Parking Lot Accidents

While most people think about serious car accidents as collisions that occur at high speeds on interstates and freeways, or when another motorist runs a red light and causes a T-bone accident, it is important to remember that serious and even deadly accidents can occur in parking lots. Indeed, when children or adult pedestrians are struck by a vehicle backing up in a parking lot, those pedestrians can sustain life-threatening and even fatal injuries. Parking lot collisions can also occur when a driver is acting aggressively in search of a parking space, and a head-on or side-swipe collision could result in severe harm.

Were you recently injured in a parking lot accident, or was your child struck by a vehicle in a parking lot? It is important to speak with a parking lot accident lawyer to learn more about filing a claim and holding the responsible driver accountable for his or her careless actions.

Parking lot accidents can happen in many different ways. Sometimes crashes happen in large parking lots, but collisions can also occur in smaller parking areas. Ameriprise cites the following as the most common types of parking lot accidents:

• Two vehicles back into one another while backing out of spaces;
• Driver backs out of a space into a pedestrian or an oncoming vehicle;
• Driver pulls forward out of a parking space into oncoming traffic;
• Two cars crash while they are trying to pull into the same parking space; and
• One car rear-ends another vehicle at a parking lot stop sign.

The National Safety Council (NSC) emphasizes that parking lot accidents can be prevented in nearly all cases if motorists remain alert and use technology safely. According to the NSC the following are ways to avoid a parking lot accident caused by common issues like fatigue, frustration, and distractions behind the wheel:

• Never cut across parking lot spaces, even if the parking lot seems relatively empty;
• Do not speed through parking lots, but instead drive at a very slow pace with the expectation that pedestrians could quickly walk in front of your vehicle or hop out of a car;
• Anticipate actions that other drivers might take;
• Recognize that you need to obey stop signs, no-parking signs, and other signs or signals inside parking lots;
• Look behind you for pedestrians and other vehicles every single time you back out of a parking space;
• Constantly be on the lookout for parents with baby strollers or small children on foot; and
• Never use your smartphone for texting or any other activity that takes your eyes, hands, and mind off the task of driving while you are seeking out a parking spot.

The NSC underscores that various kinds of distractions can lead to parking lot collisions, from smartphone use to grooming and eating. Drivers often make the mistake of thinking that driving at very low speeds in parking lots makes it acceptable to have a snack or put on makeup before going into a retail store.

If you were injured in a parking lot accident, it is important to find out more about your options for seeking compensation by speaking with a parking lot accident attorney. Liability can sometimes be complicated in a parking lot accident case, especially when all parties involved were in motor vehicles. If you need help, an advocate at our firm can discuss filing an auto insurance claim or filing a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. Contact the Walton Law Firm to learn more about how we can assist you.