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Understanding Parking Lot Accidents And Fault

Car accidents can occur almost anywhere, and this includes any areas in which vehicles are moving slowly -- including parking lots. People often do not expect to have an accident in a parking lot, and you may have no idea who is actually at fault when you do have one. You may not even know the rules of parking lots and how they determine who is at fault. If this is a concern of yours, keep reading to learn about how fault is determined after a parking lot incident.

Who Had The Right Of Way

Most people are simply courteous in parking lots and allow other drivers to go ahead of them. However, you should know that there are actual rules regarding who has the right of way in the parking lot. If the right of way was violated by one of the drivers, then this person may be at fault for the accident.  

Who has the right of way, and when? Well, if you are driving on one of the larger lanes that feed into the parking lot, then you have the right of way. These lanes are ones where traffic is moving faster and cars are trying to get in and out of the main parking lot. These lanes meet the parking lanes, called feeder lanes, at a 90-degree angle, and anyone in a feeder lane must wait for traffic from one of the main lanes.

If anyone is in a parking spot and is pulling out, they must wait for anyone who is driving down one of the feeder lanes. If you were pulling out of a parking spot and hit a car that was driving down a feeder lane, you would be at fault for the accident because you did not follow the right-of-way rules. This is true even if the driver was not paying attention and had plenty of time to stop before hitting you. Basically, you should have made sure the entire feeding lane was empty before pulling out.

Was There A Pedestrian Involved?

Sometimes a pedestrian is involved in an accident, especially if you were swerving so you wouldn't hit someone walking in the parking lot. If a pedestrian causes an accident, you are likely still at fault. Pedestrians have the right of way in parking lot areas and it is your duty to recognize them and maneuver around them at all times. 

Pedestrians may be walking in designated walkways, but they also walk down both main and feeder aisles. If an accident occurs in one of these areas due to someone walking in front of you, make sure that a detailed report is given of the incident, but be aware that you will likely be at fault no matter what. 

For more information, contact a car accident law attorney in your area.