You may experience a false sense of safety within the walls of a parking garage. That is, the tight corners, poor lighting, and other design elements of this structure may make it potentially dangerous for drivers and pedestrians alike. And unfortunately, parking garage accidents may happen more frequently than you expect. With that being said, please read on to discover what to do if you get injured in a parking garage and how a seasoned Toronto parking lot accident lawyer at Merricks Law Group, P.A. can help you through your healing process afterward.
How can I possibly get injured while in a parking garage?
You may somehow get injured between the walk to and from your parked car in a parking garage. For example, a negligent driver may drive at a fast speed within this building structure, and fail to yield as you cross at a designated crosswalk. Or, the garage may fail to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility guidelines. In turn, you may get injured if there are no handicap-accessible parking spots, walkways, entrances and exits, etc. Lastly, the garage may fail to maintain sufficient lighting or adequate security systems. With this, you may unfortunately be made the victim of theft or assault.
On the other hand, even if you are driving through a parking garage with an abundance of care, another negligent driver may collide with you and subsequently injure you. For one, another driver may hastily reverse out of their parking spot before checking their surroundings. Or, they may whip around a turn without first coming to a complete stop and being mindful of the large blind spots.
What should I do if I get injured in a parking garage?
No matter if you get injured as a pedestrian or driver in a parking garage, you may have a solid personal injury case on your hands. That is, you may be successful in recovering compensatory damages for your injuries so long as you follow the proper steps while still in the parking garage where your accident went down.
For starters, you should call law enforcement to respond to your accident. If there is no service in the parking garage, it is okay to quickly step outside to make the call, if you are physically able to given your injuries. But to lean on the side of caution, you may ask an eyewitness or another involved party to do so on your behalf.
When law enforcement arrives, they should conduct an official accident report that includes statements from yourself, other involved parties, and present eyewitnesses. You must request a copy of this for the sake of your future legal case.
Then, they may ask if you want an ambulance to be dispatched to the parking garage, to which you should say “yes.” Responding emergency medical technicians should provide initial care for your injuries and your subsequent emergency room visit should handle the rest. After all, this medical evidence may come in handy for your legal case later on.
At the end of the day, what matters most is that you retain strong legal representation to get you through this critical case. For this, please contact a competent Toronto slip and fall lawyer from Merricks Law Group, P.A. today.
