‘Tis The Season For Parking Lot Accidents

State Farm Offers Tips For Driving and Parking this Holiday Shopping Season

Bloomington, Ill. (November 8, 2012) – You’ve just turned off a traffic-congested street and into the relative calm of a parking lot. Time to relax, right? Not really. During the holidays, parking lots at malls and supermarkets are packed, increasing the possibility of a fender bender. About 20 percent of all vehicle accidents happen in parking lots, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Though these low-speed collisions are rarely serious, they can be costly, time consuming, and aggravating.

State Farm® wants to remind you that if you hit, scrape or otherwise damage a parked car–or if you’re the victim of such an accident–don’t panic. Here are some steps you can take:

Buy Time to React

Parking lots are filled with obstacles and hazards, but often the biggest danger is other drivers. The best way to deal with these drivers is simple: Slow down. This buys you time to react and avoid a collision.

Expect Pedestrians

Parking lots are full of people coming from and going to their cars. Though pedestrians may not be looking out for you, it’s still your responsibility to look out for them.

Distance Yourself

Door dings and scratches are aggravating and hard to avoid. One way to reduce the risk of door damage is to park away from other vehicles.

If Your’re the Driver

Own up

Don’t drive away – if another customer or a surveillance camera spots you, you could be punished for a hit-and-run.

Track down the other car’s owner

Head into the store and speak to someone at the customer service desk. Describe the car to the employee, and have him or her announce it over the store’s loudspeaker.

Leave a note

If you’re unable to find the other driver, jot down basic information–your name, phone number and a brief explanation of the accident – and place it in a secure spot on the car. Write down the license plate number and take a photo of the damage if you have a camera with you.

Call the police

Depending on how extensive the damage is, you may want to involve the police. They’ll document the accident and they can help you find the other car’s owner.

If You’re the Victim

Contact your State Farm agent

Let him or her know what happened as soon as possible. Your agent will help you determine the next steps.

Take notes and record evidence

If the other driver is still around, jot down his or her name, address, phone number, driver’s license number and insurance company. Take pictures of the damage with your phone or a camera, if you have one on hand.

Remember that accidents will happen but it’s never too early to study up on safety, whether you’re planning a trip or holiday shopping. Driving slowly and being aware of your surroundings while in a parking lot are two of the biggest steps to keeping your holiday shopping experience safe and enjoyable.

About State Farm®

State Farm and its affiliates are the largest provider of car insurance in the U.S. and is a leading insurer in Canada. In addition to providing auto insurance quotes, their 17,800 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts – more than 79 million auto, home, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 43 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com or in Canada http://www.statefarm.ca.