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As a guide, here is an overview of some of the most important basics you need to know about parking lot auto accidents in the United States. <br>
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Introduction Many auto accidents occur in parking lots, especially during busy shopping seasons. This is because there are a lot of activities going on in a parking lot at any given time—people are driving around looking for the best spots, others are pulling on empty spaces or reversing to leave, and pedestrians are coming and going.
Accidents that occur in parking lots are similar to those that occur in public roads and highways in many ways. For instance, regardless of where the accident occurs, the most important factor is your safety and the safety of everyone involved. Besides, the first step to take in both instances is to contact your insurance company or notify the police. Finally, you cannot leave the scene of the accident without exchanging information with the other driver as doing so is a crime.
Despite these similarities, there are certain aspects that are unique to accidents in parking lots. You should be aware of some of these aspects so that you can handle any occurrence of a parking lot accident in the best way possible. As a guide, here is an overview of some of the most important basics you need to know about parking lot auto accidents in the United States.
Table of contents • What should you do when you get a parking lot accident? • How is fault determined in parking lot accidents? • Will Insurance cover the accident? • Should you call the police? • You need an attorney
What should you do when you get a parking lot accident? Well, as hinted above, you should handle a parking lot accident the same way you do an accident on a public road or street. To support any claim, you need to gather as many details as possible about the accident scene, including photos, exchanging insurance information with the other driver, and asking passersby to be witnesses, especially if they saw the accident.
How is fault determined in parking lot accidents? To determine the driver who is at fault, most states use modified comparative negligence or the law of proportionate responsibility. The action of each driver is examined to establish who was more negligent. Each driver is then assigned a percentage, which represents the degree of fault in causing the accident. The driver who is proved to have been more negligent is considered to be at fault. In case you are partially at fault in causing the accident, any kind of compensation that you receive will be reduced based on your percentage of negligence.
Generally, two factors are commonly used to determine liability: Was the car moving? If one car was moving at the time of the accident, its driver is mostly considered to be at fault for the accident. If you hit a car that is legally parked, you are highly likely to be found negligent and considered to be entirely at fault for the accident.
The right-of-way: In case the cars were moving, one driver is considered to have the right-of-way based on the traffic patterns of the parking lot. This means that the other driver may be found to be negligent for not respecting the right-of-way. Other factors may also count like a driver failing to yield to a stop sign or speeding.
Will Insurance cover the accident? This depends on the type of insurance cover that you have at the time of the accident. All the states require drivers to have some type of car insurance. However, every state’s requirement varies and some may need you to purchase additional coverage. The specific policy that you take may also depend on a wide range of factors including the type of car that you drive and the amount of insurance you decide to buy. Put simply, whether or not your insurance provider will cover the damages, injuries, or liability you incur in a parking lot will depend on your specific insurance policy.
Should you call the police? In most cases, when an accident occurs on a public road or street, the police will respond and write an accident report. Generally, the police respond to ensure public safety and gather information. Police reports on accident scenes are very useful because they capture some of the most important information about the accident, including the names of the people involved in the accident, vehicle registration numbers and details, and the insurance information of both the drivers.
For a parking lot accident, however, there is no guarantee that police will respond unless there are public safety concerns or serious injuries are involved. Most parking accidents involve minor injuries and property damage and are usually handled effectively by insurance providers, making it needless for the police to respond.
You need an attorney Finally, if you are involved in a parking lot auto accident, it is advisable to consult an attorney immediately. Whether the accident results in minor damage or causes serious property damage, consulting an attorney is the best way to ensure that your rights and claims are protected.
Contact details Toner & Ramirez, P.A. Address: 5367 Spring Hill Dr, Spring Hill, Florida 34606, United States Phone: (352) 610-4488 Website: https://tonerramirez.com/
