Boston Parking Lot and Garage Collisions: How a Lawyer Can Help

A Boston lawyer helps parking-lot and garage accident victims by investigating fault, gathering video and witness evidence, identifying negligent drivers or property owners, and securing medical and police documentation. Counsel handles insurer negotiations, calculates full damages, pursues premises-liability or auto-injury claims, meets Massachusetts deadlines, and litigates when necessary to recover compensation for injuries, lost wages, and related losses.

When you’re injured in a parking lot or garage accident in Boston, MA, a car accident lawyer with experience handling parking lot and garage accidents can help you navigate the unique legal challenges these cases present. Unlike street accidents, parking facility crashes often involve multiple liable parties, limited police involvement, and complex insurance coverage issues that require specific legal expertise to resolve successfully.

Parking lots and garages create dangerous conditions with cars moving in all directions, poor visibility, and confusing traffic patterns that lead to thousands of accidents each year. These crashes can cause serious injuries even at low speeds, and determining fault becomes complicated when property owners, drivers, and maintenance companies may all share responsibility. You need an attorney who understands how to preserve critical surveillance footage, identify all liable parties, and navigate Massachusetts’ no-fault insurance system to maximize your compensation.

This guide explains how parking facility accidents differ from street crashes, what evidence proves fault, which insurance policies apply, and when you should contact an experienced attorney.

What Is a Parking Lot or Garage Accident?

A parking lot or garage accident is any crash that happens in a parking area, whether it’s an outdoor lot or covered garage. This means collisions between cars, trucks hitting pedestrians, or vehicles striking fixed objects like concrete pillars.

These accidents are different from street crashes because they happen on private property. Police may not respond to minor crashes in these places , which makes proving what happened much harder.

The most common parking facility accidents include:

• Cars backing into each other when leaving parking spaces
• Drivers hitting pedestrians walking between cars
• Vehicles striking parked cars or garage structures
• Side-swipe crashes in narrow garage lanes
• Collisions near entrance or exit gates

Even though these crashes happen at low speeds, they can cause serious injuries. Boston car accident lawyers who specialize in parking facilities understand how these cases work differently from highway accidents.

Who Is Liable After a Parking Lot or Garage Crash?

Figuring out who’s at fault in a parking facility accident is often complicated. Multiple parties might share responsibility, unlike typical street crashes where one driver is usually to blame.

Massachusetts follows modified comparative fault rules. This means you can still get compensation if you’re less than 51% responsible for the accident. Your payment gets reduced by whatever percentage of fault you share.

Several parties could be held liable for your injuries:

• Other drivers: When they speed, text while driving, or fail to yield the right-of-way
• Property owners: If they don’t fix dangerous conditions like potholes or broken lighting
• Parking garage operators: For problems with security gates, poor maintenance, or inadequate safety measures
• Snow removal companies: When they fail to properly clear ice and snow
• Employers: If the accident happens in a workplace parking area

Our attorneys investigate these cases differently than street accidents. We examine property maintenance records, lighting studies, and security protocols to find everyone who contributed to your harm.

Street Accidents	Parking Lot Accidents
Police always respond and file reports	Police may not come to private property
Clear traffic laws apply	Fewer defined rules
Usually one at-fault driver	Often shared responsibility
Standard auto insurance claims	May involve property liability insurance

What Damages Can You Recover?

If you meet Massachusetts’ tort threshold, you can pursue compensation for both financial losses and personal suffering. The damages available depend on how severely you were injured and how the accident affected your life.

You may recover compensation for:

• Medical expenses: All costs for emergency care, surgery, physical therapy, and future treatment
• Lost income: Wages missed during recovery and reduced future earning ability
• Pain and suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of life enjoyment
• Property damage: Vehicle repairs or replacement costs
• Out-of-pocket expenses: Medications, medical equipment, and transportation to appointments

Even low-speed parking lot crashes can cause severe injuries like traumatic brain injuries or spinal damage. These cases often result in substantial settlements despite happening at slow speeds.

In wrongful death cases, families can recover funeral expenses, lost financial support, and compensation for losing their loved one’s companionship.

What Should You Do After a Parking Lot Crash?

Your actions immediately after a parking lot accident protect both your health and legal rights. Every step you take can affect your ability to get fair compensation later.

