A storefront crash can injure you in a place that should feel safe. Drivers can jump a curb, lose control in a parking lot, or plow through a sidewalk dining area in seconds. After that, insurance companies often focus on one question: “Was this only the driver’s fault?” In many cases, the answer is no. You may have claims against more than one party depending on how the property was designed, protected, and maintained.
What Counts As A Storefront Crash Injury Case
A storefront crash usually involves a vehicle striking a building entrance, sidewalk, patio seating area, or pedestrian zone directly outside a business. These incidents often cause blunt force trauma, fractures, head injuries, spinal damage, and severe emotional distress. You may also face long recovery periods because crush injuries and orthopedic harm can require surgery and extended therapy.
Who May Be Responsible Beyond The Driver
The driver often bears primary responsibility, especially when speeding, distraction, impairment, or reckless driving played a role. Liability can expand, though, when a property owner failed to take reasonable steps to protect predictable pedestrian areas.
Examples include entrances built immediately adjacent to parking spaces, no physical barriers separating cars from foot traffic, or a history of prior near misses that put the owner on notice. A business does not need to guarantee perfect safety, but it must address foreseeable risks in areas designed for customers to walk, wait, or sit.
Premises Liability Issues That Come Up In Storefront Impacts
Premises liability claims often focus on foreseeability and reasonable safety measures. In a high-risk location, barriers such as bollards, planters, reinforced posts, or redesigned traffic flow can reduce harm. Lighting, signage, and parking lot striping can also matter when the business layout encourages sharp turns or confusing vehicle paths.
A strong case typically asks whether the property owner knew or should have known that vehicles could intrude into pedestrian space and whether the safety steps in place matched that risk.
Evidence That Strengthens A Storefront Crash Claim
You protect your claim when you preserve proof before repairs and cleanup erase the scene. Video can be overwritten quickly. Damaged structures can be removed fast.
A helpful evidence plan includes these steps:
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Photograph the scene, including the curb line, parking spaces, entrances, and any barriers that were present or missing
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Request surveillance footage from the business and neighboring properties
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Identify witnesses, including employees and other customers
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Preserve medical records from the first evaluation forward
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Request police reports, citations, and any impairment testing
This documentation helps establish fault, causation, and damages without relying on guesswork.
Insurance Coverage And Why Early Statements Can Hurt You
Storefront crashes can involve multiple policies, including driver liability coverage, commercial general liability coverage for the property, and potentially umbrella coverage. Each insurer may try to minimize responsibility by blaming another party.
You can report the incident and share basic facts, but avoid recorded statements before you understand what the insurer is trying to lock in. Early assumptions about speed, positioning, or where you stood can become a dispute later. A lawyer can coordinate communications and make sure claims go to the right carriers.
Damages That May Be Available After A Storefront Impact
Serious injuries often require future care and extended work restrictions. Recovery may include medical bills, future treatment, lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain, and costs tied to long-term limitations. In severe cases, claims may also include home assistance and specialized rehabilitation.
Free Consultation
If you were injured in a storefront crash in Washington, D.C., you deserve a clear plan before insurers shape the story. Call The Schupak Law Firm at 240-833-3914 for a free consultation.