Determining who is at fault for a crash can help people to request compensation afterward. A driver who breaks the law or does something negligent is typically responsible for the collisions that occur due to their mistakes.
Excessive speed, inadequate surveillance and impaired driving are among the leading reasons why people cause collisions. While many crashes involve two or more vehicles in motion, sometimes collisions involve one moving vehicle and one stopped or parked vehicle. In those cases, people might immediately assume that the moving vehicle is at fault for the crash, but a parked vehicle could also be at fault for a collision.
How do parked vehicles cause crashes?
There are two main ways in which a parked vehicle or its occupants could cause a collision. The first involves failing to check surroundings when exiting the vehicle. Those parking on city streets may need to exit the vehicle. They should check their surroundings carefully before opening the door and should exit the vehicle as quickly as possible. Dooring crashes often involve cyclists, but drivers may fail to notice approaching motor vehicles as well, leading to severe collisions.
The other scenario in which a parked vehicle may have caused a crash involves unsafe parking habits. If a driver parks just over the crest of a hill, around the blind edge of a curve or not fully out of the lane of moving traffic, approaching vehicles may not be able to stop or maneuver to avoid hitting the parked vehicle. In those cases, the person driving at the time of the crash may not technically be to blame for the collision that occurred.
Discussing a car crash with a legal professional can help drivers understand their rights. Those involved in motor vehicle collisions caused by parked vehicles may need help holding other drivers accountable for their unsafe choices, and that’s okay.