A lot of people think that once they have turned their car off of a busy street into a normal, calm-looking parking lot that they can already begin relaxing from the stress of driving down the road. However, drivers should actually continue being as alert as on a busy roadway, if not even more. Nearly 20 percent of all car accidents happen in parking lots, mostly because drivers just aren’t paying attention.
Due to the slower speed of the automobiles in parking lots, these accidents do not usually cause very serious injuries (such as broken bones, severed limbs, brain damage). Yet these accidents do often cause soft tissue (whip-lash) injuries that can still cause intense physical pain and suffering. Moreover, there are documented cases where low-impact collisions have caused more serious injuries such as pinched nerves, bulging discs, and herniated discs in the neck and back.
Probably the biggest thing to look out for when driving through a parking lot is the other drivers around you. It is possible that a driver in a parking lot may be going too fast, may be ignoring signs and road markings or may be cutting across empty areas of the lot. The best way to avoid a collision with this kind of careless driver is to simply drive slowly and be particularly careful when turning corners or backing out of a space.
Another thing to be cautious of in a parking lot is getting too close to other vehicles when parking, as door scratches and other minor vehicle harm can cause a lot of extra headaches. You can also make an effort to park away from other vehicles to help avoid any damage to your own car. Also, always be on the look-out for pedestrians in parking lots, who have a tendency not to pay much attention to the vehicles around them. If you hit a person in a parking lot, you will most likely receive full blame, even if you were both not paying attention as you should.
Call experienced personal injury lawyer Nick Ortiz at (888) 321-8131 if you’ve been injured in a parking lot accident, or if you have any other questions about any kind of injury claim.