How to handle a car accident in a parking lot

Driving in a parking lot may seem like a breeze, but thousands of collisions occur in these lots and parking structures each year. Some estimates report that nearly 50,000 crashes occur in lots annually, and hundreds of people lose their lives in what most people would assume would be fender benders.

You need to be just as vigilant in a parking lot as you are on the freeway. Although parking lot car accidents would seem minor, you need to follow certain steps to ensure you get through this time all right.

Call the police even though they may not come

Similarly to any other car crash, you want to call law enforcement. However, you need to be ready for the possibility an officer may not come. The police will surely respond to a collision on a street because removing the vehicles from the vicinity is critical to public safety. In a parking lot, a crash does not create the same sense of urgency. A police report will help tremendously if this incident goes to court, but if an officer does not come, then there is not much you can do.

Take detailed information

Since the police may not respond, it is paramount you take detailed notes of the accident on your own. You should write down the other driver’s insurance and contact information. You will need to provide yours, too. Since the collision occurred in a parking lot, there is a good possibility there will be several bystanders who witnessed the accident. Talk to them and ask them if they would provide testimony about the event. You also want to make note of any video cameras, and get in touch with people who would have access to that footage.

See a doctor

Although you may think a slow-speed collision will not result in any injuries, you can still sustain wounds. Whiplash can occur even at slow speeds, so always get a full diagnosis for insurance purposes.