Parking Lot Accidents

When cars and pedestrians mix, it can be a recipe for disaster. Drivers often fail to take the time to look closely for pedestrians, instead focusing their attention on other vehicles. When that car strikes a pedestrian in any setting, the results can be catastrophic.

One of the most common areas where pedestrians are hit by cars is in parking lots. This makes sense, as it’s one of the few areas in our community that are designed to be used by both cars and pedestrians. Unlike public streets that have crosswalks, sidewalks, and traffic controls, there are rarely areas where pedestrians can get where they need to be without having to navigate through a sea of vehicles.

More often than you think, pedestrians are often struck by cars in the parking lot of their apartment or condominium. The reason is simple: drivers are often too comfortable with the surroundings where they live. Getting in and out of their parking lot is something that they do every day, a thousand times a year.

When drivers get comfortable, they often lose focus. In their mind, they know the way by heart. Therefore, it’s not a big deal if they have to look down to change the radio station, buckle a seatbelt, or charge their phone. Unfortunately, when a driver does not pay attention and is a distracted driver, he or she has little chance to avoid a serious collision.

Another area where pedestrians are struck in retail parking lots. Again, it’s usually because a driver is not paying attention. Whether it’s a grocery store, hardware store, or even the mall, drivers are usually interested in getting in and out of the store as fast as they can. Their lives are busy and they have a lot to do. One way to accomplish that is to drive faster and take fewer precautions.

At the same time, after a driver gets into the car after going shopping, his/her attention is often not on what’s on the road ahead. Whether the driver is organizing shopping bags or trying to get something out of a grocery bag to eat or drink, a driver who isn't paying attention to his/her surroundings can be dangerous for everyone else.

Even if a driver is paying attention, cars often hit pedestrians as they back out of a parking spot. Most cars have blind spots, and when drivers rely on mirrors alone, they often cannot see someone behind as they back out.

In order to prevent this from happening, there are a few steps that every driver should take:

1. Use your backup camera, but don’t rely on it exclusively. Even if you have a camera, make sure you still look behind you.
2. Check your blind spots. If you’re simply looking at your mirrors without turning your head, you’re only getting a partial view of what is behind you.
3. When parking, pull your vehicle through. Then when you leave, you won’t have to back up and risk missing something.

Even when a car strikes a pedestrian at relatively low speeds, there can be serious consequences. If an NFL player tackled you from behind at 10 miles per hour, you’d expect to be injured. The same is true about a car, only instead of a 300 pound athlete, it’s a 3,000 pound vehicle.

That’s why we often see very serious injuries with pedestrian parking lot accidents. This includes:

• Broken Bones
• Spinal Injuries
• Concussions and Brain Injuries
• Fatal Injuries

If you’ve been hit by a car, you need an experienced lawyer. Insurance companies try their best to ensure that they pay you as little as possible, even if you have severe injuries. They make up bogus arguments about how the accident was your fault, and they try to twist medical records into saying you’re not hurt.

At Marcotte Law Firm, we deal with insurance companies every day. We know their tricks, and we know how to overcome them.

If you’ve been injured in a parking lot, please call or email us for a free consultation.