With cars pulling in and out of parking spots, plenty of pedestrians and stray shopping carts, it can make for quite a scene. Not to mention during inclement weather conditions such as a rainstorm or snowstorm, it can make navigating the lot a bit trickier.

While most parking lot accidents tend to be on the minor side, they sometimes aren’t being reported as often due to the fact parking lot accidents can increase your auto insurance rates.

What happens when you’re involved in a hit-and-run parking lot collision? Here’s what you need to know:

If your Vehicle was Hit

If you approach the parking lot and see that your vehicle has been hit by another vehicle, you won’t be found at fault. Some motorists may leave a note on your windshield with their contact information to help sort out the details. If they didn’t leave a note, you can either ask anyone in the parking lot if they witnessed your vehicle being hit and can provide you with any additional information or you can call the police and ask to file a report. Let your auto insurance company know about the situation as well so you can file a claim. Ontario drivers can be subjected to No-Fault insurance, where drivers are compensated for damages by their own insurance company, regardless of who is found at fault.

If you Hit a Vehicle

Remain calm and remain at the scene. If you leave, you can escalate the situation and potentially be charged with a hit and run. You might also feel guiltier if you leave without saying anything. Even if the amount of damage is minimal, it should still be reported. 
If you are having trouble locating the driver, you can leave a note for them on their windshield explaining what happened and providing your contact information. Notify your insurance company about the accident.

Additional Steps

Most of us carry our mobile devices with us wherever we go. You can use this to take pictures of the scene and document the damage. This can also help prevent fraud if the driver of the parked vehicle thinks you caused damage to the vehicle that was already there in the first place. You can also talk to any witnesses and ask for their contact information in case they need to make any statements.

Prevent Future Parking Lot Accidents

To protect yourself, passengers and other drivers you can help prevent future parking lot accidents by:

• Driving slowly.
• Parking away from other vehicles.
• Taking extra caution when backing out of a parking spot. Don’t just rely on a backup camera.
• Looking out for pedestrians.
• Checking your blind spots.
• Following traffic signs
• No distracted driving.

Make sure you’re covered in the event of an auto collision. Get a quote from Desjardins today and get the coverage that’s right for you.

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