Any place where people cross paths with vehicles, there is a risk of a pedestrian crash. However, some locations tend to be more dangerous than others. Pedestrians are often cautious when they have to cross the road at unmarked locations or particularly busy intersections.
On the other hand, they may take their safety for granted when they are in busy parking lots. After all, drivers in parking lots generally understand that there are people on foot nearby. Contrary to what people might assume, parking lots are relatively dangerous for pedestrians.
What makes them so risky?
Distracted drivers
According to self-reported driving behaviors, many people engage in unsafe behaviors in parking lots that they avoid on the road. They scroll through or post to social media. They read and respond to text messages or emails. Distraction in parking lots may result in drivers failing to notice pedestrians and causing tragic, completely preventable crashes.
The increasing size of vehicles
One of the factors that directly influences the severity of a pedestrian crash is the speed of the vehicle. Vehicles and parking lots tend to travel relatively slowly, which means that the likelihood of severe injury or death should be lower than on busy streets. Unfortunately, another factor that influences the severity of a pedestrian crash is the size of the vehicle. Bigger, heavier vehicles can knock people down much more forcefully even at lower speeds. As if that weren’t bad enough, bigger vehicles tend to have bigger blind spots. Drivers may not see a pedestrian, especially if they are very close to the edge of the vehicle.
Aggressive parking behavior
Many drivers move very quickly through parking lots, often because they want the best spots available. Drivers may race for a spot when they notice another motorist nearby. They may become so focused on the vacant parking spot or another approaching vehicle that they completely fail to monitor their surroundings for pedestrians. Those eager to get on with their day while pulling out of a parking spot could also behave in an inappropriately aggressive manner by accelerating rapidly without checking behind them first.
Those injured in parking lots generally have the same basic protections as those hurt on public streets. Pedestrians struck by vehicles in parking lots can file insurance claims or personal injury lawsuits against the drivers who have hit them.
