The National Safety Council (NSC) notes that Americans spend up to 17 hours searching for a parking space.  And one in five car crashes happens in parking lots and garages.  That’s 20% of car wrecks!

What might be more surprising is that the NSC says around 500 people die in parking lot accidents annually. It includes 9% of people just walking in the lots. 

And the number one reason for a car collision in a parking garage is backing up.  That’s 91%! Who knew parking lots and garages were so dangerous?

Here are several tips for how to avoid a car crash in a parking garage: 

1. Take your time backing out when leaving.  Triple-check all sides before driving.  Then back out slowly so other drivers have an opportunity to notice you are leaving (and they can wait for that sweet parking spot).
2. Pay attention to all the signs.  Especially in garage lots, make sure you follow the correct arrows and move in the right direction, both coming and going. 
3. Put down the phone and the food.  Getting in a last-minute snack or looking at a screen while driving can contribute to an accident.  Wait to check your phone and take one last bite after you’ve parked. 
4. It’s helpful to have a car equipped with advanced driver assistance technology.  Rear parking sensors, automatic brakes, and using a rearview camera can help reduce collisions by over 75%, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute. 
5. Park in a less crowded area of the lot.  Taking a few extra steps each day is beneficial for your health too. 

With a car accident in a parking lot, who is at fault?

Let’s imagine that you’ve done everything you can to practice safe driving behavior.  Yet, you still wound up in a car wreck in a parking lot or parking garage.  At that point, who is at fault?  Well, it’s not a 50/50 answer.  There are different elements to a parking lot crash compared to being out on the road.  For example, pedestrians don’t usually walk in front of or behind cars.  And when they have small children or strollers, which are typically below the driver’s line of sight, that’s an extra danger. 

It’s going to take some collection of the evidence.  There are several key facts to review and prove you are not at fault.  For instance, were you following the right-of-way rules while the other driver wasn’t?  Were you respectfully waiting for a driver to back out of their spot while another car hit the gas and smacked you on the side?  Or when you were walking, did the other driver cut through the lot and hit you? 

Insurance companies will likely be involved, and that’s another issue where defending yourself and determining the actual fault will become tricky.  It’s best to begin by speaking to a parking garage crash attorney to protect yourself. 

Our JV Law Team is comprised of Brownsville personal injury lawyers who manage car accidents on the road and in parking lots as well.  We understand the unique circumstances surrounding parking garage accidents.  Contact us to determine who is at fault in a parking lot accident in the RGV!