When you think of a car accident, you might picture an incident on the highway or even a city street. But many car accidents (an estimated 20%) occur in parking lots. Think about it: Parking lots can be extremely treacherous. It’s often difficult to figure out who is coming and going, some drivers take turns way too fast, and inexperienced drivers aren’t skilled yet in navigating a parking lot—all of which can lead to an accident.
Although cars typically aren’t going at high rates of speed in parking lots as they are on the highway, this doesn’t mean that there are no injuries involved in a parking lot accident. Even though cars are driving at lower speeds, accidents in a parking lot can and still do lead to deaths or serious injuries (especially when pedestrians are involved).
INJURIES THAT ARE POSSIBLE IN A PARKING LOT ACCIDENT
When two cars collide in a parking lot, it’s not surprising to see the head and back injuries, including concussions, skull fractures, hearing or vision loss, or damage to the spinal cord. It’s also entirely possible to see herniated disks, tingling sensations, muscle weakness, or arm and leg pain because of a parking lot accident.
The most common injuries associated with a car accident are whiplash, stiffness, or temporary vocal cord paralysis, but it’s not entirely uncommon to see cracked ribs, collapsed lungs, or traumatic cardiac arrest.
The most devastating injuries, however, are when a car gets into an accident with a pedestrian. Because of the sheer size of the vehicle, even at a lower speed, an impact between a pedestrian and a car can be catastrophic.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I GET INTO A PARKING LOT ACCIDENT?
Many parking lots are considered private property, but it doesn’t mean that you should handle the accident differently than you would if you were on the highway or a city street. If you or the other party have any injuries, dial 9-1-1 immediately to get service from first responders. Even if you don’t think that your injuries are life-threatening, it’s always best to get checked by a professional to ensure you don’t have any internal injuries.
If no injuries result from the accident, you should still notify the police to take down a report.
Have you or a loved one been injured in a parking lot accident in Georgia? If your injuries came as a result of another person’s negligence or recklessness, you may be entitled to compensation. Call the Fry Legal team at (404) 948-3571 for more information on how we can assist you.
