Parking lots can be treacherous territory.
In fact, tens of thousands of crashes and hundreds of deaths occur each year in parking lots, according to the National Safety Council. The good news is that your auto policy extends to parking lots. Just check in with your local agent to make sure your coverage limits provide you with optimal protection for the range of potential parking lot scenarios.
Here are key steps to take to ensure that a fender-bender (or worse) doesn’t become a costly headache.
How to Avoid a Parking Lot Accident
- Take it slow. Proceed with caution. Driving slow and using extra caution when turning or backing up are ways to stay safe.
- Correctly set your side mirrors. Move the side mirrors out, or consider adding blind spot mirrors to your side mirrors.
- Embrace technology. Many cars now come equipped with a standard backup camera, and many vehicles now come with motion detection, cross-traffic alerts, and parking assist systems. ()
- Keep your distance. Avoid parking too close to other cars in the parking lot.
- Watch out for stray carts. Gusty winds can send shopping carts zooming…right into your car.