During the holidays, parking lots can become riskier. There are more people shopping, which means more pedestrians and cars in parking lots. Holiday sales and stores offering home delivery also mean more trucks sharing these areas. More parking lot traffic and multiple types of vehicles combined with pedestrian traffic can create a risk of traffic collisions in Kendall parking lots.
While parking lot accidents tend to occur at lower speeds, they can still be deadly, especially when they involve pedestrians. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce your risk of parking lot collisions and injuries this holiday season:
- Stay focused: Avoid distractions and place your full focus on driving. Do not drive if you feel so agitated, tired, unwell, or distracted that you cannot concentrate on staying safe.
- Think visibility: Parking lots have many blind spots and when you’re backing out of a parking spot, you can easily collide with someone in your own blind spots. Always check carefully for traffic and pedestrians and use your lights to help pedestrians and other drivers see you.
- Choose parking spots carefully: Choose a parking spot which gets you to a pedestrian crossing area quickly. Look for a location with good visibility and where obstructions like cart corrals won’t affect your ability to park and leave safely.
- Supervise children closely: If you’re bringing children with you, don’t let them walk away from you or run around a parking lot. Small children may not be visible in the rear window of a car backing up and children may not understand when a driver is attempting to back into or out of a parking spot. Children are at risk of backover accidents in Kendall, and extra care is needed to keep them safe.
- Drive defensively: Whether you’re walking to or from your car or driving through a parking lot, always obey traffic signals and scan the area. When driving, think three moves ahead to stay fully focused and to be ready for unexpected traffic.
- Consider shopping during less busy times: It’s less risky to shop when the parking lot isn’t overcrowded and it can be easier to find a parking spot, too. Avoiding overcrowded areas can even reduce your risk of theft and of crowd injuries.
If you have been injured in a parking lot accident in Kendall or any south Florida community, contact Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) for a free accident consultation. If your injuries were caused by someone’s negligence, you may be able to pursue a legal claim to seek compensation for medical bills, property damage, lost time at work, and other losses.