Common types of parking lot accidents and how to avoid them
You’d assume that the low-speed limits reduce the likelihood of accidents in parking lots. But the truth is that accidents are common in these spaces, especially in high-traffic areas.
Parking lot accidents often happen due to negligence. Most drivers pulling in or out of parking lots are usually on their phones, rushing to find a spot or simply not paying attention to their surroundings. This increases the likelihood of collisions.
Given the rising number of parking lot accidents, it’s important to know how most crashes occur and how to avoid them.
Backing up collisions
Most parking lot accidents happen when a driver backs up out of a parking space and accidentally hits another vehicle, person, or object. These accidents are especially common in parking lots where drivers need to leave tight spots.
Because vehicles are parked so close to each other, you might not clearly see what’s behind your car. It’s easy to miss something behind you, especially if there’s a lot of activity or if your view is blocked by larger vehicles or other obstacles.
Backing up collisions are quite easy to avoid. As a rule of thumb, you should always check your surroundings before backing out of the parking lot. You can use your car’s backup camera to get a better view, but don’t rely on it entirely. Look over your shoulder, make sure no cars or pedestrians are moving behind you, and reverse slowly. You should also check to see if any of the vehicles nearby are also backing up to avoid collisions.
Pedestrian accidents
Pedestrian accidents are surprisingly very common in parking lots. They mostly occur when drivers don’t notice people walking to or from their vehicles or crossing the parking lot.
To avoid pedestrian accidents in the parking lot, you should always drive slowly and stay alert. Pedestrians, especially children, can be hard to see and appear unexpectedly from parked cars or between rows. If you’re a pedestrian, you should stay alert and avoid walking behind or in front of moving cars.
T-bone accidents at intersections
T-bone accidents are quite common at parking lot intersections. They occur when one vehicle’s front end collides with the side of another, forming a T shape. They mostly happen when drivers fail to yield the right of way or when they don’t see a vehicle coming from the side.
To reduce the risk of a T-bone accident, you should slow down when approaching intersections. You should also check both directions even if you think you have the right of way and be extra cautious in lots with larger vehicles that might obstruct your view. It’s also a good idea to make eye contact with other drivers, if possible, to ensure they see you before you proceed.
Sideswipes in parking spaces
Sideswipe accidents happen when one car scrapes or hits the side of another. In parking lots, they mostly happen when drivers aren’t careful about their distance from nearby vehicles when parking or pulling out. Here are other reasons why sideswipes are pretty common in parking lots:
- Tight Spaces and Poor Alignment: Most parking lots have narrow lanes and closely spaced parking spots. If you don’t center your car properly in a spot, you leave little room for the cars on either side to leave or enter the parking space.
- Simultaneous Parking or Exiting: In busy lots, two cars might try to pull into adjacent spaces or back out at the same time. If the drivers are not careful, they can sideswipe each other as they enter or exit the spots.
- Rushing and Distractions: Some drivers hurry through parking lots to grab a spot or leave, which can lead to less focus on nearby cars. Others may be looking at their phones, adjusting the radio, or talking to passengers, which all reduce their awareness of cars around them.
- Misjudging Distance: Sometimes, it’s difficult to judge distances in a parking lot. You might miscalculate the space you need to avoid another vehicle or how close you are to the cars on either side, leading to accidental sideswipes.
To avoid sideswipes in parking lots, you should take your time when entering or leaving a space. Check to see if your car is properly aligned with the parking lines and give other vehicles enough space for pulling in or out. If a parking space is too tight, it’s better to find another spot with enough space for your vehicle.
Accidents involving carts
Accidents involving shopping carts are very common in grocery stores or retail parking areas. These incidents typically involve carts rolling away from their designated areas and colliding with parked cars. While they may not always cause serious damage, they can lead to dents, scratches, or even broken mirrors.
To avoid damage from shopping carts, you should park your car away from cart collection areas, if possible. You should also check around your vehicle before pulling out of the parking lot to make sure no stray carts are in your way.
Who is at fault in a parking lot accident?
It’s difficult to determine who’s at fault in a parking lot accident because there aren’t always clear traffic rules in parking lots. However, there are some general guidelines to help determine who might be at fault:
Moving cars vs. parked cars
- You are at fault if you hit a parked car as long as the car is parked legally.
- If you hit a car that’s been parked illegally, you will likely carry most of the fault, though the owner of the illegally parked car will still be held accountable for parking illegally.
Two moving cars
- If you rear-end a car, you will nearly always be at fault.
- If you’re backing out of a parking space and get hit by another car, you will likely be held liable for the accident.
- If two vehicles pull out of a parking lot at the same time and hit each other, both drivers will be responsible for the accident.
Drive carefully to avoid parking lot accidents
Parking lots may seem less risky than highways, but they’re a hotspot for accidents. In fact, more than 50,000 crashes occur in parking lots every year. While most of these accidents are minor, they can be costly, time-consuming, and annoying. The good thing is that you can always avoid them by staying alert, moving slowly, and being cautious when entering or backing out of a parking space.