Parking lots look simple until two cars collide.
Then come the questions.
Who had the right of way? Was someone backing up? Was the other vehicle moving? Was there a stop sign? Was one driver cutting across parking spaces? Did anyone see it happen?
A parking lot accident can become a disagreement almost immediately.
The scene can tell you a lot
If you are involved in a parking lot collision and can safely do so, photographs can be extremely helpful.
Do not photograph only the damage.
Take pictures showing where the vehicles were, the surrounding parking spaces, directional arrows, stop signs, entrances, exits, nearby businesses, sight obstructions, and anything else that helps explain the layout.
A close-up of a damaged bumper shows damage.
A wide photograph may help explain how that bumper got damaged.
Look around for cameras
One thing people sometimes forget is that parking lots are often surrounded by businesses.
Those businesses may have security cameras.
Video could potentially show the collision itself or what happened immediately before it. The difficulty is that businesses may not keep recordings indefinitely.
If footage could be important, identifying potential cameras early can matter.
Witnesses may disappear quickly
Parking lots are temporary places. Someone loading groceries into the car beside you may have seen everything, but five minutes later that person could be gone.
If someone witnessed the collision, ask for their name and contact information.
Do not assume they will still be around when police arrive.
Low speed does not automatically mean no injury
People sometimes dismiss parking lot crashes because they happen at lower speeds than highway collisions.
But the speed of the vehicles is only one piece of information.
If you are experiencing pain or other symptoms after a collision, pay attention to what your body is telling you and seek appropriate medical care when necessary.
Don't let the parking lot setting fool you
A crash does not have to happen on I-95 to create a complicated insurance situation.
Sometimes the smallest accident scenes produce the biggest disagreements about exactly what happened.
Gather information, document the scene when possible, and be careful about guessing or accepting blame before all of the facts are known.
If a parking lot collision leaves you injured and dealing with insurance questions, my office can help you understand what comes next.
Aaron R. Coven Law
561-540-3636