As you’re driving to your holiday destination, it’s easy to be distracted by all of the people walking around and the decorations. It’s important for drivers to be vigilant of their surroundings, especially when they’re in a parking lot. Distractions can easily lead to a car crash. Here are some common crash situations in parking lots and how to avoid them.
Common Parking Lot Crash Situations
There are several situations to recognize that often cause parking lot crashes. Here are a few things you can do to help prevent them.
Backing Up
One of the most common causes of parking lot crashes is backing into someone else. To avoid this, drivers should look over their shoulder and check their mirrors before they back up. If they’re still not sure about what’s behind them, they should ask someone to walk alongside the car and guide them. Never back up if you’re not sure what is behind you.
Turning
As you turn into a parking space, it’s important to look and see if there’s another car trying to turn into that same space. If there is, then you’ll need to find somewhere else to park. With all of the stress of the holidays, it’s safer to let the other car take the space and find another spot than to try to park faster than the other car and risk causing a collision
It’s also important to make sure other cars are aware of your intention to turn. You can do this by turning on your blinker. If you’re about to pull out of a spot and another car is approaching, be sure to stop before pulling out so they can safely pass.
Entering and Exiting the Parking Lot
If you’re entering a parking lot, don’t just follow the person in front of you. The person ahead of you may be waiting for a spot, or they may not realize someone is following them. You should follow at a distance so that if the person ahead of you stops, you have enough time to stop as well.
When exiting a parking lot, look well ahead of you to see if anything is coming. If it is clear, then move forward slowly to give yourself enough time to stop if necessary.
Driving Straight Forward
One common parking lot crash occurs when a driver is backing up and hits someone coming straight forward. This can happen if the driver doesn’t check their blind spot before turning, or if they don’t check to make sure the coast is clear before backing up.
To avoid this, be sure to slow down to check for any incoming cars before you drive down rows. If you’re waiting to turn into a parking spot, be sure to leave enough space in front of you to allow the driver to back out.
Contact the Car Accident Attorneys at Premier Law Group in Washington
At Premier Law Group, our Washington car accident attorneys can help you seek compensation for the injuries sustained during a car accident. If you were injured in a parking lot crash, we can help you seek the justice you deserve. We offer free and confidential case reviews where we can learn more about what happened in your case and present you with your options. We have law offices across Western Washington, including Seattle, Renton, Federal Way, and Bellevue. Contact us today by calling (206) 880-7518 or filling out this online contact form.
Jason at premier law group is truly an outstanding individual. Our particular case was not something that their firm usually sees but they were more than willing to help us and give us all of the information they had available. I can't recommend them enough.