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    Dallas Parking Lot Accident Lawyer

    If you’ve been involved in a parking lot accident in Dallas, Texas, then you’re probably aware of how quickly the situation can escalate.

    You might have been innocently backing up out of a parking space when you accidentally bumped into someone else’s car. Suddenly, they are pointing to pre-existing damage, claiming you caused it, and that they suffered an injury despite you only driving 10 mph.

    If you have been involved in a parking lot accident that escalates to the point of litigation, then you definitely want to have a good Dallas car accident lawyer by your side. Give us a call today at (469) 998-4069, and we will take a look at your case and advise you on how best to proceed.

    Determining Fault in a Parking Lot Accident

    When an accident occurs in a parking lot, how can fault truly be determined? If you backed into another car that was also backing up, who is truly at fault?

    There are several different types of parking lot accidents:

    • Two cars back up into each other
    • One driver backs up out of, or pulls forward through, a parking space into a driver in the through lane
    • One driver rear-ends another driver at a stop sign
    • Bicycle accident
    • Two cars collide upon reaching the same parking space
    • Road rage

    Generally, vehicles in the through lanes have the right of way. Therefore, if you are approaching a through lane from a parking lane, you must yield the right of way to a driver who is already in the through lane. The fault, therefore, would lie with whoever pulled into the through lane from the parking lane while someone was already in the through lane.

    There is an exception to this rule, however. If the driver of the vehicle in the through lane does not obey a traffic sign that shifts the right of way to the vehicle exiting the parking lane, then the driver in the through lane can be held liable for the accident.

    What to Do After a Parking Lot Accident

    You have just been involved in a parking lot accident. Now what?

    The first thing you should do is exchange information with the other driver. Then, if possible, take down the information of any witnesses at the scene. Take photos of the accident scene, including photos of your car, the other car, and even the weather, which can make a difference later if the case goes to trial. Also try to take pictures of any infrastructure, like stop signs, that could have potentially influenced the accident.

    Next, as long as everyone is alright and contact information has been exchanged, call your insurance company and alert them to the accident. This fulfills all your responsibilities after the accident so no one can claim you did not do all you were supposed to do to support your case.

    In most parking lot accidents, you won’t need to involve the police, but if the accident is severe enough, or the other driver feels it is necessary, be sure to get a copy of the police report as well.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What to Do If You’re in a Parking Lot Accident?

    If a parking lot car accident occurs, make sure you exchange insurance information with the other driver involved in your Parking Lot Accident in Dallas.

    Get their

    • driver’s license number
    • car make and model
    • contact information

    If anyone was injured, call the police to get an official report of what happened. You may want to take photos of the scene, and get contact information for witnesses, just like you would if this were an accident out on the road. If you were injured in the accident, be sure to seek the advice of a Dallas car accident lawyer to see what your options are.

    Do You Have Right of Way When Backing Out of a Parking Space in Dallas?

    Parking lot accidents are pretty common, but do you actually have the right of way when backing out of a parking space in Dallas? The answer is, it depends.

    Most larger parking lots in Dallas have two types of driving lanes, commonly known as thoroughfares and feeder lanes. Thoroughfares are lanes that let out to a street or access road. Feeder lanes are the smaller lanes inside a parking lot between the rows of parked cars. If you’re driving on a thoroughfare, you have the right of way. If you’re backing out of a parking space, you have to yield to anyone driving in the feeder lane.

    Are You Legally Required to Report Any Motor Vehicle Accident in Dallas?

    Under Texas law, if someone is injured, or the damage to one or more vehicles is more than $1000, you are required to report the accident to police. The police officer is then required to fill out a Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-3 form). If a police officer filled out a crash report, you do not have to fill out a crash report of your own. Unless the accident is very minor, it’s a good idea to call the police to the scene to document who is at fault, and for damage estimates, which will be important for insurance purposes. Failure to report a serious accident involving injury or damage exceeding $1,000 is punishable with time in jail or a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

    How Do You Get a Copy of the Police Report For A Car Accident in Dallas?

    If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Dallas, you’re going to want to get a copy of the police report for a Dallas car accident. That report will likely assign fault for the accident – either you or the other driver, or partial fault for both of you. Determining who is at fault in an accident is very important when it comes to your auto insurance as it determines who pays if someone is injured.

    According to information on the Dallas Police Department website:

    • To check the availability of a vehicle crash report, please call (214) 740-4556 to speak with one of our Dallas car accident lawyers to get help.
    • Please Note: There are no crash reports online. You must obtain crash reports via mail or in person. Crash reports are faxed or emailed only to Texas law enforcement and judicial agencies.

    Pedestrian Accidents

    A pedestrian accident, even in a parking lot, is a serious situation. Generally, the speeds at which one drives in a parking lot are not of the kind that could kill a person, but they could still do serious damage, nonetheless.

    For the most part, in parking lot accidents involving pedestrians, the driver is always at fault. This is because you are expected to drive carefully and slowly when driving through a parking lot, knowing there are pedestrians around and keeping an eye out for them.

    However, there is that rare case wherein a pedestrian may be at fault, such as if he or she was texting or talking on their cell phone and not paying attention to the road. One thing’s for sure, if you’ve been involved in a parking lot accident involving a pedestrian, you should not face the judge without a lawyer!

    Been Involved in a Parking Lot Accident in Dallas? Let a Dallas Car Accident Lawyer Help

    Most parking lot accidents are no big deal. You exchange contact information with the other driver, and you leave it up to the insurance company to permit or deny a damage claim. But in those rare instances where the accident is severe enough, or the other party disgruntled enough, your case may be presented to a court. If this is true in your case, then you need to hire a Dallas car accident lawyer for help.

    Call us today at 469-998-4069, and we can either take on your case or give you the advice you need on what your next steps should be. Don’t engage in litigation without at least getting some legal advice first. Call a Dallas car accident lawyer today and be better prepared for your case than you were yesterday!

    Call (214) 305-8277 for your free consultation.
    Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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