by John Gomez | Last Updated: March 3, 2017

Many of us have become annoyed as we drove through parking lots and parking garages over the years.  This tends to happen when a large number of vehicles are crammed into tight spaces.  Everyone is in a hurry to either get in or get out and people are generally thinking of other things as they park or prepare to leave.  Unfortunately, all of these factors lead to a high number of car accidents.  Sadly, it could’ve been a combination of these circumstances that led to a woman being badly injured in a parking lot Wednesday.  These parking lot accidents are much more prevalent than many people would realize.  The San Diego car accident lawyers at Gomez Trial Attorneys want to raise the awareness level of the dangers that lurk in parking lots and parking garages in hopes that more people can avoid these crashes.

About the Parking Lot Accident

The San Diego Union-Tribune published a story about the parking lot accident that occurred.  Those who would like to review it can find it here.  According to the report, the accident took place on Wednesday at approximately 12:15 p.m.  An unidentified 80-year-old woman was leaving the Home Depot store located at the Southland Plaza Shopping Center at 525 Saturn Boulevard in Egger Highlands.  As she was doing so, an unidentified 55-year-old woman struck the pedestrian’s shopping cart with her vehicle.  The impact knocked the woman down and she apparently hit her head on the pavement.  She suffered a life-threatening head injury and was transported to a nearby hospital.  The driver was not injured and police do not suspect her of being under the influence of any intoxicants.

San Diego Pedestrian Accident Statistics

First and foremost, we’d like to offer our thoughts and support to the woman who was critically injured in this San Diego pedestrian accident.  We hope that she is able to survive her injuries and make a full and fast recovery.  Unfortunately, this crash will now become part of several different bodies of statistics, including those concerning San Diego pedestrian accidents.  According to available data, more than 1,100 of these crashes occur across the county every year.  They lead to more than 1,250 injuries and fatalities.  That’s more than three people every day suffering injuries or dying because of collisions with vehicles.

Parking Lot/Parking Garage Accident Statistics

As mentioned above, auto accidents that occur in parking lots and parking garages are much more common than most people would guess.  According to an article published by Safety + Health magazine,  more than 50,000 crashes take place across the United States in parking garages and parking lots every year.  These accidents lead to at least 500 fatalities and to more than 60,000 injuries.  Safety + Health magazine is published by the National Safety Council, and the article was published in conjunction with a survey that the NSC had recently completed.

The survey collected responses from more than 2,400 licensed drivers who were at least 18 years old in 2016.  The researchers also collected responses from more than 1,000 teen drivers.  The survey asked questions regarding how distracted drivers tended to be while driving through parking lots and parking garages.  Some examples of the responses include the following:

• Two-thirds of respondents admitted to making a phone call while driving in a parking lot.
• 56 percent of respondents admitted to texting while driving in a parking lot.
• 63 percent of drivers had programmed a GPS device.
• 52 percent of motorists had used social media.
• Half of the motorists admitted to reading emails.

Those who would like to review the survey can find it here.  Clearly, distracted driving is an enormous problem in parking lots and parking garages.  More than 164 people are injured across the country every day in the United States in these crashes.

Ideas for Avoiding Parking Lot Accidents

Given the prevalence of parking lot accidents, it may be advisable to provide some suggestions for motorists so that they can minimize the chance that they will be involved in these crashes.  Below you’ll find five of those suggestions:

• Program Your GPS Before Pulling Out – The survey above revealed that a troubling percentage of drivers program their GPS while driving through a parking lot.  Make sure you do this before you pull out of your spot so you can focus on your driving environment.
• Put Your Phone Away – Cellphones have long been one of the biggest culprits when it comes to distracted driving.  As is the case with driving in any situation, put your cell phone away so you’re not tempted to use it while behind the wheel.
• Don’t Depend On Your Camera – Newer vehicles come equipped with technology that allows for watching behind a vehicle through a camera.  While this technology is helpful, it will not by itself prevent crashes.  Continue to use your own eyes when backing out of a parking spot.
• Parking Lots Are Roads – Motorists tend to relax a bit when they drive through a parking lot or a parking garage.  Everyone should keep in mind that driving in these environments is no different than driving on any road.  As such, we need to follow all norms with regards to right-of-way and the like.
• Assume Nothing – The survey above revealed that an enormous number of motorists tend to lose focus on their driving when they are in parking lots or parking garages.  This information should prompt other drivers to remember that they can only control what they do.  Do not assume that other drivers are paying attention or that they will make the correct decisions when faced with certain choices.

How a San Diego Car Accident Lawyer Can Help

Unfortunately, even if everyone takes reasonable precautions, parking lot accidents are going to continue to happen.  If you are injured in this type of a crash, you need to seek the help of a San Diego car accident lawyer who understands how to reconstruct a crash scene and fight for the rights of clients.  Contact Gomez Trial Attorneys today for a free case evaluation.

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