Colorado Springs Parking Lot Accidents
Did you aware that parking lots account for almost 20% of all car accidents? When you think about it, a parking lot has a lot to cope with: twists and turns, little visibility, throngs of busy customers, and a lot of moving cars. Distracted drivers abound, whether they’re reading text messages or looking for a prized parking spot. The bustling Christmas season just adds to the number of possible distractions. Stressed-out consumers are in a hurry, and parking lot collisions are becoming increasingly common.
We’ve included some holiday accident stats and parking lot accident legislation, as well as safety suggestions for pedestrians and drivers navigating a crowded parking lot.
However, parking lot collisions may more than simply be a “door ding.” Reversing into a perpendicular car, reversing out of place at the same moment as another car, and rear- ending someone at a stop sign or exit are all common parking lot accidents. You need expert assistance and direction if you’ve been in a car accident in a parking lot. To collect the compensation you deserve, contact a car accident attorney.
GET THE FACTS: STATISTICS ON PARKING LOT ACCIDENTS
According to a National Safety Council study, more than 50,000 parking lot accidents occur each year, resulting in more than 60,000 injuries and 500 fatalities.
Furthermore, two-thirds of drivers may be distracted as they approach retail malls. According to another research done by the National Safety Council, sixty-six percent of American drivers claimed they would make a phone conversation while driving through a parking lot. Sixty-six percent indicated they’d put up their GPS or map program, while 56 percent said they’d text.
Distraction, primarily mobile phone usage, is the top cause of parking lot accidents. Drivers may be tempted to start their engines and pull off while browsing on their phones, lulled into a false feeling of security by the sluggish speeds of parking lot navigation. Regardless of the situation, however, the effects of distracted driving may be fatal.
HOLIDAY RUSH & PARKING LOT MISHAPS
Parking lot accidents may happen at any time, but they are more likely during Christmas shopping. Car insurance companies get 34% more accident claims on Black Friday than on any other day of the year – and that doesn’t include any accidents that go unreported!
During the Christmas season, parking lot accidents rise by around 20%.
On which days should you avoid parking in crowded lots? According to a survey by Sensormatic Solutions, the top 10 busiest Christmas shopping days in 2020 are as follows:
“Black Friday” on November 27th.
“Super Saturday,” Saturday, December 19th Saturday, December 26th, 3 p.m.
December 23rd
Saturday, December 12th, 5 p.m. Monday, December 21st, 6 p.m. Saturday, November 28th, at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 22nd, 8 p.m.
Saturday, December 5th, 9 a.m. Sunday, December 20th, 10 a.m.
SAFETY TIPS FOR PEDESTRIANS IN PARKING LOTS
There are many things customers may take to reduce their chances of being injured in a parking lot accident.
Always be on the lookout! Cars and trucks aren’t the only things on your mind. There are many parking lot dangers to watch out for, from slick pavement and puddles to runaway shopping carts, so don’t get sidetracked! Keep an eye on the road ahead. While strolling across a parking lot, don’t glance down at your phone or shopping list.
Use the crosswalks that have been indicated. Do not cut through a parking lot or stroll aimlessly. Before approaching a crosswalk or crossing, always look both ways.
No one should be left behind. Hold their hands and guide them to safety if you’re strolling with youngsters or elderly relatives.
Don’t be afraid to seek assistance. Ask for help if you have too many bags to carry securely or if you’re balancing a stack of boxes that can impede your eyesight. Someone may accompany you out to your car with your goods.
Make preparations ahead of time. Avoid shopping at busy hours or during last-minute rushes (see our list of busiest shopping days above.) If at all feasible, place your order online.
TIPS FOR AVOIDING PARKING LOT ACCIDENTS
Following these recommendations may help drivers avoid parking lot collisions.
Parking farther away from the entrance is recommended. We understand how inconvenient it is to drag those gift bags back to your car, but bear with us. As you go, there will be less competition for these places, and hence less traffic surrounding them.
Never assume a location is free of people. Motorcycles and tiny compact cars might fool you into believing a place is unoccupied from certain angles until you get too near. Take care while approaching.
RETURN TO YOUR ORIGINAL PARKING LOCATION
Backing into a parking spot might be challenging, but it’s usually safer than backing out. You may pull ahead without danger of striking another car or shopper when you’re ready to depart.
ALWAYS CHECK YOUR BLIND AREAS AND MIRROR
When backing out of your parking spot, take it carefully. Check all of your mirrors and be aware of any blind spots in your car. Small toddlers may not be seen in the rearview mirror; therefore…
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR YOUNGSTERS
In a parking lot, unwitting youngsters may rush out in front of or behind your car.
DISTRACT YOURSELF AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
If you need to tinker with your phone, check-up instructions, or choose some music before leaving your parking spot, do it now.
FOLLOW THE TRAFFIC FLOW
Follow the parking lot’s established traffic patterns. Look for ground arrows, signs, or security guards waving people through.
NEVER DRIVE TOO FAST
Patience is required in parking lots. Never attempt to beat someone to a parking spot by speeding.
Use technology to your advantage. Backup cameras and buzzer collision avoidance sensors are standard on many contemporary cars. Parking lots are an excellent area to utilize them! (Backup accidents are responsible for 9% of pedestrian fatalities in parking lots.)
