Accidents in Parking Areas

When we think of accidents that require insurance, we don’t typically think of parking lots and garages, but accidents in these sites are fairly common. While most of the accidents taking place in these areas are minor, they can still cause injury, property damage, and raise your insurance rates. When shopping for insurance, you should make sure that the package you get will cover all contingencies, including the minor ones.

Safe Navigation of Parking Areas

A recent study showed that the most common kind of car accident occurs between a moving vehicle and a parked one. These accidents make up almost one of every four accidents. Parking lots and garages are often crowded and sometimes confusing, with drivers moving against the flow of traffic or traveling too fast. Thus, they are the site of many low-speed accidents. Follow these tips for safe maneuvering:

• Maintain awareness in parking lots and garages
• Use your headlights in dim garages
• Follow all signage, including speed limitations
• Yield to cars that are backing out of spaces
• Keep your seatbelt on until safely parked
• Stay patient – many accidents occur as drivers fight over spaces or scramble to be the first out of a lot

Unfortunately, we tend to practice fewer safety techniques when in a parking area, since they can feel relatively low-risk. However, remember that even traveling at 10mph and coming to a sudden stop – such as when you hit another vehicle – can simulate the same force as falling from the top of a one-story building. If the other car is moving in the opposite direction going 10mph as well, the combined force is like falling from a second-story building – still plenty of force to cause damage or injury.

Contact Us

If you are looking for a new insurance policy, contact an Indianapolis car insurance agent from Insure on the Spot by calling 888-972-SAVE today.