While car park accidents are usually less dramatic than high-speed collisions on the road well, at least we’d hope so! they can be complicated as interpreting fault goes. Whether it is in a multi-story car park or just a supermarket parking area somewhere in the UK, let’s see what you need to know about such incidents.
What to Do Immediately After Car Accident:
In case of a car park accident, the first things to do are: ensure there is no one hurt; call for medical assistance in case of injuries; document the scene of the accident; and exchange information with the other party.
How to Approach Other Party:
When interacting with the other party involved in the accident, it is necessary to stay calm and collected. It is not advisable to argue with each other, especially at the scene. The parties involved in the accident should also exchange details and allow the insurers or the lawyers to decide who was at fault.
Car Park Accident Causes:
Several factors may cause accidents in car parks.
Bad visibility: Blind spots and poor vision in car parks result in many collisions.
Bad maneuverability: The difficulty of moving around tight corners usually ends up in bumps and scrapes, especially if you are driving a larger or bulkier car.
Distracted driving: The driver may be preoccupied with looking for space rather than the traffic flowing around him/ her, which can result in a lack of attention and thus ultimately a collision.
Speed: At any speed, loss of concentration will result in an accident, whether you are looking for a parking space or absent-mindedly checking your receipt from the shops.
Understanding Traffic Regulations in Car Park:
Where no fault accident occurred in a traditional road accident is concerned, most insurers will claim that the at-fault party wasn’t respecting the highway code. And though there isn’t any different highway code to adhere to inside a car park, most car parks also have their own rules and regulations. These are used not only to help prevent accidents but also to determine faults when they do occur.
Signage and Markings:
Being densely packed with vehicles, car parks don’t have room for rows of endless traffic lights; that’s why car parks must be defined with signage and markings. When you’re in a car park, paying attention to these is important for safe navigation, and can impact fault determination in the event of an accident.
Speed Limits and Right of Way:
The expectation in car parks is to drive slowly and cautiously, not just for other cars but to protect pedestrians; this means understanding and respecting the right of way at crossings and junctions as shoppers and pedestrians pass.
Who’s Responsible for an Accident In A Car Park?
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Determining Who Is At Fault
Like any other accident, fault in a car park accident
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Shared Fault and Comparative Negligence
Sometimes, both parties may have some fault, which is comparative negligence, where respective different levels of fault tend to be taken into account when assessing liability and damages. An example would be where Party 1 was texting while driving but Party 2 was also to blame for not observing the car park’s signage.
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How to Make an Insurance Claim for a Car Park Accident
If you do plan on submitting a claim for a car park accident, the first step in this process would be to notify your insurer about the details of the accident and the evidence related to it. Photograph the scene, note down time and weather conditions, and contact witnesses. Most car parks, on the other hand, tend to have CCTV cameras installed to deter thieves, so you might even want to request a copy of the tape from that day when the accident occurred.
If it proves that it is not your fault for an accident, a claim will take place and this will count on your insurance company trying to reclaim the repair costs from the at-fault party. It can happen that the accident was your responsibility and, in that case, how to proceed with a repair in such circumstances is most likely out-of-pocket.
