The Law Office of Nikolaus W. Reed helps pedestrian accident victims in San Pablo. As a pedestrian, you’re not just vulnerable to accidents along streets and roads. A common spot for these incidents is fast food restaurant parking lots. If you or a loved one gets injured in such an accident, contact us today for a free consultation to talk about your options.
Should You Get a Lawyer?
After you get hurt in a fast food parking lot, you probably don’t think about your potential legal options right away. In fact, your health and safety should always be your first priority. However, being a pedestrian in an accident in a fast food parking lot might require legal help.
So, while you’re not required to have a lawyer to file a claim, having my firm on your side can be very beneficial. Here’s how we can help:
- Explaining your legal rights and options
- Gathering evidence and helping you prove your case
- Figuring out who all is responsible for the accident itself
- Negotiating and talking with insurance companies for a settlement
- Simplifying things for you and your family
Every case is different, and our team offers personalized advice tailored to your situation. We provide free consultations and work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you won’t have to pay anything upfront. However, these accidents can be complicated, and figuring out who is at fault can be one of the toughest parts.
Who’s Legally Responsible For a Pedestrian Accident in a Fast Food Parking Lot?
You might think that responsibility for a pedestrian accident in a fast food parking lot is fairly straightforward, and while the driver that hits you is going to carry most of the blame, it’s not always so easy.Rather, figuring out this legal responsibility comes down to who was being negligent. This means they didn’t act in a way that kept you and others safe, which then led to the accident and your injuries. So, along with the driver, others can potentially share some of the liability:
- The owner or operator of the fast food place, which could be the company itself or the franchise owner if it’s a franchise.
- Local or state governments if the accident happened due to poor road maintenance or unclear markings.
- Other pedestrians
- Maintenance crews
One thing that makes these accidents tricky is that they can happen at any fast food restaurant in San Pablo. While each chain has its own layout inside, outside they often look pretty similar, which makes certain spots riskier for pedestrians. Because of this, these accidents typically happen in
- Parking lots
- Drive-thru lanes
- Sidewalks or walkways
- Entry and exit doors
Unfortunately, as a pedestrian, you don’t have much control over what happens around you. But by staying alert in these areas and making sure drivers can see you, you can help reduce the chances of an accident.
What Legal Options Do You Have After a Pedestrian Accident?
At least legally, it doesn’t necessarily matter that you’re hurt in an accident in a fast food parking lot as a pedestrian. You have the same legal rights as you would in any other accident. Your main options are filing an insurance claim or filing a personal injury lawsuit.
These options are available to you no matter who was at fault or where the accident happened, with the overall goal being to recover “damages” like:
- Medical expenses – This is usually the biggest part of a claim, covering hospital bills, treatments, surgeries, medications, and any other medical costs caused by the accident.
- Lost wages – If your injuries keep you from working, you can recover lost wages or income. This can also include compensation if you’re no longer able to work like you used to.
- Property damage – This covers the cost to repair or replace any personal items damaged in the accident, like your phone or clothing.
- Pain and suffering – You can also recover financial support for the physical pain and mental suffering caused by your injuries. There are also separate damages for emotional trauma.
- Loss of enjoyment of life and companionship – These damages cover the impact on your ability to enjoy life or any strain on your personal relationships due to the accident.
How much you can get depends on the details of your accident and how well you present your case. We’ll work with you to build a strong claim and make sure everything is filed within California’s statute of limitations, which is two years from the date of the accident.
What Should You Do If You’re Injured in a San Pablo Fast Food Parking Lot?
No matter who’s at fault, there are a few important steps you need to take if you’re injured in a fast food parking lot. These steps will help protect both your health and any future claim you might make:
- Get medical help – Get medical help right away. You can ask a restaurant employee to call an ambulance or go directly to a hospital. Make sure your injuries are properly documented and you stay on top of any treatment.
- Tell the restaurant – Let a staff member or manager know what happened as soon as possible. If you’re injured, also call the police to report the accident. Ask the restaurant if they have surveillance footage or incident reports, since the accident occurred on their property.
- Collect evidence and information – If you’re able, take photos or videos of the scene and your injuries. Get the driver’s insurance info and ask witnesses for their contact details.
- Preserve any evidence – Keep any damaged property, and don’t repair or replace anything until you’ve been advised to do so.
- Document your injuries – Take pictures of your injuries and keep notes on any pain or limitations you experience. Save all medical records and bills.
- Be cautious about what you say – Avoid talking too much about the accident, and don’t post about it on social media.
Every situation is different, and you may not be able to follow all these steps if your injuries are severe. However, doing as much as you can is really important to the claims process and can make a big difference.
How Do Pedestrian Accidents Happen in Fast Food Parking Lots?
When you think about the number of cars and people constantly moving through a fast food parking lot in San Pablo, it’s easy to understand why accidents happen there. But it’s also important to consider how these accidents occur.
Most pedestrian accidents in fast food parking lots are caused by:
- Distracted or aggressive driving
- Failing to check when moving between lanes or parking spots
- Illegally parked cars
- Lack of security
- Poor lot design
- Lack of signs or signals
As a pedestrian, no matter how careful you are, you can’t control the actions of other drivers or how a restaurant’s parking lot is managed, which can put you at risk. While many of these accidents are preventable, if you find yourself involved in one, our team is here to help guide you through the claims process.
Legal Support After a Pedestrian Accident in a San Pablo Fast Food Parking Lot
At NWR Law, our San Pablo pedestrian accident team is ready to offer the legal support you need if you’ve been injured in a fast food restaurant parking lot. While you may not expect to get hurt in a situation like this, it happens. When it does, you can count on us to guide you through the process. Contact us today for a free consultation to get started.