As an experienced driver, you probably know that accidents can happen at any time. You might see one literally anywhere on the road, from a busy highway to a back street with no traffic around.

Multiple-car pile-ups can occur, but so can single-car accidents.

Wrecks can certainly happen in parking lots. It’s sometimes challenging establishing liability in parking lot injury cases, though.

At those times, you may need to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer who does car accident cases in particular.

Let’s talk about parking lot accidents right now. We’ll discuss common situations where they happen, and we’ll go over some common-sense ways to avoid them.

Accidents in Parking Lot Often Happen Because of a Lack of Space

When you first think about it, you might find it perplexing that a car would get into an accident in a parking lot. After all, you’re not driving very fast.

Somewhere like a highway seems like a much more likely spot for a car wreck because drivers travel there at a high rate of speed.

However, parking lot accidents often occur because you might have small, tight spaces and a narrow turn radius.

Think about it: maybe you’ve managed to maneuver into a very small parking space with barely any clearance on either side.

Perhaps when you get out of your car, you can barely open the door.

If you’re an expert driver, maybe you can maneuver your car out of the space again with no issues.

However, if you’re not a very experienced driver or you have trouble moving the car in reverse, you can easily scrape a vehicle behind or beside you.

That’s one of the reasons why parking lot accidents happen. They’re a prime place for collisions when a not-so-confident driver tries to extricate themselves from a narrow space.

They Also Occur When Drivers Have Their Car in the Wrong Gear

It sounds almost comical, but a parking lot accident can also occur if you put the car in drive rather than in reverse. When you’re trying to back out of a space, you must put the car in the right gear.

If you put it in drive and press down on the gas, and the vehicle moves forward rather than backward, you can damage the front bumper by running it into a wall or molded concrete barrier ahead of you.

You might think that sounds improbable, but it happens more often than you might think. Usually, drivers do it when they’re not really paying attention.

If you’re daydreaming when you start your car up, putting it in the wrong gear by accident could very easily happen.

Distractions

Distracted driving happens all the time. Often, you’ll see it when you’re out on the road.

If a car ahead of you swerves out of its lane, seemingly for no reason, you can bet the driver decided to send or check a text message while behind the wheel.

Perhaps they tried to adjust the radio or do something else on the touchscreen that so many modern cars have.

In parking lots, there’s plenty that can distract you as well. For instance, maybe you have other individuals in the car with you, and they’re talking, laughing, or carrying on.

This might happen with teenagers, but it can occur with more experienced drivers as well. If you’re coming from a movie, play, or concert, perhaps you’re all overly stimulated.

If a driver doesn’t pay close attention during those moments, they can hit a pedestrian, another car, or an inanimate object close to them.

Drugs and Alcohol

Drugs and alcohol can also cause car accidents, and not just on the highway or a city street. You probably know that if you have consumed alcohol and you’re over the legal limit, you shouldn’t drive.

Some states have also legalized recreational marijuana use now. If you smoke or ingest an edible, you shouldn’t operate a motor vehicle then, either.

You might also sometimes have a situation where a driver uses some other recreational drug. Some might use a legal, prescribed medication, but it makes them dizzy or sleepy.

In a parking lot, any of these situations can spell disaster. Someone who’s over the legal limit with their drinking or who has used some other drug can easily make a mistake in such an environment.

Maybe they’re not driving fast, but they can put the car in the wrong gear, back up and hit someone they didn’t see, or scrape a vehicle next to them if they misjudge its distance from them.

What’s the Solution?

Responsible drivers will act appropriately every moment they’re behind the wheel, and that includes when they’re in parking lots. The moment you put the car in gear, you should focus on what’s around you.

Make sure you have enough distance from the vehicles parked beside you and you have the car in the right gear when you’re backing up. If you see a space while trying to park, but it’s very narrow, you shouldn’t park there.

Keep looking for another spot since you might have trouble getting out of that space even if you manage to get into it successfully.

Don’t let anything distract you in parking lots. That includes your smartphone, the car’s touchscreen, other individuals in the vehicle, etc. You can turn your phone off and put it in your pocket till you get to your destination.

If you have rowdy passengers in the vehicle with you, insist they quiet down before you put the car in gear.

Don’t ingest any drugs or alcohol before driving. That includes legal, prescribed medications if you think there’s any chance that they might make you dizzy or sleepy.

If you’re not sure how a newly-prescribed drug might impact you, don’t drive after using it. Wait a couple of days till you see how your body reacts to the new regimen.

Prevent Common Parking Lot Accidents: Tips for Safe Driving

Accidents in parking lots are more common than you might think, often occurring due to tight spaces, distractions, or simple mistakes like selecting the wrong gear.

You can significantly reduce the risk of such incidents by staying alert, avoiding distractions, and ensuring you’re in the right state to drive.

Always prioritize safety, even in seemingly low-risk environments like parking lots, to prevent accidents and protect yourself and others.