Storefront Car Accidents Can Cause Serious Injuries

Whether a business is located on a busy road, on a quiet neighborhood street, or in a commercial business area, it is at risk of having a vehicle crash into it as long as the storefront faces a roadway or parking lot. These crashes can take the lives of employees, customers, or pedestrians passing by.

The Storefront Safety Council states that there are around 100 vehicle-into-building crashes every day and about 16,000 each year in the United States. These accidents are injuring and killing people who are out enjoying a meal, shopping, working, or simply spending time with their loved ones. If they are lucky enough to survive, they may have severe and permanent injuries from being pinned under the vehicle, the direct force brought by the vehicle, or from being struck by debris. To make matters worse, they are almost always preventable.

Recent vehicle-into-building crashes in Arizona

There have been several vehicle-into-building crashes across Arizona. Here are a few of the most recent incidents:

• A car crashed into a storefront building in Tucson in January 2023. One person was injured.
• A stolen vehicle crashed into a warehouse in downtown Phoenix in December 2022. There were no injuries reported.
• A car crashed into a fast-food restaurant in Phoenix in November 2022. Two people were injured and hospitalized.
• A vehicle crashed into a building in Phoenix in March 2022. Multiple injuries were reported.

Why do so many cars crash into storefronts?

Did you know that 7-Eleven experiences at least one storefront car crash per day? (There are more than 9,000 of them across the country, which may explain why they are more likely to get hit than, say, a Circle K is.) You may be wondering why so many cars are crashing into storefronts, and the answer is complicated. The more common causes are:

• Pedal error
• Reckless driving
• Driving while drowsy or tired
• Inclement weather conditions
• Speeding
• Mechanical failure and defective car parts
• Distracted driving
• Driving under the influence
• Vehicular assault on people

The types of injuries victims of storefront crashes suffer

These accidents not only cause people to spend a lot of money to fix their stores, but they also lead to a variety of different injuries. The following are some of the most common injuries victims suffer:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Skull and head injuries
• Spinal cord and back injuries
• Burns
• Lacerations and cuts
• Internal organ damage
• Internal bleeding
• Crush injuries
• Broken bones
• Amputations and loss of limbs
• Disfigurement
• Paralysis
• Neck injuries and whiplash
• Soft tissue injuries
• Post-traumatic stress disorder and other emotional traumas

Can Arizona businesses prevent storefront car accidents?

Even though it may seem difficult to prevent storefront car accidents from happening, there are a few easy actions that companies and businesses can implement to protect their storefronts, which include:

• Installing bollards that will stop the vehicle before it reaches the storefront
• Changing up the parking lot to ensure that vehicles are parked within a good distance away from the storefront
• Adding speed humps or bumps around the business to slow down driving
• Ensuring that the business or company is visible to drivers going by

Who is liable when a storefront car crash occurs?

While many people think that determining liability in a storefront car crash is easy, it can be complicated. Most people assume that the driver is automatically at fault for the accident, and in some cases this may be true. Drivers have a responsibility to be safe behind the wheel. If a driver is careless (or worse) and causes a car accident, then he or she is liable.

But the store or business could also be liable. Because cars crashing into stores is such a common phenomenon, store owners may be considered negligent if they don’t put up barriers to prevent cars from crashing into the store. Therefore, he property owner may also be at fault.

The Phoenix injury attorneys at Plattner Verderame, PC will work hard to see which parties were negligent, and who is liable for your injuries. Our team may also go to the scene of the accident and assess the damage to determine what may have happened. We may also look at the vehicle, police reports, and medical records to ensure that there were no other causes that could have contributed to the accident, such as vehicle defects, not enough adequate lighting around the storefront, and weather conditions.

The losses you can claim

If the driver is found liable for your injuries, you may be able to receive compensation for your losses. To determine your losses, it is important to sit down and write out all the negative impacts that the storefront car crash has caused you. Here are a few common losses we have seen among our clients:

• Lost wages
• Medical bills
• Surgeries
• Physical therapy
• Psychological therapy
• Pain and suffering
• Reduced enjoyment of life
• Loss of companionship
• Home modifications

To determine the amount of compensation you may be able to receive, our Phoenix personal injury lawyers suggest scheduling a free consultation with us. This can also help our team gain an insight into what happened to you, decide if you have a viable claim, and determine how we should move forward. We know that everyone’s circumstances are different, which is why we would like to hear your story and start working on building a strong argument against the defendant.

If you have been struck by a vehicle in a storefront accident or injured while inside the building, Plattner Verderame, PC has the skills, knowledge, and training to handle your case. We know that this is a very tough time in your life, which is why we hope to take the stress of the legal process off your shoulders. Call our office in Phoenix or Tempe, or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation.