Parking Lot Accidents: Holiday Edition

The holidays are a fantastic time of year. Christmas trees, exchanging gifts, parking lot accidents, and spending quality time with family are some of the things that the holidays bring. Yes, parking lot accidents made the list of things brought on by the holidays. This is because parking lot accidents increase an estimated 20% during November and December.

Why Do Parking Lot Accidents Increase During the Holidays?

With increased traffic, many racing emotions, and lots of shopping to be done, it’s safe to say these factors all play a role in the increase in the number of holiday parking lot accidents. Whatever the reason for the increase is, parking lot accidents increase each year beginning on Black Friday.

The National Safety Council (NSC) conducted a public survey where many drivers admitted to being guilty of engaging in distracting activities while driving in parking lots.

Some of the most common distractions from the list include:

• Talking on the phone
• Texting
• Emailing
• Browsing social media
• Watching videos

Many people believe that traffic laws don’t apply to parking lots because of their low speed limits and overall “less threatening” environments. However, distracted driving is the number one reason why parking lot accidents occur, and this number only grows during the holiday season.

With more than 50,000 estimated parking lot accidents taking place each year, stopping the number of driver distractions will undoubtedly help prevent a large number of injuries across the nation.

What Can Be Done to Avoid a Parking Lot Accident?

Understanding that parking lot accidents are on the rise during the holidays is the first step to help prevent an accident. Additional things that you can do that can help reduce your chances of being in a parking lot accident include:

• Abstain from all distractions. Whether you are behind the wheel or walking through the parking lot. Be sure to put your phone away and pay attention to the road and obstacles ahead of you.
• Drive the speed limit. Driving slowly through parking lots will allow you the proper amount of time to stop should a hazard cross your path.
• Scan completely before backing up. Always be sure to scan your surroundings before you back up. Make sure you do so cautiously, and always remember that young children may dart behind your car unexpectedly.
• Don’t pull through parking spaces. Avoid pulling through parking spaces, as other vehicles will likely not expect you to do so—which can easily cause an accident.

Aizenman Law Group Can Help

Accidents are called “accidents” for a reason. Regardless of the precautions that you take to prevent them, they may still happen due to other’s negligence. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident due to the negligence of another person, you have the right to pursue compensation for your suffering.

Don’t let another’s negligence put a damper on your holiday season. Give Aizenman Law Group a call today 631-769-8431 to learn more about how we can help over a free consultation.