Parking Garage Accident Lawyer in Dallas

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Parking garages in Dallas and the surrounding DFW area seem safe enough at low speeds, but they produce a surprising number of serious injuries every year. Whether you park near the Denton County Courthouse-on-the-Square, use a multi-level garage off I-35E near the University of North Texas, or pull into a structure attached to a Dallas shopping center, these facilities carry real risks. If you were hurt in a parking garage crash, the personal injury lawyers at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys in Denton are ready to help you understand your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.

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How Common Are Parking Garage Accidents in Texas?

Most drivers think of freeway pile-ups or intersection crashes when they picture a serious accident. The reality is that parking structures are far more dangerous than people assume. According to data from the National Safety Council, approximately 60,000 people are injured in parking lot and garage accidents across the United States every year, and more than 500 people die in these crashes annually. That works out to roughly 165 Americans injured every single day in these low-speed environments.

In Texas, the numbers are equally sobering. The Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Records Information System (CRIS) tracks every reportable accident in the state, and the 2024 data shows that a reportable crash occurred every 57 seconds on Texas roads. While not all of those crashes happen in parking structures, a significant share of vehicle collisions occur in private parking facilities, many of which go unreported entirely. Experts widely agree that parking garage crashes are underreported because drivers often settle disputes on the spot or assume their injuries are minor.

Denton is a growing city. With the University of North Texas and Texas Woman’s University drawing tens of thousands of students, faculty, and visitors every year, the demand for structured parking has grown with the population. Garages near the Denton Square, along University Drive, and at medical facilities like Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton see heavy daily traffic. More cars in more confined spaces means more opportunities for collisions, pedestrian strikes, and property damage. Do not underestimate what can happen in a structure that seems calm and slow-moving.

Common Causes of Parking Garage Accidents in Dallas and Denton

Parking garages create a unique set of conditions that increase crash risk. Tight turning lanes, blind corners, low ceilings that block sight lines, and a mix of pedestrians and vehicles in the same narrow space all contribute to accidents that would not happen on an open road.

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes. Drivers searching for a space while watching their phones or navigation screens are not watching pedestrians stepping out between parked cars. Backing accidents are another major hazard. Research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows that the combination of a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, and rear autobrake can reduce backing crashes by 78%, which tells you just how frequently these crashes happen without those safety features.

Poor garage design also plays a role. Blind spots created by structural columns, inadequate lighting on upper levels, faded lane markings, and missing or confusing signage all set the stage for crashes. Under Texas Transportation Code Section 545.351, every driver must operate at a speed that is reasonable and prudent for existing conditions. In a parking garage, that means slowing for blind corners and pedestrian crossings, not just watching the posted speed limit. Drivers who speed through ramps or cut across lanes without yielding are violating that basic standard.

Other common causes include drivers failing to yield when pulling out of a space, wrong-way driving on one-way garage lanes, and vehicles striking pedestrians in poorly lit stairwells or walkways. Any of these scenarios can leave you with real injuries and real financial losses that deserve serious legal attention. A qualified car accident attorney can help you sort out who bears responsibility when multiple factors contributed to your crash.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Parking Garage Accident in Texas?

Liability in a parking garage accident can fall on more than one party, and identifying all of them matters when you are trying to recover full compensation. The at-fault driver is the most obvious defendant, but the garage owner or operator can also be held responsible under Texas premises liability law.

Under Texas law, property owners owe their highest duty of care to invitees, meaning people who enter the property for business purposes or for the mutual benefit of both parties. When you park in a commercial garage near downtown Dallas or in a structure attached to a Denton shopping center, you are an invitee. That means the garage owner must regularly inspect the property, identify potential hazards, and take steps to fix or warn about dangerous conditions. If a property owner either knew or should have known about a dangerous condition on their property and failed to address it in a reasonable amount of time, they have breached their duty of care under Texas premises liability standards.

If the garage has a known security problem and inadequate lighting contributed to an assault or crash, the property owner may also face liability under the negligent security theory. Texas courts have recognized that property owners can be held liable for injuries resulting from criminal acts when the risk of criminal conduct was so great that it was both unreasonable and foreseeable. Parking garages with histories of crime, broken lighting, and no security cameras fit that profile.

Beyond the driver and the property owner, liability may extend to a municipality if the garage is publicly owned, a management company hired to run the facility, or even a contractor who performed faulty maintenance. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 95 addresses claims involving contractors and property improvements, which can apply when defective construction or repair work contributed to your crash. Sorting through these layers of potential liability is exactly why working with an experienced car accident attorney matters from the start.

What to Do After a Parking Garage Accident in Dallas or Denton

The steps you take right after a parking garage crash can directly affect the strength of your claim. Even if the crash seems minor, do not skip any of these steps.

First, check yourself and anyone else involved for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt. Even low-speed impacts can cause whiplash, soft tissue injuries, or head injuries that are not immediately obvious. Get medical attention that same day, even if you feel fine. Symptoms from concussions and spinal injuries often appear hours or days after the crash.

