Parking Lot Accidents Spike During Holiday Season
by King Law
With the holiday season now in full swing, many people are out shopping looking for the perfect gifts for their loved ones. Unfortunately, this increase in traffic and the hustle-and-bustle of the holiday season typically causes car accidents to spike – especially in parking lots.
According to State Farm Insurance, parking lot accidents increase by as much as 20 percent each year during the busy holiday season. While many of these collisions amount to little more than dented fenders, others can cause serious or even fatal injuries to pedestrians, many of which are children. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), 22% of children ages 5 through 9 killed in traffic accidents are pedestrians.
WHAT CAUSES THESE COLLISIONS?
Parking lot car accidents during the holidays often occur because motorists are more focused on holiday bargains than the safety of other shoppers. Many crashes occur while drivers are attempting to find a parking spot or back out of a spot in a crowded lot, causing them to fail to notice oncoming traffic or walking pedestrians until it is too late.
Other negligent acts which can cause parking lot collisions include:
- Texting while driving
- Driving while intoxicated
- Speeding
- Driving at night without headlights
WAYS TO AVOID PARKING LOT CRASHES
Aside from paying more attention on the roads, there are several things that drivers can do stay safe and reduce their risk of being involved in a parking lot collision:
- Slow down. No holiday deal is worth getting into a wreck over.
- Use your headlights day and night to increase your visibility.
- Keep an eye out for little ones. Always check before slowly backing out of a parking space.
- If possible, park toward the end of a lot where there is plenty of space.
- Avoid parking between tall SUVs or pick-up trucks which may impede your view.
Unfortunately, nobody can ever foresee the actions of a negligent individual. If you or a loved one should be injured in a holiday car accident, the Rochester personal injury lawyers at King Law can guard your rights and help you pursue the fair financial recovery you need to get back on your feet as smoothly as possible.
Call (585) 270-8882 or contact the firm online today to discuss your claim.
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