Parking Lot Collisions

Not all traffic collisions occur on highways, freeways, surface streets, or on quiet neighborhood roads. Just recently, a driver killed a gas station attendant in the parking lot of a Quick Check in Lawrence Township, New Jersey. The driver fled the scene, but was later arrested and charged with death by auto. The victim had been trying to stop the driver from fleeing the gas station lot after that driver hit an SUV, but the driver fled and killed him in the process. Sadly, these types of deadly or serious injury-causing collisions in parking lots occur all the time in Red Bank and throughout the state.

One in Five Collisions Occurs in a Parking Lot, and Pedestrians are the Most Impacted User Group

Surprisingly, the National Safety Council (NSC) found that one in five traffic collisions occurs in parking lots. These collisions account for at least 60,000 injuries and 500 fatalities per year. Sadly, the most affected group in parking lot collisions are pedestrians who are making their way to or from their vehicle to a building. Even in low-speed collisions, a pedestrian being struck by a two-ton vehicle will rarely walk away from the incident uninjured. Common injuries include broken bones, lacerations, traumatic brain injuries, severe whiplash, torn ligaments, and serious bruising and soft tissue damage. Other drivers can be injured too when someone pulls into a parking lot distracted. The most typical low-speed injury is whiplash, which can last for weeks, months, or even for life.

Distraction is the Most Common Cause of Parking Lot Collisions

An NSC poll found that two out of three respondents said they talk on the phone while entering or exiting a parking lot–an area they know to be filled with pedestrians, blind corners, and high-risk scenarios. Furthermore, the poll discovered that

• 63 percent of respondents will program their GPS systems in parking lots;
• 56 percent will send a text;
• 52 percent will use social media;
• 50 percent will send or receive emails; and
• 49 percent will take photos or watch videos.

A Red Bank Personal Injury Attorney is Here to Help

Distracted or aggressive drivers in parking lots are common here in the U.S., and cause traumatic injuries for tens of thousands of people every year. If you were injured by a negligent driver while you were pulling out of your parking space, exiting your vehicle, or walking across the lot, you deserve to be financially compensated. Call the Red Bank law offices of Foss, San Filippo & Milne, LLC. for help today at (732) 741-2525.