Second, document everything at the scene. Take photos of all vehicles, the point of impact, lane markings, signage, lighting conditions, and any structural features like columns or blind corners that contributed to the crash. Look for security cameras mounted on the garage walls or ceiling and note their locations. Under Texas Transportation Code Section 550.065, crash reports are available to people directly involved in an accident, so request the official report as soon as it is filed.

Third, get the other driver’s contact information, insurance details, and license plate number. If there are witnesses, get their names and phone numbers. Report the accident to the garage management or property owner and ask for a copy of any incident report they create.

Fourth, avoid giving recorded statements to any insurance adjuster before speaking with an attorney. Insurance companies often use early statements to minimize claims. The at-fault driver’s insurer is not on your side. Contact Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500 before you talk to anyone from an insurance company. Our team serves clients throughout Denton, Dallas, and the surrounding DFW area, and we can review your case at no cost to you.

Texas Law, Comparative Fault, and Your Parking Garage Claim

Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule, which means your compensation can be reduced if you are found partially at fault for the crash. Under this system, you can still recover damages as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50 percent. If it does, you lose the right to recover anything. If your fault is determined to be 20 percent, your total compensation is reduced by 20 percent.

Insurance companies know this rule well, and they use it aggressively. After a parking garage crash, an adjuster may try to argue that you were driving too fast for the conditions, failed to yield, or did not watch for oncoming traffic. These arguments are designed to shift fault onto you and reduce the payout. Having solid evidence, including security camera footage, photos, and witness statements, is the best defense against those tactics.

Texas also has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003. That clock starts on the date of your accident. If you miss the deadline, you lose the right to file suit entirely. Two years sounds like a long time, but evidence disappears quickly. Security camera footage is often overwritten within days or weeks. Witnesses forget details. Do not wait.

The damages you can pursue after a parking garage accident include medical bills, future medical costs, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and property damage to your vehicle. If the garage owner’s conduct was particularly reckless, punitive damages may be available as well, though those require clear evidence of gross negligence. A car accident lawyer who handles cases throughout the DFW area can evaluate all of your potential damages and build the strongest possible case on your behalf.

Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys handles cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. If you were hurt in a parking garage near the Denton Square, at a Dallas medical center, or anywhere in between, call us at (940) 800-2500 or reach out online. You can also learn more about how a car accident attorney in the area approaches these cases before you decide what to do next. You have rights under Texas law, and we are here to protect them.

Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys is responsible for the content on this page. Principal office: Denton, Texas. Results in any individual case depend on the specific facts and law involved and cannot be used to predict or guarantee an outcome in any other matter.

FAQs About Parking Garage Accident Lawyers in Dallas

Can I sue the parking garage owner, not just the other driver?

Yes. If the garage owner’s negligence contributed to your accident, you can bring a claim against them under Texas premises liability law. Common examples include poor lighting, faded lane markings, missing signage, blind corners caused by structural design, and inadequate security. As a paying customer using the garage, you are an invitee under Texas law, which means the owner owes you the highest duty of care. That includes regular inspections and fixing known hazards. If they failed in that duty and it contributed to your crash, they can be held liable alongside the at-fault driver.

What if the other driver left the scene after hitting my car in a parking garage?

Hit-and-run crashes in parking garages are more common than most people realize. If the driver fled without leaving contact information, start by checking whether the garage has security cameras that captured the incident. Report the crash to the police and file a report with your own insurance company. If the driver cannot be identified, your uninsured motorist coverage may provide compensation for your injuries and vehicle damage. An attorney can help you pursue every available avenue, including a claim against the property owner if poor security or lighting made it easier for the driver to flee undetected.

How long do I have to file a parking garage accident claim in Texas?

Texas gives you two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003. That deadline applies to claims against both the at-fault driver and the property owner. Missing it means losing your right to sue. However, you should act much sooner than two years. Security footage is often deleted within days, and witness memories fade fast. The sooner you contact an attorney, the better your chances of preserving the evidence you need.

Do parking garage accidents count as car accidents for insurance purposes?

Yes. Even though a parking garage is private property, Texas traffic laws and insurance rules still apply. Drivers are required to carry minimum liability insurance under the Texas Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act (Transportation Code Chapter 601), and that coverage applies to crashes on private property, including parking garages. Your collision coverage, uninsured motorist coverage, and personal injury protection (PIP) can all come into play depending on the facts of your accident. An attorney can help you identify which policies apply and push back if an insurer tries to deny your claim based on the location of the crash.

What is my parking garage accident case worth?

The value of your case depends on the specific facts, including the severity of your injuries, your total medical costs, how much work you missed, whether you have lasting disabilities, and how much fault each party bears. There is no fixed average for parking garage accident settlements in Texas. Cases involving serious injuries like traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, or broken bones typically result in higher compensation than cases involving minor property damage. Past results in other cases cannot predict what your case will be worth, since every situation is different. The best way to get an honest assessment is to speak directly with an attorney who can review your records and the facts of your accident.

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