Call 911 and Get Medical Care

Call 911 if anyone is injured or there’s significant property damage. A police report creates an official record, and immediate medical attention links your injuries directly to the crash.

Report to Property Management

Tell the store manager or garage operator about the accident. They’ll create an incident report that becomes valuable evidence for your case.

Take Photos of Everything

Use your phone to photograph vehicle damage from all angles. Capture the surrounding area, including lane markings, signs, lighting, and anything that blocked your view.

Collect Driver and Witness Information

Exchange names, contact details, and insurance information with the other driver. Get contact information from any witnesses before they leave the scene.

Look for Security Cameras

Note any visible cameras on buildings or light poles. Ask the property manager how to get footage and how long they keep recordings.

Avoid Recorded Statements

The other driver’s insurance company may call asking for a recorded statement. You’re not required to give one, and it’s best to decline until you talk with an attorney.

Contact a Parking Garage Lawyer

An experienced attorney can immediately preserve critical evidence, handle insurance communications, and ensure your claim is filed correctly and on time.

How Long Do You Have to File a Claim in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts gives you three years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline is called the statute of limitations. Wrongful death claims also have three years from the date of death.

While three years seems like plenty of time, certain situations dramatically shorten your deadline:

• Government property accidents: Municipal parking lots may require written notice within 30 days
• MBTA facility accidents: Two-year deadline with strict notice requirements
• Evidence preservation: Most important deadline, surveillance video often gets deleted within 30 days

Waiting too long risks losing the evidence needed to prove your case. Contacting an attorney quickly ensures crucial information gets preserved.

When Should You Call a Parking Garage Lawyer?

Not every minor fender-bender needs legal help, but certain situations definitely require an experienced attorney. You should call a lawyer if any of these apply to your situation.

Consider legal help when:

• You or passengers suffered injuries requiring medical treatment
• The other driver disputes fault or blames you for the accident
• Multiple parties might be responsible (driver and property owner)
• It was a hit-and-run or the at-fault driver had no insurance
• Insurance companies are delaying, lowballing, or denying your claim
• The accident happened in your employer’s parking lot
• You were a pedestrian or cyclist struck by a vehicle

Most personal injury lawyers, including our firm, offer free consultations to evaluate your case. We work on contingency fees, meaning no upfront costs and we only get paid if we win your case.

What Evidence Proves Fault in Parking Areas?

Proving fault in parking facilities requires different evidence than highway crashes. Since police reports are rare and traffic rules are unclear, you need to gather specific information right after the accident.

Take photos of everything at the scene. Document vehicle damage from multiple angles, showing how the impact happened. Photograph skid marks, car positions relative to parking lines, and overall conditions like lighting and signage.

Surveillance video is often the most powerful evidence. Many garages and commercial lots have security cameras that capture the entire incident.

You should act quickly because surveillance footage is often overwritten or becomes unavailable if it isn’t preserved promptly. An experienced lawyer can immediately send a “preservation letter” to the property owner, legally requiring them to save the video for your case.

Other crucial evidence includes:

• Maintenance logs showing when lighting was repaired or lots were plowed
• Previous accident reports proving dangerous patterns
• Engineering studies analyzing design problems
• Witness statements from other drivers or store employees
• Dashboard camera or smartphone footage
• Vehicle computer data showing speed and braking before impact

What Insurance Applies in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts is a no-fault state, which confuses many accident victims about when they can sue. This doesn’t mean you can’t take legal action, it just determines which insurance pays first.

Your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage pays your medical bills and lost wages up to $8,000, regardless of who caused the accident. To sue for pain and suffering, you must meet the ‘tort threshold’, either have more than $2,000 in medical expenses or suffer serious injuries such as fractures or permanent scarring.

Once you meet this threshold, other insurance policies come into play:

• Bodily injury liability: The at-fault driver’s insurance covers your damages
• Uninsured motorist coverage: Your own insurance protects you from hit-and-run drivers or those without insurance
• Premises liability: The property owner’s commercial insurance may cover dangerous conditions that contributed to your accident

Understanding which insurance applies helps your parking lot accident lawyer maximize your recovery from all available sources.

What Causes Parking Lots and Garage Crashes?

