Most people don’t associate parking lots and garages with serious collisions. That’s likely because vehicles are typically traveling at relatively slow speeds. However, according to one health and safety group, crashes in parking areas injure over 60,000 people and kill about 500 every year.
Parking lots and garages require drivers to be alert to their surroundings and other vehicles (including those that appear to be parked) because they can potentially be struck from just about any direction. However, too many drivers let their guard down once they pull into a parking lot or garage. In a survey by the National Safety Council, two-thirds of respondents said they engage in distracted driving behaviors in parking areas.
When they pull into a parking area, they may check their phone to see who just called them, text someone to let them know they’ve arrived or look for that item that dropped on the floor a few minutes ago.
The same is true when they get in the car to leave. They may set their GPS on the way out of the parking area, turn around and give one of their children a snack or admire a new luxury car they see parked.
Eliminating your own distractions can protect you from others’ distracted driving
No one can make another driver behave responsibly in a parking lot or garage. However, by not letting their guard down when they leave the road and enter a parking area, they can better be on the lookout for drivers who aren’t paying attention to their surroundings.
Those on foot can be in particular danger. It’s not wise to look at your phone or wear headphones or earbuds while walking in a parking area. It’s especially crucial not to let children get out of sight.
If you’re injured in a crash in a parking lot or garage due to the negligence or recklessness of a driver, you have the right to seek compensation for your medical costs and other expenses and damages. Getting experienced legal guidance as early as possible can improve your chances of a fair settlement.