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Many people think of fender benders or parking lot accidents as not being a big deal. However, these incidents can lead to both injuries and property damage. Being involved in any kind of car accident in Florida can be stressful, and you need to know what to do when they happen.
You have responsibilities in the aftermath of a crash, and it is essential you comply with the law so you can avoid legal troubles. Just as importantly, you want to ensure you are able to get the compensation you deserve for any injury or property damage expenses you incur.
Florida is a Busy Place
Anyone who drives in Florida knows the roads are often crowded year-round. The Sunshine State is a major tourist destination. Locals and visitors alike have to share the roadways and parking lots. Many out-of-state drivers are unfamiliar with our roads, which can lead to accidents.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports that there were over 395,000 crashes in 2023, including 64,097 parking lot accidents, which caused 33 fatalities, 3,106 confirmed injuries, and 6,025 possible injuries.
Minor accidents occur daily, with most resulting only in property damage. However, we know how important your vehicle is to you. The most common minor parking lot accident causes include:
- Backing into a parked car
- Backing out without checking for cars or pedestrians
- Failing to slow down for brake lights
- Sliding into parked vehicles due to wet conditions
- Misjudging the distance between vehicles in a parking lot
- Filing to stop for cars backing out
- Driving too fast
Pedestrian Accidents in Parking Lots
Pedestrian accidents are more common in smaller parking lots and residential parking lots. Pedestrians 75 and older are more commonly struck by drivers backing out of parking spaces than any other age group, likely due to their slower walking pace or reaction times. However, this does not mean the older adult is at fault.
Pedestrians ages 20 to 24 are more likely to be hit in forward-driving parking lot accidents, at least partly due to distracted walking. However, drivers bear greater responsibility for avoiding accidents.
If you were injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, Farah & Farah is here for you. We’ve relentlessly fought for the right to compensation for our clients and their families since 1979.
What Are Your Responsibilities?
You need to make sure nobody is hurt first. Some car accident injuries are subtle, and you may not know you are injured until hours or days later. For any car accident injuries, seek medical attention as soon as you know about them.
The law outlines our obligations when it comes to car accidents and makes no distinction between severities. When you are in a crash, you must stop your vehicle and stay in the scene. If you can do so safely, pull your vehicle out of traffic. You must make sure the police know about the accident, and it is in your best interest to ensure they come to the scene to fill out an official accident report. Find out how to obtain a copy of this report.
- Not reporting an accident in Florida is a crime that could lead to jail time and fines.
- The only time you have the option not to make a report is if the damage involves only you and your property. As soon as there is another person’s property involved or someone else is hurt, you must report the incident.
- Document everything with a camera. Most phones have cameras now, so take pictures of the whole scene, including any damage to all vehicles, what caused the accident, and the surroundings.
Having this evidence and an official police report protects you from the other side saying there was more damage later and hitting you or your insurance company up for more money than they deserve. Since Florida is a no-fault state, most drivers have a minimum of $10,000 in personal injury protection and $10,000 in property damage liability. Each driver will file Florida personal injury claims with their own insurance providers. For property damage, a claim will be made to the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
