What Should A Pedestrian Do After A Parking Lot Car Accident?

Parking lot accidents are riskier than people realize, and, unfortunately, these accidents are more common than people think. Just because most cars move at slow speeds in parking lots, it doesn’t mean that accidents can’t happen in such places. Pedestrians are at a high risk of being injured in parking lot accidents, but more often than not, when people hear of pedestrian accidents, they think of roadside accidents. While the road is notorious for pedestrian accidents, pedestrians can also get hit in parking lots. There is usually an abundance of both motor vehicles and pedestrians in parking lots, and because of that, parking lot pedestrian accidents are bound to occur.

Parking Lot Car Accidents Are Preventable

According to a 2016 National Safety Council’s opinion poll, 66% of motorists in America would talk on their phones while driving through parking lots. According to the survey;

• 56% would text while driving through parking lots.
• 52 % would use social media while driving through parking lots.
• 50% would send or receive emails.
• 49% would take photos or watch videos while driving through parking lots.

Additionally, according to the NSC, teenagers are more likely to engage in personal grooming than adults while driving in parking lots. However, when it comes to being on the phone, adults are more likely to be on their phones than teenagers.

From such statistics, it is evident that motorists are not keen on safety when driving in parking lots. When motorists are driving on actual roads, they exercise a lot of caution. However, when it comes to parking lots, you might find motorists engaging in behaviors they wouldn’t normally engage in when driving on actual roads. Motorists assume that safety in parking lots is guaranteed by driving slowly. Unfortunately, that is far from the truth. Slow speeds do not guarantee safety in parking lots.

Motorists need to conduct themselves responsibly when driving through parking lots to avoid accidents. Apart from driving slowly, drivers can practice caution when driving through parking lots by following the following tips and many others. When in parking lots, drivers should;

• avoid distracted driving
• avoid cutting across lots
• obey signs
• be mindful of people walking by and other motorists when backing out
• be watchful of parents and small children on strollers

Who Is Liable In a Pedestrian Parking Lot Auto Accident?

If you were involved in a pedestrian parking lot accident, you need to note that Florida’s negligence laws apply when it comes to determining fault. According to Florida law, it is generally fair for a plaintiff to assign blame to a party that was in a position to prevent the accident from happening. Therefore, if the motorist who hit you was in a position to avoid the accident, but they didn’t, you can hold them liable. If the driver that hit you acted negligently; thus, causing your accident, you could be entitled to receiving compensation from them or their insurance company.

Nonetheless, there could be other people or parties, rather than the motorist that injured you, that you can hold liable for your parking lot accident. Suppose the driver that hit you was distracted driving through a poorly-maintained parking lot. In that case, if the poor condition of the parking lot played a role in causing the accident, you can hold both the driver that hit you and the parking lot owner or operator liable for your injuries. For example, suppose you were severely injured in a poorly lit parking lot or a parking lot with potholes by a negligent driver. In that case, you can hold both the driver and the parking lot owner or operator liable for your injuries.

What Should a Pedestrian Do After a Parking Lot Car Accident?

Below are some of the steps you should take after being hit in a parking lot.

• First, you need to seek medical attention. If your condition allows you to, call for an ambulance, and while at it, call for law enforcers too. It is crucial you inform law enforcers of the accident so that the police can file a report of the accident. Police reports come in handy in personal injury cases.
• If you can, and after you have called law enforcers and an ambulance, collect necessary information from the motorist that hit you.
• After collecting the driver’s information, gather some crucial evidence such as witness testimonies and some images of the accident scene if your condition allows you.
• Finally, contact your attorney, or have someone contact them for you and allow your attorney to help you from there.

Contact a Naples Car Accident Attorney

If you, your loved one, or a person you know was severely injured in a parking lot accident because of another person’s negligence, you need expert legal help if you are to obtain fair compensation. To receive the legal assistance you need, reach out to a Naples car accident attorney at The Law Offices of Marc L. Shapiro, P.A., at 239-649-8050 to schedule a consultation.

Resource:

nsc.org/getmedia/f2fdea1c-9063-419e-9ed5-49fb2f3997ad/methodology-summary-all-drivers.pdf.aspx