Parking lots have multiple risk factors for crashes – especially those at doctor’s offices. There is usually limited space, tight turns, drivers with range of motion issues, and over-reliance on camera technology – not to mention the backing up and pedestrians walking through the cars. While folks are generally not driving fast, the impact angles and being caught completely off guard can cause serious injury when crashes happen in parking lots.One afternoon while leaving her own doctor’s appointment, our client was crashed into by a backing out car who fled the scene. The inattentive driver left the scene without rendering aid, or waiting for authorities to arrive. Our client immediately felt pain in her left shoulder. Her neck – which is the reason she was visiting the doctor in the first place – was on fire. She called us because she didn’t know exactly what to do as the crash happened in a parking lot and the other driver fled the scene.Our LJBLegal team worked on multiple fronts to obtain financial justice for our client. First, our investigator fought to obtain video footage from the medical facility – who did not want to willingly provide it – and other nearby businesses. Using the footage, we were able to obtain a partial license plate which was then used along with the make and model of the vehicle to identify the other vehicle’s owner. We were able to then make contact with the owner who advised her granddaughter borrowed the car for the day and willingly provided her insurance information. While the granddaughter did not have insurance of her own, we were able to pursue a claim against the vehicle owner’s insurance as the granddaughter was an authorized driver.
Our team also worked with our client and her medical providers to better delineate the new and increased pain after this crash from the prior degenerative issues and pain from the pre-existing condition she was experiencing at the time. The client was able to obtain treatment for the torn rotator cuff as well as the increased pain.
Given the factual issues in the case, including the hit-and-run and the extended treatment, we did file suit to protect our client’s rights and ability to seek full financial justice. Shortly after filing suit, the insurer paid their full policy limits.
Our team did not waiver in the face of a tough case involving a hit-and-run. Our Louisiana car accident lawyers undertook the necessary steps to identify the at-fault driver and helped our client obtain the financial justice she deserved.
