How many times have you been to the grocery store, your local mall or some other establishment with a public parking lot? You’ve probably been to numerous parking lots too many times to count and probably didn’t think there was any danger. After all, what could happen? You might end up in a minor fender bender, but that’s it. Right?
That’s not necessarily the case. Did you know that over 50,000 accidents occur in parking garages and lots each year? Believe it or not, over 60,000 people suffered injuries in those crashes, and more than 500 people lost their lives. As you can imagine, a significant number of these crashes took place during the holidays, Black Friday and other times when shopping is at its height.
So, what causes all these crashes?
Whether you are in your car or walking in and out of the establishment through the parking lot, you may have your cell phone out, be looking at your recent purchases or talking to someone, among other things. In fact, it may not surprise you that distraction is the biggest cause of accidents. Well over 50 percent of people who took part in an opinion poll sponsored by the National Safety Council said that they use their cell phones while behind the wheel in parking lots.
Those taking part in the poll also indicated that they engage in the following activities while driving through parking lots or garages:
- Texting
- Using social media
- Programming GPS systems
- Taking photos
- Watching videos
- Receiving or sending emails
- Personal grooming
During the holidays mentioned before, the distractions increase since most people are thinking about all of the tasks they need to complete and checking items off their lists. The injuries you suffer as a pedestrian could be catastrophic. Of course, the only danger for pedestrians may not be from vehicles. Unscrupulous individuals may attempt to harm you if the conditions are right, which often means lax security measures.
So, what happens if you become a statistic?
If you suffered serious injuries in an accident in a parking garage or lot, you may be able to pursue compensation for those injuries. Your medical bills, lost wages and other damages may be recovered if your claim is successful. To increase your chances of receiving an award from a Texas civil court, you may benefit from making use of local legal resources.