Parking areas have  unique dangers that don’t exist on regular streets. Cars move in all directions, visibility is limited, and there are few traffic signals to guide drivers.

Driver error causes most parking lot accidents, but dangerous property conditions also play a major role. Here’s what typically goes wrong:

• Backing accidents: Drivers can’t see clearly when reversing, especially when multiple cars back out at the same time
• Right-of-way confusion: Without clear stop signs, drivers don’t know who should go first
• Distracted driving: People focus on finding parking spots instead of watching for other cars and pedestrians
• Poor lighting: Dark garages make it hard to see, especially during evening hours
• Bad design: Tight turns, blind corners, and confusing lane markings create hazards
• Weather problems: Snow and ice make Massachusetts parking lots slippery and dangerous
• Aggressive driving: Competition for good parking spots leads to speeding and reckless behavior

Understanding these causes helps determine who’s legally responsible when you get hurt.

Injured in a Parking Lot or Garage? Get a Free Consultation Today

For over 30 years, Breakstone, White & Gluck has fought for Massachusetts families harmed by negligence. Our firm has secured favorable verdicts and settlements in cases involving complex parking facilities, including a significant automobile accident settlement for a client injured in a rear-end collision.

We provide personalized service with experienced partners handling your case directly, not junior associates. Our investigation begins immediately to preserve video evidence and identify every liable party.

Our Boston team successfully represents clients injured in parking facilities statewide, from downtown garages to suburban shopping centers. We handle all insurance communications and fight for maximum compensation you deserve.

Contact us for a free consultation and discover how our award-winning parking lot and garage accident attorneys can help you seek compensation and justice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Sue for a Parking Lot or Garage Accident?

Yes.  In Massachusetts you can file a lawsuit if your injuries are serious enough or your medical expenses meet the state’s legal threshold for suing.

Who Is at Fault When Both Cars Are Backing Up?

Both drivers often share fault since each has a duty to ensure the path is clear before moving. Insurance companies consider factors like who started backing first and whether either driver tried to avoid the collision.

Do Police Respond to Accidents on Private Property?

Massachusetts police aren’t required to respond to minor private property accidents without injuries. They typically only come for injury accidents, hit-and-runs, or major disputes between drivers.

How Do Insurance Companies Handle Parking Lot Claims?

Insurers use specific “Standards of Fault” for parking lot accidents, evaluating factors like which vehicle was in a through lane versus a feeder lane and whether vehicles were moving or legally parked.

What If the Driver Hit and Ran or Had No Insurance?

You can file a claim under your Uninsured Motorist coverage for hit-and-run accidents or crashes with uninsured drivers. Report hit-and-runs to the police within 24 hours to qualify for this coverage.

What If You Were Hurt in Your Employer’s Parking Lot?

Workplace parking lot injuries may involve both workers’ compensation claims and third-party lawsuits against negligent drivers or property maintenance companies.

Will the Garage Automatically Save Surveillance Video?

No; properties don’t always retain surveillance footage, and recordings may be overwritten unless promptly preserved. Your attorney must immediately send a legal preservation letter to prevent video destruction.

How Much Money Can You Get for a Parking Lot Accident?

Compensation depends on injury severity and financial losses. Even low-speed parking lot crashes can cause serious injuries leading to substantial settlements or verdicts.

Contact Breakstone, White & Gluck Today

Were you injured in a parking lot or garage accident in Boston? Contact Breakstone, White & Gluck to protect your rights and pursue full compensation.

Parking lots and garages may seem low-risk, but crashes, pedestrian accidents, falls, and structural hazards can cause serious and sometimes life-changing injuries. Poor lighting, blind corners, speeding drivers, snow and ice accumulation, and negligent property maintenance all contribute to dangerous conditions that place visitors at risk. Victims often face medical expenses, lost income, and insurance companies eager to minimize their claims.

Breakstone, White & Gluck has spent decades holding negligent drivers, property owners, and garage operators accountable throughout Boston and the surrounding communities. The firm investigates hazardous conditions, secures security footage, identifies all responsible parties, and builds strong cases designed to overcome insurer resistance. Parking lot and garage accident victims deserve focused legal representation and a team committed to securing maximum compensation.

Contact us today for a free consultation and discover how we can help you seek the compensation and justice you deserve.