Maison Law represents pedestrian accident victims across California, including those that have been hurt in parking lots of fast food restaurants like Chipotle. These high traffic areas are, unfortunately, one of the most common places where you can get hurt as a pedestrian. When this happens, our California pedestrian accident lawyers will be there to support you. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more.
Should You Work With Our Lawyers?
Whenever you’re in any type of accident that leaves you injured, it gives you certain legal options. At the same time, the question of whether or not you should work with our lawyers depends on your particular situation. In the event that your injuries are only minor, you probably don’t need to even worry about taking legal action.
However, in cases where an accident happens to you at a Chipotle parking lot, it brings up a lot of questions about how hurt you are and who’s responsible. At that point, you should take every opportunity you can to make a recovery, and one of the best ways to do that is to work with our lawyers.
What Can You Do After a Pedestrian Accident in a Chipotle Parking Lot?
Before you can start thinking about your legal options, you first need to know what you can (and need) to do after you’re involved in an accident in the Chipotle parking lot. This is obviously a scary situation, especially if you’re seriously injured. Nonetheless, taking these steps in the aftermath can both ensure your safety and strengthen your potential claim:
- Get medical help immediately – Even if your injury seems minor, see a doctor as soon as possible. Some injuries may not be apparent at the time, but could worsen if you don’t address them. You can ask Chipotle staff for assistance or find first aid in the parking lot.
- Report the accident to Chipotle – Tell a Chipotle employee or manager about the accident as soon as possible. This creates an official record and alerts them to any safety concerns. Clearly explain how and where in the parking lot the accident happened. Chipotle management should address any issues they may have caused.
- Preserve any evidence – Take photos or videos of the accident scene and keep any evidence, such as witness contact information and important documents, in a safe place. This evidence is crucial to your claim.
- Keep track of your losses – Pedestrian accidents like these often lead to financial losses and other expenses. Keep track of your expenses related to the accident. This documentation will be helpful when trying to put together a claim for damages later on.
- Keep up with your treatment – When you get medical care from a doctor, they’ll also put together a treatment plan so that you can progress toward healing. Make sure to follow this treatment plan and to also keep going to follow-up appointments. This will show that you’re serious about getting better.
Again, these steps are very important for your overall case. Not only does it also protect your health and safety, but it also creates the foundation for your claim. Another important facet of your claim, though, is your injuries.
Damages in a Pedestrian Accident Claim
There’s two ways to look at the damage from a pedestrian accident in a Chipotle parking lot. First, there’s your injuries. Most of these will be focused on the physical side of things, but these accidents also bring emotional and mental trauma as well.
Closely related are your legal damages. These are what the law in California makes available to you in the claims process, but you have to actually file a claim first.
Every accident is different, so your damages won’t necessarily be the same as anyone else. However, this scenario can result in a similar range of injuries:
- Fatalities caused by severe head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal injuries leading to paralysis
- Fractures and fractures
- Internal injuries
- Bruises and cuts
- Burns
- Emotional trauma such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD
Then, there’s other financial and non-economic concerns. An injury means you’re likely going to have to miss work to go to the doctor and surgeries. You may even be permanently injured and unable to work again. Similarly, your injuries can change how you live your life. All of this gets factored in when you file your claim for damages, which can include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages or earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Repair/replacement costs for damaged property
- Loss of companionship or enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death expenses
Procedurally, you make a claim for these damages by either making an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. You have to file within California’s statute of limitations to even be able to make a claim, which is two years from the date of the accident. Miss this deadline, and you can’t file your claim.
Who Has to Pay For Your Damages?
Another hugely important part of your claim is figuring out who has to pay for your damages. In legal terms, this is known as liability. And even in cases where the accident happens in a Chipotle parking lot, this doesn’t mean they’ll automatically have to pay.
Rather, liability is determined by negligence. The party that acted negligently and caused the accident is the one that has to pay for your damages. So, in a pedestrian accident, what actually happened is going to factor heavily into who’s responsible. Usually, though, this involves the following:
- The driver who hit you – If the accident happened because the driver wasn’t careful or was driving too fast, they could be at fault. This is true in most pedestrian accident cases.
- Chipotle management – If the accident was caused by unsafe conditions in the parking lot, like bad lighting, lack of markings, or big potholes, Chipotle might be responsible because they didn’t keep the area safe.
- Property owner – Sometimes, the owner of the land where Chipotle is located could be responsible if they knew about dangers but didn’t fix them. This is usually the case if the Chipotle is in a shopping center.
- Other parties – Depending on what happened, other people involved in managing or maintaining the area, like maintenance workers or outside vendors, and even the local government could also be responsible.
Although it’s fairly straightforward in terms of what makes someone liable, it’s not always easy to figure out. This is especially true in instances where Chipotle itself isn’t a standalone restaurant. While having more parties involved generally complicates things, our team can use our experience and resources to guide your claim.
Turn to Maison Law After a Pedestrian Accident in a California Chipotle Parking Lot
Stopping by a Chipotle shouldn’t leave you or someone you care about with serious injuries. Unfortunately, this is exactly what sometimes happens to pedestrians in Chipotle parking lots in California. In this situation, you can turn to our team at Maison Law. We’ll explain your rights, help you through the claims process, and make sure you can get the support you need to recover from any injuries. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
