Tips to Help You Stay Safe in Busy Parking Lots

Here are some precautions you should take while navigating through a parking lot.

Even at their best, parking lots can be a bit tricky to maneuver. However, during the holiday season, parking lots can be downright chaotic as drivers compete for limited spots and contend with streams of pedestrians. Every year, there are over 50,000 accidents in parking lots and structures and, unsurprisingly, the number of these types of claims increase sharply on Black Friday and remain high throughout the holiday season. Don't let parking lots get the best of you this season; take these precautions to ensure your safety.

• Be Aware as You Walk

When you exit your car and make your way through a parking lot, put your phone away and make sure you are paying attention to your surroundings. Walking while distracted increases your chance of walking behind a car that is backing up, or suddenly walking into a busy lane. Both of these things obviously increase your chances of getting hit by a car. Additionally, not paying attention to your surroundings also slows you down, holding up the flow of traffic and irritating the other drivers.

• Back Up Slowly

Now that most cars come equipped with backup cameras, many drivers can pull out of parking spots with confidence. However, it's important to remember that backup cameras do not capture every detail. When backing up, do not rely only on your camera. Make sure you are also looking over your shoulder and scanning your blind spot. Pull out slowly to ensure that you do not hit a pedestrian or an oncoming vehicle.

• Hide Your Belongings

In addition to being a popular site for auto accidents, parking lots are also a common site for car break-ins and thefts. Oftentimes, criminals walk through parking lots to scope out cars that have a lot of shopping bags or valuable items inside. To reduce your chance of becoming a target, make sure you store shopping bags in your trunk or beneath your seats so they are not in clear sight. Additionally, take valuable items with you every time you exit your vehicle to ensure that they are not stolen.

Keep in mind that if you are involved in an auto accident or a car-theft incident, you need to contact the police immediately. While it seems like a hassle, filing an official police report will assist you when it comes time to file your insurance claim. Do you have additional questions regarding your auto insurance this season? If so, contact the experts at Scavone Insurance in White Plains, New York for assistance today.