Parking lot accidents are often assumed to be not that serious, but low-speed collisions can still cause real injuries and property damage. When a crash happens, fault often depends heavily on where each vehicle was positioned and exactly how the collision occurred.
An auto crash lawyer in St. Louis will fight for the compensation you deserve.
Call (314) 300-6260 today or contact us online.
Common Causes of Parking Lot Accidents
Most parking lot crashes occur for a few of the same reasons. This includes: Backing out without checking mirrors or blind spots
- Distracted driving
- Cutting diagonally across parking spaces instead of following the driving lanes
- Ignoring stop signs or directional arrows painted in the lot
- Failure to yield to through traffic or pedestrians
- Poor lighting, especially in garages and evening hours
- Speeding through parking aisles
- Obstructed visibility from large parked vehicles or other objects
- Driver impatience in crowded lots
Many crashes also involve more than one of these at once.
Who Has the Right-of-Way in a Parking Lot?
The general rule is that vehicles traveling in the main driving lanes have the right-of-way over vehicles pulling out of parking spaces. A driver leaving a space is entering a lane of travel, so they generally need to yield to traffic already moving through. But both drivers still owe a duty of reasonable care to everyone in the parking lot; if a driver is speeding 30mph through a parking lot and gets hit by a car that was backing up, the backing up car is not automatically responsible. The specifics of the accident will need to be reviewed, and only then can fault be determined.
Who Is at Fault When Two Cars Back Into Each Other?
This is the classic parking lot scenario, and liability is often shared in these cases, but it’s not automatically 50/50. Determining fault requires looking at the specifics, including:
- Which vehicle began backing first
- Whether either driver had stopped before or during the collision
- What each driver could actually see, and whether they checked
- Whether backup lights and warning signals were visible
- How fast each vehicle was moving
- What witnesses saw and what any camera footage shows
Because both drivers often blame each other, evidence is critical here.
Should You Call the Police After a Parking Lot Accident?
If you were in a parking lot accident where an injury occurred or your car has been damaged, it’s usually worth calling the police and asking them to create a police report. When officers respond, they’ll document the scene, collect both drivers’ information, take statements, and note their observations about vehicle positions and damage.
While you wait for officers to arrive, exchange names, contact information, insurance details, and license plate numbers with the other driver, and take your own photos of both vehicles before they’re moved if it’s safe to do so.
When Should You Contact a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer?
If you were injured, if fault is disputed, or if the insurance company is making the claims process difficult in any way, you should consider reaching out to a lawyer. The sooner you call, the easier it will be for them to investigate the case properly and recover important evidence, like witness statements and video footage if it exists. Let our team help you.
Call today at (314) 300-6260 and schedule a free consultation.