Though St. Louis parking lot accidents happen at much lower speeds and are almost never fatal, there is still a high chance of financial damage and injuries.
When you imagine an auto accident, you probably think of the worst case scenario: A high-speed collision. While these types of accidents happen all the time, it is just as likely that you will get into an accident under 10 MPH. This may come in the form of a parking lot accident. Though St. Louis parking lot accidents happen at much lower speeds and are almost never fatal, there is still a high chance of financial damage and injuries. Because of this, it is best to understand liability in parking lot accidents and follow safety tips to avoid them. No matter how careful you are, you might end up in a parking lot accident anyways. If this is the case, don’t hesitate to contact a St. Louis auto accident attorney.
Right of Way
This concept is essential in assessing liability because ignoring it is one of the most common forms of negligence in parking lots. In a parking lot, the driver that is driving in the lane has the right of way, while the driver that is pulling out of their spot does not. If a car pulls out of their spot aggressively and gets into an accident with a car driving through a lane, the car pulling out will likely be found liable.
Pulling out Simultaneously
Sometimes two cars will be pulling out of their spots at the same time. In this case, the driver who starts first has the right of way and the driver who pulls out second will likely be found liable. Who went first can be a tough thing to assess, though, so this situation may yield both drivers being assigned equal fault.
Reckless Driving
Another way to assign negligence is if a driver is reckless and aggressive. This is often the case when a driver is driving too fast, fighting other drivers for spots, driving in the middle of the lane instead of their side, or driving distracted.
Pedestrians
While an accident between two cars often does not often yield serious injuries, when there is a pedestrian involved, the stakes are raised. This situation can lead to severe injury for the pedestrian and a significant amount of liability for the driver.
Safety Tips
First, make sure you follow general safe driving tips like avoiding distractions, driving below the speed limit, following right of way rules, using your turn signals, making full stops at stop signs, and driving defensively. Next, you can follow some parking lot specific tips like carefully looking around before backing out, listening for pedestrians passing by, and never racing for a spot.
Though they are generally not often fatal, a parking lot accident still costs you in repairs and time wasted. You’ll want to do everything you can to avoid one. When you are in a parking lot, be sure to drive slowly and defensively. If you still end up in an accident, discuss your options with an experienced St. Louis car accident attorney.