Parking garages and parking decks are a necessity in New York City. With so many commuters and residents that have cars in the city, on-street parking is a nightmare. Even though they are necessary, parking garages can be dangerous places. When parking deck owners fail to adequately light their property, leave unrepaired hazards, or fail to clear and salt snowy outdoor surfaces, you can face serious injuries. If you fell in a parking garage and suffered serious injuries, contact a lawyer today. The New York City parking lot injury lawyers at Sullivan and Galleshaw offer free consultations on new injury cases.
New York City Parking Deck Injuries
Many parking decks have some surfaces exposed to the elements. During the winter months, these can become serious, icy hazards for people driving or parking their cars in the deck. Even in underground areas or places inside the building, cars drag in rain and snow, and large, icy puddles can form. If the operators of the parking garage fail to keep it clean and salt these surfaces, people can be seriously injured walking to their cars.
In many parking decks, you may be forced to take stairs. However, too many stairwells in parking decks throughout New York City are poorly lit, are wet and slippery, accumulate junk, or are poorly maintained. If you fell on a staircase at a parking garage in New York, you may be able to sue for your injuries.
Bumps and imperfections in the road surface or walkway can also cause you to trip or slip on uneven surfaces. Especially for older adults or handicapped patrons, these can be serious hazards.
When falling, you can suffer obvious injuries like scrapes and broken bones. If you are an older adult, and you injured your hip or back in a fall, you may be unable to recover as quickly or as fully as others.
You may also suffer more severe injuries. It comes as a surprise to many that you can suffer such serious injuries by doing something as simple as falling down. If you hit your head on the way down, you may suffer a fractured skull or very serious traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI can cause death in serious cases, but in even less severe cases it can mean permanent injury. TBI can affect your memory, mood, motor functions, and force you to need ongoing medical care for a long period.
Falling on your back can also mean serious back injuries. Long-lasting back injuries can keep you out of work, and serious injuries may need surgery to repair. In even more severe cases, you could injure your spinal cord, which runs through your spinal column, meaning potential pain, numbness, and paralysis for the rest of your life.
Suing a Parking Garage for Injuries in NYC
In many cases, parking garages try to insulate themselves from being liable for car damage or theft for cars under their control. However, property owners are always responsible for ensuring that their premises are safe and secure for people. Any property owner, whether it be a homeowner or business owner, is responsible for ensuring that there are no hidden dangers or hazards on their property. If there are, they have a legal duty to repair the issue or warn visitors of the danger.
If you fell because of a slick spot of ice, an uneven concrete slab, a broken or weak step, or poor lighting, you may be entitled to compensation. These kinds of hazards are exactly the kind that the owner of the parking garage should be on the lookout for. Failing to prevent these kinds of hazards may be enough for a court to hold the parking deck operators liable for your injuries.
Many businesses like parking garages carry insurance to protect them in case someone is injured on their property. The company’s attorneys or insurance representatives may contact you in an attempt to settle the case out of court. It is important that you demand a chance to talk to a lawyer first, and that you seek help with your case before you accept anything.
If you suffered very severe injuries in your accident, you may be entitled to substantial compensation. Many times, insurance companies will not offer to cover all the damages you need, and you may be forced to take the responsible parties to court. When this happens, it is vital that you have an experienced personal injury attorney represent you.
Queens Parking Lot Injury Lawyers
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a slip and fall in a parking lot, parking deck, or parking garage, talk to an attorney today. You might be entitled to substantial compensation if you file a lawsuit for your injuries. The Queens personal injury lawyers at Sullivan and Galleshaw have combined decades of experience handling slip and fall cases for injured victims. For a free consultation on your case, contact our law offices today at (718) 843-0300.