“Labor Omnia Vincit” McKay Law
Parking lot crashes account for a significant percentage of all auto accidents in Owasso, OK. When safety failures occur in parking lots, preventable accidents happen. McKay Law advocates for parking lot accident victims throughout OK. Parking lots are surprisingly dangerous places—every parking lot is a maze of potential conflict points. Common parking lot accidents include backing accidents (one of the most common types), drivers backing into each other from opposite spaces, drivers backing into pedestrians, distracted driving while looking for parking, drivers running stop signs in parking lots, speeding through aisles, collisions at parking lot exits and entrances, and pedestrian and cyclist hits. Walker injuries in parking areas often produce catastrophic injuries—with seniors and children at especially high risk. Parking lot wrecks are often caused by driver inattention, backing without checking, failure to yield, and dangerous lot conditions. Who can be held responsible is sometimes obvious but often complicated. When one driver clearly caused the crash, they bear primary responsibility. When premises liability is a factor, business owners or landlords may share responsibility. We pursue claims against the at-fault driver, their employer if driving for work, the property owner, the business operating the lot, parking lot maintenance companies, security companies in some cases, and parking lot design contractors. Our Owasso car accident attorneys investigate every angle—surveillance footage before it’s erased, witness statements, photographs of the scene, maintenance and inspection records, prior incident reports, and any documentation of dangerous conditions. Critical video evidence is often destroyed within weeks, so time matters. Injuries from parking lot accidents head trauma, broken bones, and serious injuries despite the typically low speeds involved. Pedestrian victims often suffer the worst injuries are at high risk of catastrophic harm even at low speeds. We fight for every dollar including economic and non-economic losses, including damages for property owners’ negligent maintenance. Insurance companies often try to claim parking lot accidents involve shared fault—we shut those tactics down with hard evidence. All parking lot crash claims is handled on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win. Call McKay Law now for a complimentary evaluation with a Owasso, OK parking lot accident lawyer who will hold the at-fault driver, property owner, or both accountable.
Parking lot crashes happen constantly. Despite the relatively low speeds, parking lot wrecks produce real damage. The combination of close quarters, distracted drivers, backing maneuvers, and pedestrians creates a recipe for crashes. Parking lot crashes can involve cars, pedestrians, bicyclists, shopping carts, and falling merchandise. McKay Law represents parking lot accident victims in Owasso and across the state.
The same fault rules apply:
Even at slow speeds, parking lot crashes can cause serious injuries:
Owners are obligated to:
Pedestrian incidents in parking lots are particularly serious:
You typically have two years from the date of the incident to file (Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95). Government cases require notice within one year.
We act fast to secure surveillance video before it’s deleted, investigate the property’s maintenance and incident history, work with treating doctors, investigate driver and property owner liability, and treat each matter as trial-ready.
A: Often yes — reversing drivers typically have the burden.
A: Nothing. No recovery, no fee.
A: You may have a premises liability claim against the property owner.
A: Standard response — get info, call police, see a doctor, document the scene.
A: Possibly. Yes, if store negligence caused the incident.
A: Never. Call us first.
A: 2 years from the date of the incident (Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95). GTCA notice within 12 months for government defendants.
Parking lot incidents are routinely dismissed as trivial. Low-speed crashes are treated as minor. But low speeds don’t mean low harm. Parking lots aren’t standard roadways. Different rules apply, fault determination is more complicated, and the parties involved go beyond just the drivers. A local attorney experienced with parking lot incidents navigates the distinctive complexities these cases involve.
Parking lots are private property in most cases. This affects the applicable law.
Traffic laws don’t necessarily control on parking lots but the duty of care continues.
Parking lots see:
This mixed use creates distinctive hazards.
Parking lots have visibility limitations. This drives many crashes.
In contrast to standard roads, parking lots often lack clear traffic flow indicators. Direction can be unclear regarding expected vehicle paths.
Constant pedestrian presence. This generates distinctive pedestrian hazards.
Backing crashes.
Common patterns:
Driving-lane crashes include frontal crashes, sideswipes from inadequate lane awareness, right-of-way disputes.
Vehicles striking each other while parking or leaving spaces.
Pull-out crashes.
Vehicle-pedestrian crashes in parking lots are catastrophic.
Reverse pedestrian crashes.
Particularly harmful to at-risk pedestrians.
Pedestrians in the lane get struck by vehicles in motion.
