When most people think of car accidents, they usually envision the incidents occurring on streets and highways and would likely be surprised to hear that one out of every five car accidents takes place in a parking lot and just under 15 percent of all crashes that result in damage also happen in parking lots.
One of the main reasons why there are so many parking lot collisions could be because people let their guard down once they enter a parking lot. Vehicles move much slower in the lot than they do on the road and it’s easy for drivers to become distracted, looking for a parking space, checking their cell phones, and other activities that they normally wouldn’t do if they were driving on the road.
In most car accident scenarios, it is often clear which driver is at fault for the crash. For example, if one car attempts to take a left-hand turn and crashes into another car traveling the opposite way, the driver taking the turn is at fault. The other driver clearly had the right-of-way.
But when it comes to parking lot accidents, who is at fault may not be so clear. For example, who is at fault when two vehicles attempt to pull into the same space at once and crash into each other? Who is responsible for the injuries and damage that may be sustained in that accident? This is where having an experienced car accident attorney is important. Their experience is needed against intimidating insurance company adjusters who may try to shift the blame onto the wrong party in order to avoid paying for those damages.
RELATED CONTENT
- Avoiding North Carolina Parking Lot Accidents
- What to Do If You are Involved in an Auto Accident in a Parking Lot
And it’s not just drivers who need to remain alert. Studies have shown that pedestrians also become distracted when in parking lots and don’t always pay full attention to the environment around them. This can increase their risk of being hit by a vehicle.
Although you may think that parking lot accidents are usually just annoying, minor fender benders, data from the National Safety Council may shock you. Each year, there are more than 50,000 parking lot crashes in this country. These crashes kill at least 500 people each year and leave another 60,000 injured.
If you have been injured in a parking lot car crash – or any type of auto accident – contact a skilled Virginia car crash attorney to find out what legal recourse you may have against the responsible driver for your pain and loss.