You probably pulled into that parking lot to run a quick errand, grab dinner, or pick up your kids—not to end up hurt, shaken, and staring at a crumpled bumper or, worse, a serious injury. As a Houston parking lot accident lawyer, I see this scenario far more often than most people realize.
Parking lot and garage crashes may happen at lower speeds, but they still cause real injuries, real medical bills, and real stress. On top of that, the insurance company often tries to brush these cases off as “minor,” or they blame you for being “in the way.”
You deserve better than that.
How Common and Serious Are Parking Lot Accidents in Houston?
Parking lots look harmless, but the numbers tell a different story.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, Texas saw more than 5,000 crashes involving parked vehicles in 2020, and about 38% of parking lot crashes involve a moving vehicle hitting a legally parked car. Nationwide, an estimated 60,000 people suffer injuries each year in parking lot incidents, and roughly 300–310 people lose their lives in these types of crashes annually.
Those numbers include:
- Drivers and passengers hit while pulling in or out
- Pedestrians struck while walking to or from a store
- People pinned between vehicles
- Crashes caused by poor lighting or confusing lot design
So even if the impact happened at a low speed, your injuries and losses can still be serious and long‑lasting.
Who Is at Fault in a Parking Lot Accident in Texas?
In every case, we start with duty of care: every driver and property owner must act reasonably to keep others safe.
In a parking lot crash, one or more of the following may be at fault:
- Drivers pulling out of a space who fail to yield to cars already driving down the lane
- Drivers speeding through the lot or cutting across spaces
- Distracted drivers looking at phones instead of mirrors and surroundings
- Property owners or managers who allow dangerous conditions (poor lighting, missing signs, confusing traffic patterns, hidden pedestrian walkways)
Texas relies on basic right‑of‑way rules even in parking lots. For example, drivers pulling out of a parking space must yield to vehicles already traveling in the lane. When two drivers back out at the same time, each had a duty to look carefully and back out slowly.
Texas also uses modified comparative negligence under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001. In plain English:
- If you are 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover money.
- If you are 50% or less at fault, you can still recover compensation, but it will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Insurance companies love to use this rule against you. Part of my job is to push back on unfair blame and show how the other driver—or the property owner—actually caused or contributed to the crash.
Common Parking Lot Accident Scenarios We See
Here are some situations we regularly handle for clients in Houston and across Texas:
- A driver backs out of a space while on their phone and slams into your car
- Two vehicles back up at the same time and collide in the middle of the lane
- A speeding driver cuts across empty spaces and hits you head‑on
- A distracted driver hits you while you’re walking toward the store entrance
- A poorly lit or poorly designed lot hides pedestrians or incoming traffic
- A driver hits your parked car and leaves the scene (hit‑and‑run)
In every one of these examples, we look closely at video footage, witness statements, accident photos, and lot design to build your case.
Common Injuries After Parking Lot Accidents
People sometimes assume “parking lot” means “no big deal.” That’s not what I see in my office.
Even at low speeds, parking lot collisions can cause:
- Whiplash and neck injuries – symptoms often show up hours or days later
- Broken bones – especially for pedestrians or when someone is pinned between vehicles
- Head injuries and concussions – even without hitting anything inside the vehicle
- Back and spinal cord injuries – herniated discs, nerve pain, and in severe cases, partial paralysis
- Soft tissue injuries – sprains, strains, and deep bruising that make it painful to move or work
If you feel dizzy, sore, or “off” after the crash, take that seriously. Get checked out by a doctor as soon as possible, then talk with a lawyer about your legal options.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Houston Parking Lot Crash?
In a parking lot accident claim, we look at both economic and non‑economic damages, such as:
- Medical expenses – ER visits, urgent care, follow‑up appointments, physical therapy, medications, and future treatment
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity – time you missed from work and the impact on your future income
- Property damage – repairs or replacement for your vehicle and damaged personal items
- Pain and suffering – physical pain, limitations, and the impact on your daily life
- Mental anguish – anxiety, fear of driving, sleep problems, and emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life – when injuries keep you from hobbies, family activities, or normal routines
Every case is different. When I sit down with you, we walk through how this crash changed your life, not just what’s on a bill or receipt.
What to Do Right After a Parking Lot Accident
The steps you take in the minutes and days after the crash can make or break your claim. Here’s what I tell my clients:
- Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt.
- Call the police and ask for an official report, even in a parking lot.
- Exchange information with the other driver (name, phone, address, insurance, plate number).
- Take photos and video of:
- Both vehicles and their positions
- The parking lot layout, signs, and lighting
- Any skid marks or debris
- Your visible injuries
- Look for witnesses and get their names and phone numbers.
- Ask about surveillance cameras at nearby stores or in the garage.
- Get medical care right away, even if you “feel okay” at first.
- Call a lawyer before you talk at length to insurance adjusters.
Just as important, here are a few things you should not do:
- Do not apologize or say “I wasn’t paying attention,” even casually.
- Don’t sign anything or give a recorded statement before getting legal advice.
- Don’t accept a quick check from the insurance company without understanding your long‑term prognosis.
How a Houston Parking Lot Accident Lawyer Helps Your Case
When you hire us, our goal is simple: put you in the best possible position to heal and to get fairly compensated.
Our team at Joe I. Zaid & Associates will:
- Listen to your story and answer your questions in plain English
- Investigate the crash – photos, video, witness statements, police reports, and lot design
- Identify all responsible parties – the other driver, their employer, and sometimes the property owner
- Handle all communication with insurance companies so you don’t feel bullied or overwhelmed
- Work with your doctors and experts to document your injuries and future needs
- Calculate the full value of your claim, including future medical care and lost earning capacity
- Negotiate aggressively for a fair settlement
- Take your case to court if the insurance company refuses to be reasonable
You don’t pay us upfront. We work on a contingency fee, which means we only get paid if we recover money for you.
