Orlando Parking Lot Accident Lawyers for British Tourists

Tourists from Great Britain choose Orlando as their holiday destination for many reasons, including the world-famous amusement parks, world-class dining, and world-renowned shopping experiences offered throughout the city. One thing that most of these destinations have in common is the need to traverse a parking lot at some point. Unfortunately, these parking lots can pose more of a risk to tourists than one might think, sometimes resulting in serious injury to a British tourist who is then faced with the need to obtain medical care and navigate the American legal system to pursue compensation for injuries.

If you or a family member were injured in a parking lot accident while visiting Orlando, the Orlando parking lot accident lawyers for British tourists at Bailey Fisher can help you understand your legal options and pursue compensation from the party (or parties) responsible for your injuries. We understand that you have experienced physical injuries, emotional trauma, and financial hardship because of your injuries, and we are dedicated to helping you. Contact the team at Bailey Fisher today by calling 407-628-2929 or submit our online form to find out how we can help you.

What Type of Accidents Might Occur in a Parking Lot?

Admittedly, most of us do not think of parking lots as particularly dangerous; however, they can pose a variety of risks to anyone faced with navigating them. While you may envision a minor fender-bender as the most serious accident likely to occur in a parking lot, the reality is that more serious injuries can – and do – happen in a parking lot accident. Parking lot accidents and injuries can result from various other hazards, including:

Neglected inspection and cleaning of the lot. When parking lot owners fail to conduct regular inspections and cleaning of the lot, the parking area can become a hazardous place. Potholes in parking lots caused by erosion and lack of adequate maintenance, broken parking bumpers with exposed rebar, or other unexpected dangers can create a serious hazard to pedestrians. Substances like motor oil and debris left unattended can lead to slip-and-fall accidents or trip hazards for pedestrians as well as pose a danger to vehicles traveling through the parking lot.
Inadequate security. If you’ve ever felt uncertain about walking alone through an empty, dark parking lot at night, you’re not alone. While every horror movie you’ve ever watched may come to mind, the truth is that real-life assaults and robberies often occur under similar circumstances. If inadequate security measures contribute to theft or assault injuries in a parking lot, the owner of the parking facility may be legally responsible for the harm suffered by the victim.
Insufficient lighting. Given the constant movement of both vehicles and pedestrians in parking lots, proper lighting is crucial to prevent accidents. Regular inspections and maintenance of lighting systems are necessary to ensure they function effectively and reduce the risk of vehicular and pedestrian incidents. Insufficient lighting or non-functioning lighting can also contribute to inadequate security measures in a parking lot which can be viewed as negligent if an assault or theft occurs in the parking lot.
Design flaws and subpar construction. Just as care must be taken when designing residential homes, commercial buildings, and municipal streets, care must also go into the design of a parking lot to reduce the risk of collisions and pedestrian accidents. When a parking lot’s design is inherently defective, that defect can cause or contribute to a parking lot accident. Even when the initial design is sound, the use of substandard materials during construction can lead to issues such as crumbling curbs, concrete or asphalt cracks, water retention, and uneven surfaces, all of which pose hazards to pedestrians, cyclists, and even vehicles traveling through the lot.
Lack of Maintenance. To uphold the safety of both vehicles and pedestrians, parking lot owners should conduct routine inspections and promptly address necessary repairs. Failure to maintain the property can significantly increase the risk of accidents and expose the owner to liability for injuries sustained in a parking lot accident.

Who Is Liable for Injuries in an Orlando Parking Lot Accident?

When someone is injured, we frequently refer to the circumstances of the injuries as an “accident” when, in fact, those circumstances often do not indicate a true accident. On the contrary, many accidents occur under circumstances that were preventable. When that is the case, an injured victim may be entitled to compensation from the at-fault party. In an Orlando parking lot accident, the owner or occupier of the property may be held legally liable for injuries under the legal doctrine known as “premises liability.”

Florida law imposes a duty of reasonable care on the owner/occupier of a parking lot to keep invited visitors to the property safe. The extent of the duty of care imposed is determined by the status of the visitor as an invitee, a licensee, or a trespasser. An inviteeis someone expressly or impliedly invited to enter or remain on the land as a for a purpose for which the land is held open to the public. For example, a prospective customer of a retail store is an invitee when using the store’s parking lot. A licensee is a person who chooses to come upon the premises solely for his own convenience without invitation either expressed or reasonably implied under the circumstances. For example, someone taking a shortcut through a parking lot merely to get from one location to another, but not intending to do business with an establishment associated with the lot, may be considered an uninvited licensee. Finally, someone who enters onto property without permission, or merely as an idler with no apparent purpose, other than perhaps to satisfy his curiosity, may be considered a trespasser. The Orlando parking lot accident lawyers for British tourists at Bailey Fisher can help you determine your rights if you suffer a parking lot injury while on holiday in Florida.

A British tourist parking a vehicle at a hotel, restaurant, shopping mall, or amusement park will typically be classified as an invitee, affording them the highest duty of care under Florida premises liability law. That duty requires the property to be kept in a reasonably safe condition and requires the owner/occupier to make repairs or provide notice of any known dangers on the premises. An owner/occupier can also be held liable for dangerous conditions that they should have known about had they conducted a reasonable inspection. Of course, Florida law also imposes a duty of reasonable care on the part of an injured invitee on the property, and requires that the invitee exercise reasonable care for his/her own safety, under the principle of “comparative fault”.

Am I Entitled to Compensation for My Orlando Parking Lot Accident Injuries?

If you are a British tourist who was injured in an Orlando parking lot accident, you may be struggling with physical and emotional injuries as well as attempting to understand your options under the American legal system. The Orlando parking lot accident lawyers for British tourists at Bailey Fisher understand the numerous and varied obstacles you are attempting to navigate, and we are committed to helping. Let us put that commitment, along with our experience and resources, to work for you to secure compensation for your medical bills, emotional trauma, travel expenses, and lost income. If you lost a family member in an Orlando parking lot accident, you may also be entitled to pursue compensation through a Florida wrongful death lawsuit.