Winding your way up through a parking garage, you become very aware of how little space you have. If you cut a corner just a bit too tight, you could hit a parked car.
Worse yet, you have no room to avoid a crash. Say another car comes flying around the corner at much too high of a rate of speed. You can’t dodge out of the way. Say someone backs out of their spot without looking, as you’re going by. You can’t pull the wheel and swerve around them. An accident is all but inevitable.
These types of accidents happen many times every day. Some statistics looking at parking lots and parking garages, for instance, claim there are around 50,000+ such crashes each year. Every time you use a parking garage, even if you drive perfectly, you risk being hit by other drivers on the way up or the way down.
Pedestrian accidents happen often, too
Beyond that, there is the risk of being hit while you walk to or from your car. Drivers could be in a hurry as they rush to get the last open spot, and they may not look for you. Even if there’s a designated crosswalk for you to use, they may not stop and let you go by. In such a small space, speeding is amplified and aggressive driving is more dangerous, yet the competitive nature of a packed garage can cause people to drive this way.
If you get hit in your car, it will at least be at a low speed, but you could still suffer from head injuries, broken bones, whiplash and soft-tissue injuries. If you get hit while walking through a parking garage, you could be severely injured. Even at low speeds, pedestrian accidents can cause serious spine and neck injuries, traumatic brain injuries and even death.
What are your options after an injury?
Have you been hurt in an accident caused by another driver in a parking garage? If so, it is very important that you understand how to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and much more.
