March started off with a bang in Venice, Florida, when a car smashed into a day-care center on the first day of the month. A woman in a parking lot was dropping her grandchild off at the Banyon Drive building when she accidentally crashed through an exterior wall of the facility.
Fifteen children were inside the Academy of Creative Learning at the time of the incident. Three of the kids suffered minor scrapes and bruises, while one teacher was brought to Venice Regional Hospital to deal with non-life-threatening injuries.
The car’s hood made it most of the way through the building’s concrete wall, protruding about four feet into the day-care center’s interior and sending debris flying everywhere. Repairs to the structure could take weeks. The driver responsible for the accident was charged by police for careless driving and for driving with an expired license.
Accidents in parking lots are common and dangerous
After the accident, police urged drivers to remain aware of their surroundings when in parking lots. Many drivers let their guard down, leading them to react suddenly and often dangerously when something unexpected happens. Accidents frequently occur as a result of drivers accidentally hitting the gas when they meant to slam on the break or put their vehicle in reverse. While any driver can cause this type of wreck, a study commissioned by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that nearly two-thirds of these crashes involved female drivers, and that they were more likely to occur when drivers were under 21 or over 76.
If you have been hurt by someone who hit the gas pedal instead of their brakes, or in any other accident in a parking lot, you may be entitled to compensation under Florida law. Speak with the knowledgeable Bradenton pedestrian injury attorneys at the firm of Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh to learn more.