What To Do After A Parking Lot Collision
Brian O Sutter
Accident Lawyers
At times it almost seems as if parking lots were made for car accidents. Whether you have two drivers vying for the same spot or find yourself distracted by people walking around while you are pulling out, there is plenty of things to watch out for on your way to the grocery store.Although parking lot accidents are common, they are typically low speed collisions with minimal damages or injuries to worry about. Still, it doesn’t mean you should take this kind of car accident lightly either.
Steps to Take After a Parking Lot Accident
Any time you find yourself involved in a traffic accident, whether in a parking out or somewhere else, you need to protect yourself in the moment and act in your best interests. Here are some steps you should take after the car collision:
- Pull the vehicles out of the way and into a safe location.
- If you are unable to move your car, put on the emergency flashers and exit when it is safe to do so.
- Immediately call for medical assistance if anyone is injured.
- Call the police, especially if there are any injuries or extensive property damage. If the parking lot has a private security patrol, make sure they are notified of the accident.
- Contact your car insurance company.
- If possible, take pictures of any damage done to the vehicles, location of the vehicles, parking lot area where the accident occurred, and anything else that would provide visual aids to explain what happened.
- Exchange names, addresses, phone numbers, and insurance information with the other drivers. You will also want to get the names, addresses, and phone numbers of any witnesses who saw what happened.
- Write down the names of all the businesses that share the parking lot and those who own the parking lot itself.
- Note any facts surrounding the incident such as date, location, time, weather conditions and the condition of the parking lot.
- Contact your attorney if you are injured, the vehicle damage was extensive, or if the accusations of fault are becoming contentious.
When Police or Private Security Officers Come to the Scene
Depending on what happened, the police might not come to the scene of the accident. Additionally, many large parking lots have their own private security patrols to take care of the scene.
No matter who comes to the scene of the accident, whether it be police officer or private security officer, you will want to make sure you obtain a copy of any accident report that is generated in connection with the collision. Documentation like this can really come in handy if any claims are made by you or another.
Contact Your Insurance Company
After you have made any other necessary calls, you will need to make sure you contact your insurance company and notify them of the accident. Even if you believe that the collision was minor and that no repairs are needed, your insurance company needs to know. Additionally, some car damage or bodily injuries may not be obvious at first and the insurance company is less likely to help you if it has been a week or longer after the initial incident.