Hit and Run in a Private Parking Lot in Alabama: Who Is Liable and What Are Your Next Steps?

If another driver hit your vehicle and fled the scene in a private parking lot, you need the help of an Alabama hit-and-run accidents lawyer to pursue justice and accountability. While parking lot accidents in Alabama typically don’t result in the same types of severe injuries seen in accidents on public roads and highways, they can still cause significant damage that the at-fault party’s insurance company should be held responsible for.

For answers about what to do next, contact Stokes Stemle, LLC for a free consultation with an experienced Alabama hit-and-run accidents lawyer if someone hit your parked car and left. Our lawyers will explain your options for seeking compensation for your injuries or property damage and will help you understand the parties that could be financially responsible beyond the at-fault driver.

Understanding Hit-and-Run Accidents in Alabama

A hit-and-run accident is one in which the offending driver leaves the scene without reporting it to the police and providing the victim with their insurance information. Under Alabama Code Section 32-7-5, drivers must report accidents involving injuries, deaths, or property damage exceeding $250 to the police.

Drivers who flee the scene without reporting the accident or providing their insurance information could face criminal penalties in addition to being held civilly liable for the harm they cause if they are later identified.

Do Parking Lot Accidents Count as “Accidents” Under Alabama Law?

Alabama law doesn’t distinguish between accidents occurring in parking lots and on roads. If a driver collides with another vehicle, whether it’s being driven or parked, and that collision results in property damage, it is an accident under the law.

In fact, parking lots are some of the most common places for auto accidents to occur. This is because they involve many cars going in various directions and backing out of parking spaces in a limited area.

Do insurance companies cover parking lot accidents? Yes. Whether you’re filing a third-party claim against the at-fault party’s liability coverage policy or a first-party claim against your uninsured motorist coverage policy, parking lot accidents are covered.

What to Do Immediately After a Parking Lot Hit-and-Run

Taking the following steps immediately after a private parking lot hit-and-run accident in Alabama can strengthen your case and increase your chances of maximizing your financial recovery:

• Seek Medical Attention – If you were in your vehicle when the accident occurred, it’s crucial to seek immediate medical attention for your injuries. Even if you feel fine after the crash, you may have underlying injuries that haven’t begun showing symptoms yet, so it’s always important to get checked by a medical professional.
• Document the Scene – Take photographs and videos of the damage to your vehicle and the surrounding area. Pay particular attention to relevant signs, such as those directing traffic within the parking lot, and surveillance cameras that may have captured the collision.
• Report the Accident to Police – Contact the police and have them come to the scene to file an official incident report. This report can help preserve evidence from the accident scene and may be necessary when filing your insurance claim.
• Report the Accident to Your Insurer – Even if you weren’t at fault for the parking lot crash, you should report it to your auto insurance company just in case the at-fault party can’t be identified. If you don’t report the accident, your insurer may deny your uninsured motorist claim.
• Contact an Experienced Car Accident Attorney – The best way to maximize your compensation and protect your rights after a parking lot hit-and-run accident is to hire an experienced lawyer to handle your case. Lawyers have experience dealing with insurance companies and the tactics they use to deny and devalue claims, and they have the knowledge and resources necessary to fight back.

Will Insurance Cover Hit-and-Run Accidents in Alabama?

In Alabama, all drivers must have liability insurance with the following minimum coverage limits:

• $25,000 per person for bodily injury
• $50,000 per accident for bodily injury
• $25,000 per accident for property damage

However, when the at-fault driver flees the scene and can’t be identified, car accident victims can’t file a liability claim against their insurance policy. Instead, victims must file uninsured motorist claims with their own auto insurance providers to recover compensation.

While it’s not mandatory for drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage, Alabama Code Section 32-7-23 requires all car insurance companies to offer it by default. This means you should have it unless you opted out of purchasing uninsured motorist coverage.

As the name suggests, uninsured motorist coverage provides compensation for you if an uninsured driver hits you. However, it also provides compensation if the driver who hit you fled the scene, as an unidentified driver is the same as an uninsured driver from an insurance perspective.

Legal Options and the Role of a Lawyer

Beyond filing insurance claims against the at-fault driver’s liability coverage policy or your own uninsured motorist coverage policy, you may also be able to hold the private property owner liable for the damage to your vehicle.

A skilled lawyer can determine whether conditions in the parking lot that the owner is responsible for fixing, such as poor signage, contributed to the car wreck. The lot owner may also be liable if they failed to provide adequate security, such as by not having working surveillance cameras or failing to keep track of the vehicles that come and go from the lot.

Your lawyer will also handle filing your insurance claim or lawsuit against responsible third parties, negotiating with insurance companies, and, if necessary, taking your case to trial to seek the maximum compensation.

Contact Our Alabama Car Accident Attorneys for Help

If you were injured or your vehicle was damaged in a hit-and-run accident in a private parking lot, contact Stokes Stemle, LLC for a free consultation with an experienced Alabama car accident lawyer. We can investigate the case to identify the at-fault party and hold them financially liable. And if they can’t be found, we can file an uninsured motorist claim with your insurance provider to help you seek the compensation you need to cover medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.