“On average at least 60,000 are injured and 500 or more die in the 50,000 plus crashes in parking lots and garages every year”
Many people enjoy the chaotic scavenger hunt that the media has dubbed "Black Friday." Black Friday is a day of deep discounts at retailers but it also a day of pure chaos on the roads. Traffic around major retailers and shopping centers is usually backed up. Parking spaces are impossible to find. Drivers are anxious and frustrated because they cannot get into the stores to shop. Shoppers are also tired because they have been up to catch the early deals. Drivers and pedestrians are also distracted by their cell phones and other devices. These drivers and pedestrians have also become complacent based on the false assumption that parking lots are safe. All of these circumstances lead to a very dangerous situation for drivers and pedestrians.
The National Safety Council has researched parking lot crashes. The Council determined that one in five car crashes happen in parking lots. The researches noted that the leading cause of the crashes is distracted driving and walking. This is due to the fact people have a false sense of security in parking lots due to the slow speeds most people are traveling at. However, even a crash at slow speeds can have tragic results.
The council noted that that on average 500 people die in parking lot and garage crashes every year. Approximately 60,000 people are injured in parking lot crashes every year. The council also determined there are roughly 50,000 car crashes in parking lots and garages a year. These are surprising and scary statistics that I ask you to keep in mind when you think about using your cell phone in the parking lot.
If you or someone you know have been injured by a vehicle in a parking lot please call me at 503.224.1658 to discuss your case. Ross Law LLC offers free personal injury consultations. It is usually imperative to retain a lawyer if you have been injured in a parking lot, because insurance companies make "low ball" offers. Please note Ross Law is not affiliated with the National Safety Council. Also please note the statistics have not been vetted by Ross Law or any attorney at Ross Law. If you have questions about them please contact the National Safety Council. Lastly this post is not to be considered legal advice. Please contact a personal injury attorney if you have been injured in a crash, and do not rely solely on this post.