Parking Lot Accidents

Parking Lot Accident Attorneys in Michigan

Parking lots might seem like low-risk environments, but they account for a surprising number of serious injuries in Michigan. Between pedestrians walking between cars, drivers backing out blind, poorly lit structures, ice-covered surfaces in winter, and crumbling pavement with no maintenance, parking lots are a liability minefield. And when you get hurt in one, figuring out who's actually responsible — the property owner, the management company, the tenant, or another driver — is where it gets complicated.

Koussan Law handles parking lot injury cases throughout Metro Detroit and Michigan, whether you were hit by a car as a pedestrian, tripped on a pothole, or slipped on ice that should have been salted hours ago.

Premises Liability for Parking Lot Owners

Under Michigan's common law of premises liability, parking lot owners owe invitees (anyone lawfully using the lot) a duty to maintain the property in a reasonably safe condition. That includes repairing potholes and cracked pavement, maintaining adequate lighting, clearing snow and ice within a reasonable time, painting lane markings and directional arrows, and installing proper signage and speed bumps.

The open-and-obvious argument is the first thing the property owner's insurer raises. They'll argue that the pothole was visible or the ice was something you should have expected in a Michigan winter. That argument no longer ends the case. In Kandil-Elsayed v F & E Oil, Inc, 512 Mich 95 (2023), the Michigan Supreme Court overruled Lugo v Ameritech Corp and held that the obviousness of a hazard no longer eliminates the property owner's duty and no longer bars the claim. Visibility now goes to breach and to comparative fault, both of them jury questions, so the pothole you arguably could have seen reduces your recovery at most instead of ending your case. The former "special aspects" and "effectively unavoidable" framework from Lugo is no longer the operative test.

Vehicle-on-Pedestrian Parking Lot Crashes

Drivers backing out of spaces without looking, speeding through parking lot lanes, running stop signs at lot intersections, and distracted driving while looking for a space are all common causes of pedestrian injuries in parking lots. These are negligence claims against the driver, and Michigan's no-fault system applies differently depending on whether the parking lot qualifies as a "roadway" or private property.

If the crash happened on private property (which most parking lots are), the standard negligence analysis under Michigan common law applies, and you can pursue a third-party claim against the at-fault driver. Your PIP benefits under MCL § 500.3105 still apply because no-fault coverage extends to motor vehicle accidents on or off public roads.

Winter Conditions and Snow/Ice Liability

Michigan parking lot owners and their snow removal contractors have a duty to clear snow and ice within a reasonable time after a weather event. We've handled cases in Southfield, Troy, and Dearborn where property management companies contracted with snow removal services that only plowed once — leaving refreeze ice for days. Under Michigan premises liability law, the property owner can't delegate away their duty: even if they hired a contractor, they remain liable if the lot isn't reasonably safe.

If you were injured in a parking lot accident in Michigan — whether from a vehicle collision, slip-and-fall, or structural hazard — call (313) 800-0000 for a free consultation. We'll pull the maintenance records, surveillance footage, and contractor agreements.

Use our free case calculator for a preliminary estimate of your claim value.