Avoid becoming enraged on the road. We understand that you’re vying for a prime parking place, but don’t let it anger you. Before you beep your horn, remember that everyone around you simply wants to go home to their families safely.
Make sure your cargo is safe. Always double-check that a significant item, such as a Christmas tree or a piece of furniture, is firmly secured before driving away.
Fasten your seatbelts. Always remember to fasten your seatbelt as soon as you get into your car.
LAWS REGARDING PARKING LOT ACCIDENTS
In a parking lot, who has the right of way?
First, you need to be aware that a parking lot has two sorts of lanes. The “through lanes” go around the parking lot’s perimeter, passing through shop doors and linking to major roadways. Individual parking spaces are accessible by “feeder lanes” that run inward from the perimeter.
The Colorado parking lot right of way laws are as follows:
When leaving a feeder lane, you must yield to anybody in a through lane, whether a motorist or a pedestrian.
You must yield to anybody already traveling in a feeder lane while backing up or pulling out of a parking place.
You must yield to anybody traveling straight before making a turn.
Regardless of other right-of-way restrictions, you must always stop at stop signs and yield signs.
If a motorist violates any of these regulations and causes an accident in which you are injured, they will be held accountable for your losses.
HOW DO YOU ESTABLISH WHO IS AT BLAME IN A PARKING LOT ACCIDENT?
We can’t offer you a one-size-fits-all solution since each claim is unique. On the other hand, a reckless or inattentive motorist may be at blame if they cut through a parking lot or disregard arrows on the ground or other signs. A popular justification is that “I never even noticed
them,” yet all drivers have a duty to monitor their blind zones and maneuver parking lots at a reasonable, safe pace.
Drivers aren’t the only ones who might be held accountable. The property owner(s) may be held accountable if a parking lot has an incorrect design, badly maintained asphalt, or overgrown vegetation.
A parking lot accident attorney can assist you in determining the cause of your accident and assigning responsibility where it belongs.
IS THERE A 50/50 CHANCE OF A PARKING LOT ACCIDENT?
Nope. It’s a complete fallacy that parking lot accidents are “50/50,” meaning that both drivers are equally at blame when two cars collide in a parking lot. Accidents in parking lots will be handled the same as any other car accident, with a comprehensive investigation to identify who is to blame. What’s the good news? A parking lot collision frequently attracts a large number of witnesses. If one of the drivers has broken a right-of-way law (see above), they will certainly be held responsible.
ARE OUR PARKING LOT ACCIDENTS COVERED BY INSURANCE?
It all relies on the terms of your insurance and the coverage it provides.
Liability insurance, the very minimum required by Colorado law, pays for physical injury and property damage if you strike someone. If someone hits your car when it is parked and empty, on the other hand, their liability insurance will cover your property damage.
Furthermore, collision coverage and personal injury protection may be able to assist you in covering your costs after a parking lot car accident. Personal injury protection, or PIP, pays for your medical expenses regardless of who was at fault in the accident. Collision coverage pays for damage to your car caused by a collision with another car. In contrast, personal injury protection, or PIP, pays for your medical expenses regardless of who was at fault in the accident.
Uninsured driver property damage coverage might help you pay for the damage if it was a hit-and-run accident*.
Contact a car accident lawyer right once to learn more about your coverage and your alternatives.
WHEN THERE’S AN ACCIDENT IN A PARKING LOT, DO THE COPS SHOW UP?
The police do not place a great focus on parking lot accidents. Unless there are major injuries or safety issues, the police will not respond to a call for a car collision in a parking lot.
Furthermore, parking lots are regarded as private property. This implies that even if the police arrive on the site, they are unlikely to file an accident report. If you’re at blame, this may help your driving record, but it might hurt your insurance claim if you were the innocent victim.
AFTER A PARKING LOT ACCIDENT, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
If you walk out of a shop and see that your car has been damaged, call the police immediately, then contact your insurance provider and make a complaint. Your insurance coverage may cover the damage.
If you struck a parked car, though, admit it. You might be prosecuted for abandoning the scene of an accident if you drive away. Don’t you have time to wait and confront the other car’s owner? Place a note with your contact information beneath their windshield wiper.
In the event when both drivers are present:
Get the cars out of the path of oncoming traffic.
Double-check that no one has been hurt. If you or someone else is wounded, contact 911 right away.
Talk to the other motorist and exchange information.
Take photos of any cars that have been damaged. These images can come in handy if you need to submit a claim or file a police complaint with your insurance company.
Many individuals believe that filing a claim for a “small accident” is unnecessary, such as a parking lot fender bender. Unfortunately, even low-speed collisions may result in significant head, neck, and spine injuries.
If you’ve been injured in a parking lot accident, contact an expert car accident lawyer from our firm to obtain the help you need.
KEEP YOURSELF SAFE AND GO HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!
We hope this article has provided you with further information on preventing parking lot accidents over the Christmas season!
Unfortunately, even if you follow every guideline and take every precaution, someone else’s nasty or irresponsible conduct might still ruin your day.
We may be able to assist you if you’ve been injured in a parking lot accident or other accident caused by someone else’s negligence. Contact us right now for a quick, free, and private consultation! We’re accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
