Parking Lot Accidents in Westlake Village

Backing out of a parking space, walking toward a store, or navigating a crowded aisle of cars may not seem dangerous, but accidents in these settings happen more often than many people expect. Drivers may roll through stop signs, speed across lanes, or back up without looking. For pedestrians, even a slow-moving vehicle can cause painful injuries.

It can feel overwhelming to handle medical treatment, insurance calls, and repair bills after being involved in a car park collision. An experienced car crash attorney from Block LLP could help you understand what rights you have and how to protect them. Our lawyers could dedicate time to gathering evidence, reviewing video footage, and interviewing witnesses, while you focus on recovery. Choosing our firm after a parking lot accident in Westlake Village could also give you a clearer picture of deadlines and legal options, without unrealistic promises about how the case will end.

How Do Parking Lot Accidents Differ From Road Accidents?

Crashes in parking areas involve more laws than just traffic rules. Many of these lots are privately owned, which brings premises liability law into the picture. California Civil Code § 1714 creates a duty of reasonable care, which applies to drivers and to property owners who control lighting, signage, or traffic flow. Even at low speeds, injuries such as concussions, whiplash, and back strains are common, and insurers often try to undervalue these injuries. Proving liability may involve examining sightlines, lane design, or whether a driver failed to yield while backing up. The state follows pure comparative negligence, so recovery is possible even if you are found partly at fault.

Your attorney from Block LLP may look at several different legal theories. Negligence law applies to drivers who fail to use care. Negligent entrustment can arise if a company vehicle is involved. Premises liability can apply to owners who fail to maintain safe design or lighting in the parking lot. If someone hit you near a storefront, issues such as curb placement, crosswalk markings, or prior similar incidents may matter.

Our attorneys who handle parking lot collision claims in Westlake Village often move quickly to preserve surveillance videos and consult with experts who can explain how poor design or maintenance played a role in the incident.

Liability, Timing, and Building a Legal Claim

State law places strict time limits on filing for a claim. Under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, you must file personal injury cases within two years of the incident. If a public entity owns the parking lot in Westlake Village where the incident occurred, you must make a claim within six months under California Government Code § 911.2 before a lawsuit can proceed. Evidence is fragile in these matters because many stores overwrite camera footage within days. Witnesses also become harder to find over time.

After a parking lot collision, you should:

• Take photos of vehicles, lane markings, and lighting
• Save any dashcam, phone, or store video footage
• Get medical care promptly and follow through on treatment
• Exchange complete insurance and contact information with all parties involved
• Record the names of security or store staff
• Avoid giving recorded statements before speaking with counsel

Even if police decline to file a full report because the incident took place on private property, our attorneys may be able to use store records, incident logs, and maintenance files to build a case. Our lawyers could help organize evidence, communicate with insurers, and measure damages with input from medical and financial experts.

Contact Us in Westlake Village Today for Guidance After a Parking Lot Collision

It helps to have steady guidance when injuries that you suffered during a car park accident affect your health or your livelihood. At Block LLP, we could review the facts of your situation, explain time limits, and outline the paths you could take.

If you are ready to discuss your options, you should gather any photos, incident numbers, or medical documents you have and call us. A consultation could help you understand your obligations, protect your rights, and decide on the next steps. Reach out today to schedule a free case review and learn more about what steps to take after parking lot accidents in Westlake Village.