Parking lot accidents may be busy places with lots of traffic and people moving in, out, and about. It is surprisingly easy to get into an accident, such as the so-called “fender-bender” type, or even something more serious.
Here are common causes for accidents in parking lots, which include:
- Blind spots
- Tight parking spaces
- Pedestrian traffic
- Fighting over a parking space
- Distractions
- Poor lighting
- Confusing traffic flow patterns
- Speeding
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Improper parking
- Bad weather
- Inexperienced or elderly drivers
- Frequent stop-and-go movement
Blind Spots
One major cause of these troubles is the blind spots that exist when a driver of a vehicle cannot see what is behind the vehicle when backing up. This problem is doubled when two drivers are backing out at the same time.
Tight Parking Spaces
Cars that need to be parked close together in tight spaces are a source of accidents when the driver miscalculates the vehicle’s size and runs into another vehicle. Opening a door in a tight parking space can damage the vehicle parked next to yours.
Pedestrian Traffic
Many parking lots are full of people darting around who may be in a rush. A mother may be pushing a baby in a stroller. A teenager may be riding a skateboard and darting between cars. There may be limited visibility from the parked vehicles blocking the view of the pedestrians.
Fighting Over a Parking Space
In a congested parking lot that is nearly full, drivers looking for a space may get frustrated and experience a kind of road rage when another driver takes a parking space that they had their eyes on. Who gets there first may be the source of an argument, especially if one driver makes an abrupt move that goes dangerously fast in front of the other driver’s vehicle.
Distractions
Drivers can be distracted when using a mobile phone or referring to a GPS system for directions. Pedestrians can also be distracted when using a mobile phone and might not pay enough attention to their surroundings when talking on the phone.
Poor Lighting
Parking lots may be dangerously dark at night. While walking to and from a parked vehicle, it’s easier to slip and fall when the lighting is not bright enough to see clearly.
Confusing Traffic Flow Patterns
Some parking lots are not marked clearly, and it might be easy to make a mistake and turn the wrong way to go against the traffic flow. There may be a lack of clearly marked lanes and inadequate signage.
Speeding
Accidents may happen when aggressive or impatient drivers are speeding through parking areas. When a vehicle cuts across the parking lot, while not following the lanes and signs, it is risky, especially if it is going too fast.
Failure to Yield the Right of Way
Driving defensively in a busy parking lot is critical for your safety. If there is a clear path you are supposed to take, don’t assume all the other drivers will follow the rules.
They may run through stop signs without stopping or fail to yield when they are supposed to, and this behavior may be the cause of an accident. Even if the accident happens at a relatively slow speed, it can still cause considerable damage and may result in injuries.
If you or anyone else gets hurt from an accident, you will want to work with a personal injury lawyer immediately.
Improper Parking
Improper parking includes double parking, parking across multiple spaces, parking in a loading/unloading zone, parking in a red zone, blocking access for emergency vehicles, not using the parking brake, and leaving children or animals unattended in your vehicle.
Bad Weather
Bad weather is the cause of many accidents. One treacherous thing to watch out for during winter is the possibility of there being black ice. Black ice, which is impossible to see, can form under overpasses or in the shady, cooler areas of a parking lot when there is moisture on the road surface, and the temperature goes below freezing.
A car can skid out of control when it crosses a patch of black ice. A pedestrian can slip and fall on the ice as well. A parking lot with outdoor staircases may have slippery areas where ice forms or rainwater collects.
Inexperienced or Elderly Drivers
Young and older adult drivers may find it challenging to navigate a parking lot. Reaction time may be slower for older drivers, and visibility may be challenged. Younger drivers, under the age of 25, are known by insurance companies to be almost twice as likely to get into a car accident when compared to older, more mature drivers.
Frequent Stop-and-Go Movement
When parking lot traffic is impeded by congestion, the stop-and-go movement of the traffic as it exits and enters may be a source of an accident. If a car up front, which is two or three vehicles ahead, suddenly stops, by the time the driver of the third car behind tries to stop, it may be too late.
A rear-end collision is the kind of accident that a car accident lawyer knows well because it may cause soft-tissue injuries, such as neck and back injuries that come from whiplash. Be aware that if you get hit from behind, it causes your head to go forward and then snap back. Your spinal column extends during this process and then collapses back on itself, perhaps with significant damage.
Use Caution in Parking Lots
It is prudent to use extra caution when in a parking lot, as it may be the source of accidents that come from these examples and other circumstances. If you get into an accident and are injured, before you talk to any representative from an insurance company, consult with a qualified personal injury attorney to get an evaluation of the merits of your case and learn how to protect your rights.
