When most people think of a car accident, they picture a crash on a road or highway. However, a large percentage of crashes actually happen in parking lots at low speeds. Drivers are often preoccupied with looking for a spot or pulling out of a stall, and are not always completely aware of their surroundings.
Although damage and injuries are typically not as serious in accidents occurring in parking lots, it is still important to know what steps you should take after being involved in one of these collisions. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Make sure you pull your car away from the site of the collision to a safe location, away from other drivers and pedestrians.
- If you are unable to put on your car, turn on your emergency flashers and get out of your vehicle when it’s safe to do so.
- If anyone is injured, call for medical assistance right away. Call the police, especially if there was significant damage done to either vehicle.
- Notify an attendant or security patrol at the parking lot, if one is present.
- Take pictures of all of the damage done to both vehicles, to the parking lot or to any buildings. Get photos of anything else in the area that will help you explain exactly what happened.
- Get the names, contact information and insurance information of any other drivers involved, along with the names and information of any witnesses who saw the accident transpire.
- Write down the names of all businesses that share the parking lot, along with any facts about the incident, such as time, date, weather, location and anything else that could be important.
- Contact your insurance company and inform an agent of the collision.
If you need to take legal action after a car accident, be sure to consult a dedicated Bradenton personal injury attorney with Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh.