How Dangerous Are Parking Lots For Pedestrians?

Pomona is a shopper’s paradise, with both large stores and small boutiques dotting the city’s landscape. Before you shop, you must pay close attention to your surroundings. After all, you may have a higher chance of sustaining an injury in the parking lot than anywhere in the store.

Parking lots tend to be dangerous for pedestrians for three key reasons.

1. Impacts from motor vehicles

As motorists look for a prime parking spaces, they may inadvertently collide with you. You are likely at increased risk nowadays, as there is an alarming number of distracted drivers in parking lots across the country. Additionally, if a driver uses a backup camera without checking blind spots, you may sustain an injury in a back-over accident.

2. Injuries from slip-and-fall accidents

Because of snow, ice, rain and debris, parking lots are often one of the more dangerous parts of any shopping center. If the store’s owner does not clear away slip-and-fall hazards, you may suffer a life-altering injury. Likewise, if someone from the store does not warn you about potholes, you may be susceptible to injury in an improperly maintained parking lot.

3. Attacks from criminals

Even though theft from vehicles is common in parking lots, you may also be vulnerable to a personal attack. If the parking lot’s owner does not have effective security, you may fall victim to assault, robbery, battery or even murder. Furthermore, the FBI reports that almost 5% of hate crimes in the U.S. in 2019 happened in parking lots or garages.

If you sustain a serious injury in a criminal attack due to lax security, your life may never be the same again. Fortunately, you may be able to pursue financial compensation from the property owner who failed to secure the parking lot.