Some pedestrian crashes take place on rural roads because motorists don’t notice joggers. Other times, pedestrians jaywalking on busy streets could end up injured by drivers who didn’t expect to encounter them.
Any place where people on foot move in close proximity to motor vehicles, there is potential for a pedestrian crash. Parking lots see quite a few pedestrian collisions every year. Drivers should be aware that there are usually pedestrians nearby in parking lots.
However, many drivers fail to properly monitor their surroundings. In fact, they may be handling mobile phones while driving, which can increase the risk of a major pedestrian wreck.
Drivers report high distraction rates in parking lots
Many drivers recognize that texting while driving or otherwise handling a mobile device is unsafe. They try to avoid doing so whenever possible while they are on busy streets.
However, a significantly higher percentage of drivers admit to texting, watching videos or even posting to social media while driving in parking lots as opposed to on public roads. Slower speeds and fewer vehicles may give drivers a false sense of confidence in parking lots.
They could then fail to notice nearby pedestrians as they back out of their parking spaces or move aggressively to secure a vacant space. Even at lower parking lot speeds, pedestrian collisions can cause serious injuries. Broken bones, internal bleeding and even traumatic brain injuries are possible.
People injured in pedestrian crashes often need help evaluating their options, and that’s okay. Estimating total losses can be the first step toward holding irresponsible drivers accountable for hitting pedestrians.