysis.
What safety rules and hazards make driving in parking lots different?
Parking lots typically have slower speed limits and more pedestrians, creating more hazards in a confined space. While pedestrians are not normally seen at low-speed limits on streets and interstates, driving in a parking lot can still be difficult due to these tighter confines and increased pedestrian presence.
Do police respond quickly to parking lot accidents?
Police officers do not respond as quickly to parking lot accidents because they may view them as less serious since they happen on private property. The content explains this is a common misconception, as parking lot accidents can be just as serious as those on local streets and interstates.
How do insurance companies treat parking lot accidents?
Insurance companies often downplay parking lot accidents because they are normally low-speed. However, the content notes that car-versus-pedestrian parking lot crashes can produce the most serious consequences.
How does contributory negligence affect compensation in a Norwalk parking lot accident case?
Contributory negligence can be a major issue because pedestrians sometimes do not understand the speed or appreciate the dangers that cars pose, and opposing attorneys may argue the victim was partially responsible. A victim can still recover compensation as long as they were no more than 50 percent responsible, but their compensation would be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to them.
Responding to a Collision
Police officers do not respond as quickly in cases where there are parking lot accidents. It is their contention that, because it is private property, it is less serious. However, that is a common misconception, as parking lot accidents could be just as serious as those that take place on local streets and interstates.
Dealing with Insurance Companies
Insurance companies often downplay parking lot accidents because of the nature of the fact that they are normally low-speed accidents. However, when it is a car versus a pedestrian, these could produce the most serious consequences.
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Contributory Negligence
Contributory negligence plays a large role in impact in Norwalk parking lot cases because pedestrians sometimes do not understand the speed or appreciate the dangers that car posit. That lack of appreciation could get themselves into a situation that causes an accident that may need the assistance of a Norwalk parking lot lawyer.
For victims in cases like these, an opposing attorney may often argue that they themselves were partially responsible for the wreck. Fortunately, a victim could still recover compensation so long as they were no more than 50 percent responsible. If they are found to have been 50 percent or less responsible for a wreck, they would simply have their compensation reduced by the percentage they were deemed to be at fault for.
Choosing the Right Attorney After a Norwalk Parking Lot Wreck
When victims or the families of victims are looking for an attorney there are several qualities they need to keep a sharp eye out for. Above all others, Norwalk parking lot attorneys need to be experienced, thoughtful, aggressive, and creative. People need to find teams that are willing to fight for their right to fair and just compensation and who could work toward a favorable outcome.
Let an Attorney Help
If you or someone you know was injured in a Norwalk parking lot accident, attorneys stand ready to help you. Attorneys with experience using aggressive tactics could gather evidence, draft a claim, litigate your case, and represent your interests throughout a trial or settlement negotiations. Reach out to an experienced attorney today.