Who Is Responsible for Feeder Lane Accidents in Parking Lots?
Parking lots are carefully designed to streamline traffic and minimize the amount of time customers spend trying to find a parking spot. People often fail to follow safe driving tips in this setting. Drivers are often caught using their phones, traveling at unsafe speeds, and ignoring right of way laws to try to get a perfect parking spot. Know the rules of feeder lanes to avoid an inconvenient and expensive parking lot crash.
When Cars in the Feeder Lane Have the Right of Way
The feeder lane is a parking lot lane that does not lead directly to a road or highway. Drivers must follow specific right of way guidelines while moving in a feeder lane. If you are driving in a feeder lane, you have the right of way over drivers that are pulling out of their parking spots. Drivers attempting to leave their parking spots must wait until the feeder lane is clear of obstacles before backing out or pulling through.
When Drivers in the Feeder Lane Must Yield
In most cases, those driving in the feeder lane must yield to people in the main roadway or thoroughfare. There are exceptions to this. Some businesses have stop signs in the main thoroughfare to allow those in the feeder lanes to exit quickly and safely. While standard right of way laws are helpful, it’s important to drive slowly and be aware of the signage in each parking lot. Unexpected stops often lead to accidents.
Preserving Evidence After a Feeder Lane Accident and What to Do Next
Perhaps a driver didn’t check the feeder lane and backed up into your car, or maybe an inattentive driver in the feeder lane struck you while entering the thoroughfare. Either way, it is crucial to gather the right information and collect evidence. A police report is often the most important piece of evidence in a car accident. Unfortunately, it is not an option in most parking lot accidents—since parking lots are typically private property, police officers do not file reports or issue citations.
When you report the accident to your insurance company, you should have as much evidence as possible to support your side of the story. Take pictures before moving your vehicle to a safe location. Communicate with the other driver to get their contact information and insurance information. If anyone else observed the accident, get their contact information and pass it on to your insurance company. Consider taking pictures of nearby signage to demonstrate the flow of traffic in the parking lot.
Working with an attorney can be helpful after a feeder lane accident, particularly if the other party tries to avoid taking responsibility for the crash. An attorney can negotiate on your behalf and seek compensation for your vehicle damages and bodily injuries.
Have You Been Hurt in a Feeder Lane Accident?
If you’ve been injured while entering or exiting a feeder lane, consider working with an attorney and filing a personal injury suit to seek compensation. At Hilton & Somer, LLC in Fairfax, we work to build the strongest case possible for each of our clients. Call us at (703) 560-0700 to schedule a consultation.
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