It is not uncommon for pedestrians to be injured or killed in parking lot accidents. Drivers who are distracted, fail to yield, perhaps while driving too fast, or drivers who do not see pedestrians passing behind their cars, may be involved in accidents that injure vulnerable pedestrians.
One study, from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Center For Statistics and Analysis, said there are over 5000 injuries to pedestrians from cars pulling/backing out of parking spaces annually and that children are at highest risk of being injured or killed as pedestrians in parking lots.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Not-in-Traffic Surveillance 2007 — Children
Although many think that parking lots fall outside of traffic laws, like streets, parking lots have right of way rules that drivers are expected to follow. Drivers in thoroughfares – the wider lanes that feed from streets – typically have the right of way, whereas drivers in feeder lanes – between rows of parked cars – are expected to yield to pedestrians. That said, drivers of all lanes must yield to approaching traffic and pedestrians, exercising common sense and a duty of care to prevent accidents from occurring.
When a driver disregards right away rules, drives recklessly or distracted, or is under the influence of alcohol or drugs and causes a pedestrian accident in a parking lot, they will likely be liable for damages which include damage to property and damages for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering when people are injured. When you or a loved one is injured in a parking lot pedestrian car accident, contact the West Des Moines personal injury lawyers at Loney & Schueller, LLC at 515-416-4006.