Distracted Drivers in Parking Lots Cause Severe Injuries to Pedestrians

According to a CBSNews.com article, parking lots appear to be an unlikely place for life-threatening injuries since most motor vehicles are parked or move at slow speeds. However, almost 20% of all motor vehicle accidents occur in parking lots and parking garages. Distracted driving is the primary cause of collisions in car parking lots. The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that approximately 500 people tragically die, and 60,000 people sustain an injury in parking lot crashes per year. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), there are about 50,000 parking lot accidents per year.

About 60% of drivers in parking lots say that they feel confident that they can safely navigate a parking lot while speaking on their cell phone, and 50% stated that they could safely text message while looking for a parking spot, according to the NSC survey. Roughly 50% of drivers also reported that they felt it was safe to read social media, watch videos, send emails, and take pictures while driving in a parking lot. Drivers reported feeling that this was not a danger because they were moving at only five MPH. Unfortunately, driving while distracted does cause deaths and permanent debilitating injuries when a vehicle is moving at five MPH. Over 40% of respondents to the NSC survey stated that they felt comfortable using video chat while driving in a parking garage.

Regardless of how the parking lot accident occurred, if you or a loved one have been injured or if you lost a member of your family, call our parking lot accident lawyers for legal help. Having an experienced attorney by your side can help you avoid crucial errors when dealing with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Auto accident insurers usually try to lowball claims when accidents occur inside parking garages because these accidents often happen at low speeds. The insurance company adjuster will try to argue that the insured’s motor vehicle did not sustain any damage and that the collision could not have caused an injury. However, the vehicle bumpers are designed to absorb the force of a crash with another motor vehicle, not a human body.

It is important that you receive legal advice before speaking with the accident adjuster or before accepting a settlement offer. The insurance company never makes an initial settlement offer that will cover the full value of your injury claim. This is particularly true if you or your injured loved one does not have experienced legal counsel familiar with the insurance company’s strategies aimed at reducing the value of your claim. Our experienced accident injury attorneys understand that a lack of motor vehicle damage does not equate to a lack of physical injury.

Contact Parker Waichman LLP for a Free Case Review

Parker Waichman LLP helps families recover monetary compensation for harm caused by dangerous drivers. For your free consultation, contact our Pedestrian Accident Law Firm today by using our live chat or calling 800-968-7529.