Accident in parking lot claims and settlements consist of two types of damages: damages to your car and damages due to personal injury. Damages to cars are relatively easy to quantify as you’ll have a mechanics bill to prove it, which makes them the easiest part of a parking lot accident claim. What is harder to prove however is a personal injury claim as personal injuries involve more elements, including medical reports, loss of wages and sometimes pain and suffering. To prove all of this you need itemized documentation—and a lawyer to help you through the process.
Why is a Lawyer the Best Way to Settle an Accident in a Parking Lot?
Hiring a lawyer is advisable for all personal injury accidents—because your insurance company has lawyers. And they’re likely quite good at disproving or un-qualifying you for the benefits that you are entitled to. When you file a personal injury claim you need a professional on your side to help you through the settlement process—as parking lot accidents rarely make it to trial.
Once you’ve entered into the settlement process you will need someone to argue for you and to negotiate on your behalf to ensure that the insurance company and its employees don’t pressure you into taking a settlement that does not cover the cost of your injuries, and/or the cost of the damages to your car (which they will try to undervalue).
The Insurance Racket
Knowing what you are going up against is the most important part of a parking lot accident settlement. After a parking lot accident many people’s own insurance company try to convince them not to file a claim with them—by instructing them to file against the other car’s insurance policy. This however can be an uphill battle as liability can be difficult to prove in parking lot cases.
No matter whose insurance company you file for damages under, yours or the other car’s, getting your fair share out of insurance companies can be tough. In a case where the other party is at-fault but under-insured you will have even more issues.
If you’ve been in an accident in a parking lot—call the experts at Conte & Associates right away. We can help.