Pedestrians walking between parked vehicles.
Stationary object strikes.
Shopping carts loose in parking lots create distinctive incidents.
Pedestrian falls from various premises issues.
Injuries during loading or unloading vehicles can involve dropping items, equipment failures, or vehicle movement.
In addition to motor vehicle liability, premises liability frequently applies.
Parking lot owners have duties to maintain safe premises.
Common premises liability theories in parking lots include:
Insufficient lighting in parking lots.
Potholes, uneven pavement, cracks, or other surface defects that cause crashes or falls.
In jurisdictions with winter weather, failure to clear snow and ice drives slip-and-fall and vehicle crashes.
Standing water or drainage issues drive incidents.
Sight-line issues that limit visibility can contribute to crashes.
Signage failures.
For parking lots in areas with crime risk create separate claim types.
The at-fault driver is the typical primary target.
Various contributing drivers can face liability.
Parking lot owners may bear premises liability.
Property managers can share liability for management failures.
Contractors responsible for snow and ice removal can face liability for inadequate snow and ice removal.
Surface maintenance companies can face liability for pavement defects.
Lighting contractors can face liability.
Equipment-related crashes can implicate manufacturers.
Where vehicle maintenance failures contributed can create separate liability.
Government-owned parking lots, sovereign immunity considerations exist.
Comparative fault.
“You weren’t watching where you were going”.
Visibility arguments.
Defense argues low-speed crashes don’t cause significant injuries. Defeating this defense involves comprehensive medical documentation.
Past medical history.
Where law enforcement can be involved, don’t leave without official documentation.
Where police can’t be obtained, consider other documentation: capture everything you can, obtain witness information.
Detailed photography matters significantly.
Include:
Independent observers offer essential corroboration.
Premises documentation.
Identify the parking lot owner.
Even with no obvious injuries, same-day medical care is critical.
Don’t dismiss your own injuries. Insurers leverage self-minimization.
Many parking lots have surveillance cameras.
Note camera locations and request preservation.
Avoid admitting or attributing fault at the scene.
Adjusters call fast.
Compensation can include:
Parking lot pedestrians often have stronger cases than they realize.
Drivers generally have responsibility to see pedestrians, creating strong fault patterns for vehicle-pedestrian crashes.
Pedestrian cases produce major damages given the catastrophic nature of even moderate-speed vehicle-pedestrian impacts.
Where property contributed via various premises conditions, premises claims add to vehicle claims.
Multiple defendants result.
Counsel handling these cases charge no upfront fees. Case reviews cost nothing.
Multiple time pressures apply.
Video recordings requires prompt preservation.
Witness recollections deteriorate over time.
Premises conditions may be modified, requiring prompt documentation.
OK’s statute of limitations sets a hard cutoff.
Getting an attorney involved promptly triggers preservation steps.
Parking lots appear like the most ordinary part of any trip — but they’re actually the site of enormous numbers of preventable crashes every year. Drivers backing without looking, whipping through lanes meant for low-speed crawling, ignoring stop signs and directional arrows, getting distracted by their phones, and misjudging the size of their own vehicles all contribute to a parking lot’s reputation as a place where low-speed collisions cause surprisingly serious injuries. Pedestrians get struck while loading groceries, shoppers are hit while crossing between parked cars, cyclists are clipped at lot entrances, and small children — who are below the driver’s view from behind an SUV — are heartbreakingly the most vulnerable victims of all. At McKay Law, we move quickly to request parking lot surveillance footage, witness statements, incident reports, the at-fault driver’s cell phone records, and any vehicle data that nails down exactly what happened.
Parking lot wrecks can also trigger liability beyond just the driver who hit you. Property and management entities can be on the hook for poor lot design, faded or missing lane markings, broken lighting, obstructed sightlines, missing stop signs, and a record of prior crashes they never fixed. When you become part of the McKay Law family, we pursue every responsible party — the at-fault driver, their employer if they were working at the time, and the property owner or operator whose negligence contributed to the conditions that made the crash possible. We fight for the highest possible compensation for emergency care, surgeries, hospitalization, ongoing rehabilitation, future medical needs, prescription costs, time away from work, lost earning capacity, vehicle damage, and the enduring trauma of a crash you never saw coming. Reach us today at (866) 679-9651 or contact us online to book your free consultation and bring a firm that takes parking lot wrecks seriously fighting for you.
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