Parking Lot Accidents
Parking lots may seem like uneventful places, but they are the location for many types of accidents to both motorists and pedestrians. In fact, statistics from the National Safety Council shows that parking lots and parking garages are home to 20% of all car accidents.
Be aware of the following hazards so you can reduce the chances of experiencing an accident and injury.
Collisions:
Parking lots are crowded and have small parking spaces, making it difficult for drivers to see when they are backing up or pulling out. Poor lighting can also exacerbate the problem. An increased risk factor for parking-lot accidents is distraction. The low-speed limits gives drivers a false sense of security for justifying behaviors such as eating, using a cellphone, programming or looking at a GPS or putting on makeup.
Be alert, whether you are a fellow motorist or a pedestrian, as others may not be giving it their full attention. When you are in the car, always wear a seat belt no matter how slow you are going.
Slips, trips and falls:
As a pedestrian in a parking lot, whether going to or from a car, it is important to be very alert for cars entering or exiting the lot or a parking space. However, focusing your attention on moving vehicles, unfortunately, takes your attention away for the surface you are walking on. This can lead to a slip, trip or fall accident.
Proper maintenance and upkeep of parking lots is often at the bottom of the priority lists for some businesses and other public places. This can lead to:
- Uneven surfaces
- Potholes
- Uncleared snow
- Black ice
- Obstructions
- No crosswalks
Such dangers can result in your slipping, tripping or falling as you walk to or from your vehicle. These poor conditions are also not helpful when you are behind the wheel. Poor lighting can also exacerbate these problems.
Criminal activity:
Parking lots with little visibility, for you or passersby, can draw criminal activity. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, parking lots and garages were the scenes of at least 10 % of property crimes. If dim lighting, overgrown shrubbery, lack of security and other risky factors make it easy for someone to harm you, you may be able to sue the property owner to recover damages.