Pedestrians need to be mindful of their safety because drivers can be unpredictable. Most safety experts recommend that people cross the road at marked locations and ensure that drivers can see them before they enter the street.
In some locations, pedestrians may assume that drivers should be aware of their presence. For example, when a person needs to cross a parking lot to return to their vehicle or enter a store, they assume that drivers are carefully watching for them and others on foot. After all, parking lots by their very nature require that cars and people on foot cross paths with each other.
Unfortunately, parking lot pedestrian crashes have become a much more pressing safety concern due to changes in driver behavior and the design of modern vehicles.
Parking lot distraction is a widespread issue
Distraction has always been a safety concern for those in motor vehicles and those sharing the roads with motor vehicles. Conversations with passengers, rubbernecking when there are crashes nearby and meals eaten at the wheel can all be very distracting for motorists.
However, the rise of smartphones has contributed significantly to the overall risk for everyone on the road. In fact, distracted driving related to mobile devices is a major issue in parking lots as well. A larger percentage of motorists admit to distraction in parking lots as compared to those driving on public roads. Lower speeds and fewer moving vehicles might give drivers a false sense of confidence when they decide to check into social media, reply to a text message or read an email.
Distracted drivers in parking lots may fail to check for pedestrians before turning a corner or backing out of their parking spaces. The height of their vehicle and the size of the windows can worsen the risk for pedestrians by creating blind spots at the front and back of the vehicle. Even at lower speeds, a crash where a vehicle strikes a pedestrian could have devastating consequences.
When pedestrians sustain injuries because drivers make unsafe choices in traffic, they may have the right to take legal action. Filing an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit can help those hurt in pedestrian collisions cover their medical expenses and other losses.