Coeur d’Alene takes great pride in being known as a relaxing mountain getaway destination. But let’s face it, Lake City can get pretty busy during tourist season and in the daily rush to work and school. With all that traffic, parking can come at a premium, especially along downtown streets.
Your focus may be on finding a great spot, but you should also place importance on your safety too. Suffering a serious fall in a parking lot can leave you in great pain and force you to consider who will pay for your medical bills during your recovery. If you get hurt in the parking lot outside a business or in a public parking deck owned by the city, who is liable?
Supporting Coeur d’Alene Parking Lot Slip-And-Fall Victims
After enduring a slip-and-fall on pavement or in a parking lot stairwell victims can face thousands of dollars in hospital bills. Injuries to the hip or a traumatic brain injury can take a long time to heal all the while medical expenses will be piling up.
Contact a Coeur d’Alene Slip-And-Fall Attorney with CCD Law if you or a loved one has been the victim of a bad fall. Business owners and local government departments can be held liable for your suffering. They won’t alert you to your rights as a victim and they’ll try to get out of supporting you as you heal by any means possible. Make sure your interests are protected by an experienced legal professional.
Parking Lot Trip-And-Fall Hazards in Coeur d’Alene
Pulling off the street and parking your car may make you feel that you’re out of harm’s way. Unfortunately, business owners and city works departments can let the condition of their parking lots degrade to the point where they are unsafe for visitors.
These are just a few of the hazards that a parking lot can hold for unsuspecting visitors:
- Damaged Pavement – Potholes are one of the biggest causes of trip-and-fall accidents. Cracked pavement can catch someone’s foot and send them forward to land on a knee, hands, wrists, or even the face. A disability or disfigurement is possible and can lead to a lifetime of medical care.
- Bad ramps and stairs – Stairwells can be crumbling and perhaps you don’t notice the problem because there’s not enough light provided. Handrailing could also be broken. All walking surfaces should be solid and stairways should be up to code.
- Spills and Slick Spots – Cars and people can drop almost anything on the ground as they pass through and these spots can prove to be a fall hazard. An oil slick or a spilled coffee can sit out for hours or days and create a slippery mess.
- Snow and Ice – It’s not always sunny in Coeur d’Alene. Snow and ice will be a constant issue in the winter, but owners and operators are still required to try their best to provide a clear pathway. Store owners are called upon to keep parking lots reasonably clear so customers can make it to the front door. If snow builds up and goes a long time without being dealt with, owners can be liable for any injuries that result.
The safety of anyone using parking decks and lots is the responsibility of the owners and operators. By law, they have to show a “duty of care” to any visitor. This can include making repairs to hazards that create obstacles and cleaning up messes left by other customers in a reasonable amount of time.
When people are hurt by these dangers, these proprietors should be on the hook for all recovery costs and the lost wages victims endure while they are out of work.
What to Do if you are Hurt in a Slip-And-Fall in Couer d’Alene?
Losing your footing and taking a tumble may leave you feeling vulnerable, but you can take action in the minutes after a fall to prove your accident wasn’t your fault. First, if you feel you need medical attention call 911. Tell paramedics about every pain you experience.
Take photos of the obstacle that sent you to the ground. Keep any parking receipts you got on the day of the accident. If the parking lot is part of a grocery store, gas station, or other business, notify the store manager of what happened. They’ll often be required to fill out an accident report for their owner or corporate office. Talk to witnesses and get their contact information.
A Slip-And-Fall Accident at a Public Parking Garage
The City of Coeur d’Alene provides public parking lots and decks for tourists and residents in several locations. The parking deck on Coeur d’Alene Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets offers 350 spaces. The parking deck at McEuen Park contains over 400 spaces including oversized spaces and underground spots.
These lots are several stories high and getting from your car to street level can be a bit of a challenge. If you are seriously hurt you can petition the city for help with your recovery by filing a claim. Lawsuits against local government agencies can prove more complex than other cases.
The city will usually require notification of your intent to sue them sooner than the deadline with a normal personal injury case. City departments may also have certain legal protections in place that prevent some kinds of litigation. An experienced attorney can advise you on any deadlines involved in your case and determine just who should be included in your lawsuit.
Contact a Coeur d’Alene Parking Lot Slip-And-Fall Accident Lawyer
Established in Spokane in 1948, Crary & Domanico, P.S. is licensed and practices in both Washington and Idaho. We are committed to providing our clients with the absolute highest quality legal representation.
If our Coeur d’Alene Slip-And-Fall Lawyers represent you for your accident case, you have our assurance that we will use our absolute best efforts to win your case. Contact us after any accident resulting in a serious injury for a free, confidential consultation and case evaluation. We will only offer you advice that is in your best interest.
