TOP RATED HOUSTON PARKING LOT ACCIDENT LAWYER
Traffic on Houston roadways can be daunting. A driver must deal with all types of drivers, vehicles and attitudes. The potential to be injured in a traffic accident exists every day. Parking lots are no different. Although the speed of vehicles is typically much slower in a parking lot as opposed to a busy roadway, people still must contend with all types of drivers, vehicles and driving attitudes. What makes it potentially worse is pedestrians are now in the mix.
Parking lot accidents occur more than people think. In fact, at least 1 in 5 accidents happen in parking lots throughout the United States. That translates into about 50,000 accidents every year.
Most parking lot accidents are low speed and low impact, but they can also be deadly. Fox4 reported a hit and run driver ran over and killed a 3-year-old boy while walking with his family in a parking lot. The driver never slowed down.
TYPES OF PARKING LOT ACCIDENTS IN TEXAS
The following are the most common parking lot accidents in Texas:
- Two cars fighting for the same parking spot
- A car backing out of a parking spot
- Two cars backing into each other
- Rear end collisions
- Car driving forward into a parking lot travel lane
CUTTING THROUGH A PARKING LOT TO AVOID A TRAFFIC LIGHT
It happens often: A driver is confronted with heavy traffic and wants to turn right. Instead of waiting for the traffic light to turn and allow traffic to move forward, the driver cuts through a parking lot. The short-cut may pay off by allowing the driver to avoid further wait time in traffic, but this decision is illegal under Texas law.
Section 545.324 of the Texas Transportation Code provides as follows:
CROSSING PROPERTY. (a) An operator may not cross a sidewalk or drive through a driveway, parking lot, or business or residential entrance without stopping the vehicle.
(b) An operator may not cross or drive in or on a sidewalk, driveway, parking lot, or business or residential entrance at an intersection to turn right or left from one highway to another highway.
One purpose of this law is simply for safety. Parking lots are intended to be used by patrons of a business and the expectation is pedestrians will occupy it at any moment. Increased traffic with people in a rush is a potential recipe for disaster. People can be seriously injured, or worse, killed by impatient drivers driving through a parking lot to get on their way.
HOUSTON PARKING LOT ACCIDENT LAWYER
If you’ve been involved in a parking lot accident, call Hernandez Sunosky, LLP 24/7 at (713) 981-4100. Our lawyers will investigate the accident and hold all negligent parties responsible. We fight for maximum financial compensation to get your life back on track. It won’t cost you a dime to talk with one of our Top-Rated parking lot accident lawyers. Our legal consultations are always free.