August means back-to-school runs, crowded carpool lanes, and jammed retail lots across metro Atlanta. Parking lots may feel “low speed,” but they’re one of the most dangerous places for pedestrians, students, and families—especially when drivers are distracted, reversing quickly, or cutting through lanes to beat traffic. If you’re hit on foot or injured in a parking lot collision, knowing how Georgia personal injury claims work can protect your health and your case.
Parking lot crashes spike in late summer because traffic patterns change, spaces are tight, and visibility is poor around tall SUVs and delivery vans. Drivers are often focused on finding a spot or juggling phones and navigation, not scanning crosswalks and cart lanes. At schools and shopping centers, temporary cones, ride-share zones, and construction areas create confusing routes that invite unsafe shortcuts. Add rain-slicked paint lines and evening pickups after extracurriculars, and risk climbs quickly for walkers and drivers alike.
In Georgia’s fault system, drivers must operate safely for conditions—even in privately owned lots. A motorist who backs without looking, fails to yield to a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk, speeds through lanes, or drives while distracted can be liable for resulting injuries. Property owners and management companies may share responsibility when poor lighting, faded markings, blocked sightlines, malfunctioning stop signs, or inadequate traffic control create foreseeable hazards. When delivery trucks or contractors stage equipment in walkways, their companies can also be on the hook.
If a parking lot incident occurs, put safety and documentation first, then preserve evidence before conditions change.
What to do after a parking lot crash
- Call 911 and seek medical care. Even “low-speed” impacts can cause concussions, neck and back injuries, and knee/ankle trauma.
- Document the scene. Take wide and close photos of vehicle positions, impact points, paint transfer, crosswalks, wheel stops, signage, lighting, puddles, and any blocked sightlines.
- Identify witnesses and cameras. Get names and numbers for bystanders and employees; note store-front cameras, parking deck CCTV, and dash-cams. Ask management in writing to preserve video.
- Request reports. Obtain the police report number and ask the business or school for an incident report.
- Preserve evidence. Keep shoes and clothing (they can show slip conditions), damaged personal items, and receipts from the visit.
- Avoid recorded statements. Don’t guess about injuries or fault with insurers until you’ve spoken with an attorney.
- Follow treatment plans. Consistent medical records are critical evidence in a Georgia injury claim.
Common injuries from parking lot collisions include whiplash and herniated discs, concussions and mild traumatic brain injuries, wrist/shoulder injuries from bracing a fall, knee and ankle sprains, fractures, and significant soft-tissue damage. In addition to emergency care, many people need imaging, physical therapy, injections, or surgery, along with time off work or school. Recoverable damages can include medical bills and future care, lost wages or reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and the cost to replace or repair personal property (glasses, phones, laptops, strollers). If a driver’s conduct was reckless—speeding through a pedestrian zone, texting while driving, or ignoring a stop arm—punitive damages may be available to deter similar behavior.
Insurance coverage often involves multiple policies. A negligent driver’s auto liability coverage typically applies to pedestrian injuries in a lot. If poor lighting or unsafe design contributed, a premises liability claim may involve the property owner’s or manager’s commercial policy. Injured pedestrians may also use their own medical payments coverage or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, even when they were walking instead of driving. Identifying all available coverage—and preserving video before it’s overwritten—can significantly increase the value of your claim.
Gunn Law Group moves quickly in August to secure CCTV footage, obtain incident and maintenance records, measure lighting and sightlines, and collect witness statements while memories are fresh. We coordinate with your medical providers to document the full scope of your injuries, calculate present and future losses, and push back against insurers who try to minimize “parking lot” cases. When multiple parties share fault, we pursue every responsible insurer to maximize your recovery.
If a back-to-school parking lot crash derailed your day—or your health—don’t handle it alone. Call the Big Gunn at 888-BIG-GUNN for a free case review with an Atlanta personal injury lawyer who knows how to win pedestrian and parking lot claims.
