There is a lot going on in parking lots; people walking, cars backing out, motorists circling the area in search for parking and shopping carts occupying parking spaces. Parking lots are hot spots for accidents waiting to happen. Nearly 20 percent of vehicle accidents happen in parking lots. These accidents cause approximately 60,000 injuries and nearly 500 fatalities each year, on average.
If you or a loved one has sustained an injury in a parking lot car accident, it is critical to contact a Knoxville auto accident lawyer at Greg Coleman Law for assistance. We can explain how to file the claim, who is responsible and how the at-fault driver is accountable for damages.
Common Parking Lot Accidents
The list below identifies five of the most common parking lot accidents. They involve carelessness on the part of drivers, who might be able to easily avoid these crashes by driving defensively:
- Two drivers reverse and back up into each other
- A driver moves forward out of a parking space and collides into traffic
- A driver reverses out of a parking space and hits an oncoming car
- Two drivers attempt to move into a single parking space and collide
- At a stop sign, one driver rear-ends another
What Are the Right-of-Way Rules in Parking Lots?
In the standard parking lot, there are multiple lanes and ways in and out of the area that lead back into traffic. The general rule is that the driver in the through lane has the right of way while the driver approaching this lane from the parking lot area must yield to this traffic.
If a person pulls out and into the through lane, he or she is exiting the parking lot. The driver that collides with the other vehicle when exiting the parking lot location is usually at fault.
Who Is at Fault?
There are two specific questions that must be considered in parking lot accidents to determine fault. These include the following:
- Was the car in motion? If only one car moves, the driver of that car is normally at fault. Legally-parked cars hit by a driver typically have a valid claim against the driver of the car that was in motion.
- Who had the right of way? If both drivers are in motion, one person normally has the right of way, depending on the lane or traffic. A driver that fails to yield or that moves too fast is often at fault.
Tips on Avoiding Parking Lot Accidents
There are numerous ways to avoid parking lot accidents. Many tips involve paying attention to the parking lot or the roads leading into the location. Other tips include the following:
- Slow down and remain cautious
- Correctly set side mirrors to see blind spots
- Use technology such as rear-view cameras, if available
- Use other tools in the car such as radar detection
- Check vehicle cross traffic
- Use parking assist
- Park away from other cars
- Park in spots that are easy to get in and out of
- Watch out for gusty days, stray carts and oddly-parked cars
Contact a Skilled Lawyer for Help with Your Parking Lot Accident Claim
If you or a loved one has suffered harm or died in a parking lot accident, contact Greg Coleman Law for assistance with your claim. We will review your case and relevant traffic laws during the investigation and determine who was at fault.
We can help you gather evidence and information and help you file an insurance claim. We can communicate with insurance company and demand a settlement that fully compensates you for the damages that you have suffered. We can also explain comparative fault and how it may affect your claim if you think you might have been partially responsible for the accident.
We work on a contingency fee basis and will help you throughout the process of your claim. You do not owe us any attorney fees unless we help you recover compensation on your claim.
Contact us today at (865) 247-0080 for a free case evaluation.
