Maison Law represents pedestrian accident victims throughout California, including those that get hurt in fast food restaurant parking lots. Most of these locations have plenty of traffic and other hazards you have to watch out for. If you get hurt because someone was negligent, our team can help you. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more.
When Should You Hire a Lawyer?
You don’t technically need a lawyer in California whenever you get hurt. That said, you should hire one under certain conditions–like if you’re injured as a pedestrian. Most of the time, these accidents leave you facing pretty serious injuries. The more hurt you are, the more help you’ll need, and our team will be there to give you guidance.
We approach these accidents based on your specific needs, but in general, we can explain your rights, help you gather evidence, talk with insurance companies, and will make things easier for you.
Who’s Liable For Damages in a Burger King Parking Lot Accident?
When there’s an accident in a Burger King parking lot, you might think they would automatically cover your damages if you’re injured. While Burger King may have some liability, it’s not always that simple. It depends on the specifics of the incident.
As a business, Burger King is generally responsible for maintaining a safe environment for customers, including the parking lot. However, responsibility may also extend to others involved in the accident, including yourself.
Legal responsibility for damages typically falls on the party that was “negligent.” This means:
- Someone had a duty to keep you safe.
- They failed in that duty.
- Their failure caused the accident and your injuries.
In the specific circumstances of a pedestrian accident at a Burger King parking lot, various parties could be liable, including:
- Burger King
- The restaurant’s management
- An employee
- The driver who hit you
- Vehicle or parts manufacturers
- Local or state government
- The owner of the shopping center or parking lot (if it’s not Burger King)
Additionally, “comparative negligence” might reduce the damages you can get based on your share of fault in the accident. While it doesn’t prevent you from filing a claim, it can affect the outcome. Therefore, it’s crucial to take steps to protect your claim.
Claims Process After an Accident in a Burger King Parking Lot
In California, if you’re injured in an accident, you have legal options to seek recovery. The law allows you to file an injury claim against the responsible parties to obtain financial support.
You generally have two main options for filing an injury claim:
- Filing an insurance claim out of court
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit
Both options involve formally making a claim and presenting evidence to support it. Depending on the strength of your evidence and other factors, you can potentially recover:
- Medical expenses, covering treatment, hospitalization, surgeries, and medication.
- Continued care, covering any ongoing care needs or permanent injury treatment.
- Lost wages, which covers any income you miss because you can’t work and potential future earnings if permanently disabled.
- Pain and suffering, covering the physical pain and mental suffering that comes up because of the accident.
- Emotional distress, which covers any emotional damage or trauma from the incident.
- Property damage, which covers repairing or replacing damaged personal belongings.
- Quality of life, covers the financial considerations for diminished companionship or quality of life.
While success isn’t guaranteed, our team can strengthen your case. It’s crucial to follow California’s statute of limitations for injury claims, which is two years from the accident date. Missing this deadline prevents you from filing a claim and recovering these vital damages.
What You Need to Do After These Accidents
Obviously, every situation is different, even ones that have the same circumstances. This is especially true in an accident in a Burger King parking lot. Unfortunately, you’re vulnerable to a lot of different hazards in a parking lot. Most of the time, though, it’s going to involve things like:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Failing to yield to pedestrians
- Ignoring traffic signals
- Reversing without checking for pedestrians
- Driving under the influence
- Poor lighting or visibility
- Damaged or uneven pavement
- Parking in pedestrian zones
No matter what happens, though, it’s important to take a few steps to protect both your health and your claim.
- Get immediate medical care – Even for minor injuries, call an ambulance and see a doctor to address immediate and potential delayed symptoms. Burger King should provide first aid before an ambulance arrives.
- Report the accident – Contact local law enforcement to create an official report and inform Burger King employees or the manager about the incident so they can take action. This is also important to your legal claim because it makes Burger King aware of the situation.
- Exchange information – Get contact and insurance details from all involved parties and any witnesses.
- Document the scene – Take photos and videos of the accident scene, including vehicle damage, injuries, property damage, and parking lot conditions.
- File a claim with your insurance – Notify your insurance provider about the accident, regardless of fault.
- Listen to your doctor – Follow your doctor’s recovery plan to show your commitment to getting better.
Whenever you’re hurt in one of these accidents, it can be difficult (or even impossible) to take some of these actions. So, while your sole focus should be on your health and getting any injuries taken care of, it’s also important to have this information if you want to take legal action. And remember, if you want, you can turn to our team for guidance and assistance.
What Injuries Could You Be Facing?
As a pedestrian, a lot can happen to you in a busy Burger King parking lot. You might be struck by a distracted driver or become a target for assault or robbery due to the lack of security cameras. So, whenever these incidents happen, they can lead to serious injuries such as:
- Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Broken bones
- Torn ligaments
- Joint dislocations
- Cuts and bruises
- Burns
- Emotional trauma
It’s not just your injuries that make the claims process more complicated, but also questions about liability and just how the accident happened. It’s obviously frustrating, especially because it was likely preventable. Still, you have to deal with injuries and one of the best ways to gain some measure of financial control back is to go through the legal process. And in order to do that successfully, you can count on Maison Law.
Count on Maison Law After a Burger King Parking Lot Accident
When you’re hurt in a Burger King parking lot, it can leave you feeling alone and overwhelmed. Facing an injury situation is never easy, but you don’t have to go through it alone. At Maison Law, you can count on our experience and dedication. Our California pedestrian accident lawyers will be there to guide you through the claims process and make sure you have what you need for a strong claim. To get started, contact us today for a free consultation.
