Parking Lot and Garage Accident Lawyers in Georgia & South Carolina
Parking lots and garages are among the most overlooked hazard zones in premises liability law. The National Safety Council reports that tens of thousands of crashes occur in parking lots and structures annually, resulting in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries. Beyond vehicle collisions, parking lot hazards include potholes, poor lighting, ice accumulation, pedestrian conflicts, and security failures that enable criminal assaults.
At Roden Law, our parking lot accident attorneys represent people injured in parking lots and garages throughout Georgia and South Carolina — whether by a vehicle collision, a trip and fall, or a criminal act facilitated by the property owner’s negligence.
Common Parking Lot and Garage Hazards
Our attorneys handle parking lot injury claims involving:
- Potholes and surface defects: Cracked, crumbling, or uneven pavement causing trips, falls, and vehicle damage
- Poor lighting: Inadequate, broken, or burned-out lighting that creates visibility hazards and enables criminal activity
- Missing or faded markings: Absent lane markings, stop signs, speed bumps, and pedestrian crosswalks
- Ice and snow: Failure to salt, sand, or clear ice from parking surfaces and walkways during winter weather
- Pedestrian conflicts: Lack of designated pedestrian walkways separating foot traffic from vehicles
- Drainage problems: Standing water, oil slicks, and flooding creating slip and fall conditions
- Structural defects in garages: Crumbling concrete, exposed rebar, low-clearance strikes, and ramp hazards
- Criminal activity: Robberies, assaults, carjackings, and sexual assaults enabled by inadequate security measures
Property Owner Responsibility for Parking Lot Safety
Under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 51-3-1) and South Carolina premises liability law, property owners must exercise ordinary care to maintain parking lots in a safe condition for invitees. This includes regular inspection and repair of surfaces, adequate lighting at all hours, proper drainage, clear signage and lane markings, and reasonable security measures based on the crime history of the area.
Georgia’s comparative fault rule means that even if the injured person bears some responsibility (such as not watching where they were walking), they may still recover damages if their fault was less than 50%. South Carolina uses a similar modified comparative fault standard with a 51% threshold.
Parking Garage Specific Hazards
Parking garages present additional dangers beyond surface lots:
- Structural deterioration: Garages are exposed to water, salt, and vehicle fluids that accelerate concrete degradation
- Carbon monoxide buildup: Enclosed or poorly ventilated garages can accumulate dangerous carbon monoxide levels
- Elevator and stairwell hazards: Broken elevators, dark stairwells, and missing handrails
- Height dangers: Inadequate barriers and guardrails on upper levels
- Limited visibility: Tight turns, blind corners, and columns that obstruct sightlines between vehicles and pedestrians
Compensation for Parking Lot Injuries
Injured persons may recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, permanent disability, and emotional distress. When criminal assaults are facilitated by inadequate security, additional damages for psychological trauma are typically available. Georgia (O.C.G.A. Title 51) and South Carolina law provide the full range of compensatory damages in premises liability cases.