What To Do if You Are Involved in a Parking Lot Accident in Alberta

Parking lot accidents in Alberta are surprisingly common. Suppose you went grocery shopping and parked your car in the mall’s parking lot. Now while coming out of the lot, an unattentive driver hits your vehicle, and your car is damaged. In simple words, you are in an accident. 

Just like you, many drivers in Alberta are unsure about the next step that they have to take after such an accident. Most parking lots are private properties, and therefore, the rules and regulations of traffic and highways are not valid. Thus, you must know specific tactics you can use to determine the fault.

This article will guide you on what to do if you are involved in a parking lot accident in Alberta. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for affordable insurance in Calgary, you can learn more and compare quotes by clicking the following link: https://www.surex.com/Insurance/auto-car/calgary.

Common situations of parking lot accidents in the province of Alberta

Here are some common situations that constitute a parking lot accident:

• You hitting a parked vehicle, a person or a cyclist
• A vehicle coming in contact with an immovable object like a column or a ticket counter
• If your vehicle hits another vehicle while both are backing up

What’s next after you happen to get into a parking lot accident in Alberta?

First, you must assess whether anyone is seriously injured. If there is a severe injury, you must immediately visit the nearest hospital.

But if there is no injury and it is a mild accident, then communicate with the other motorist. You need to exchange information like his car registration details, insurance details, and driving license details. Once you have obtained all the essential information, immediately contact your insurance agent to file an insurance claim.

Whether it is your fault or not, contacting your insurance company is mandatory to inform them about the accident and any type of injury. After that, take your damaged vehicle to any government-registered garage to get an estimate of the amount of damage. If it is more than $2000, you must submit a report with the local authorities.

How to determine which driver is at fault for a vehicular accident in Alberta

Identifying who’s at fault in a parking lot accident in Alberta can be pretty tricky as it depends on numerous factors.

50-50 fault for each driver

For example, if you were involved in an accident with another vehicle while you both were backing up, you will be considered at fault. This is known as a 50-50 fault for each driver.

At-fault accident

On the other hand, if you hit a correctly parked vehicle while driving through the parking lot, you’re at fault. This is known as an at-fault accident.

Third-party liability / faulty in parking lots

Apart from 50-50 fault or at-fault accidents, there is another type of accident known as third-party liability. This case is applicable if the damage is caused due to the negligence of other parties, like the parking lot owner.

For example, there can be unmaintained pavements and risky areas in the parking lot, which the owner is aware of. So if an accident is caused due to negligence, the parking lot owner will be partially responsible for the mishap.

Hit and run cases in Alberta

There can be two scenarios in the case of hit-and-run cases:

1. Someone Else hits your car and runs away

Regardless of the amount of damage to your vehicle, if a person hits your car and runs off, that is, if he cannot be identified, then your collision coverage will pay for the damage. However, despite having collision coverage, you must pay out the agreed deductible.

Your insurer will consider it an uninsured auto claim, assuming that the hit-and-run driver did not have car insurance.

2. If you run away after hitting someone

If you accidentally hit another vehicle in a parking lot, it is always advised to sort out the issue with the car owner or at least leave your contact info on paper.

However, if you run away and are caught in footage, it will be considered “Failure to remain.” In such a case, you might be penalized with a fine of $400 to $2000, depending on the amount of damage.

In addition to this, your driving license might be revoked, and your current insurance premium will rise by a significant amount.

Simply put, the fault will be determined by the type of accident. Therefore, you should share every single bit of information while describing the accident. Additionally, you are always advised to attach pictures of damages to both cars if possible.

Will a parking lot accident impact your driving record?

Whenever you are involved in a parking lot accident in Alberta, it will be considered a regular traffic accident. If you have filed a police report, it will be added to your driving record, and therefore, your insurance premium will increase. This is why most drivers do not report these types of accidents.

Will your car insurance cover the parking lot accident?

Your car insurance policy may cover the damages your car might sustain in a parking lot accident. All in all, it depends on the type of coverage that you have. This is why it’s important to thoroughly go through the policy to avoid any troubles in the future.

So if you are in an accident, immediately let your insurer know. If you are at fault and do not have collision insurance, you must pay for the damages.

What to do if you are involved in a parking lot accident in Alberta — Endnote

Even though parking lot accidents are comparatively lesser than regular traffic accidents, they will still affect your driving record. Thus, you must be vigilant while parking your car or backing up. 

Be responsible, emphatic, and vigilant to avoid any unfortunate incidents. Even after that, you end up violating the parking lot accident rules in Alberta; make sure to reach out to the police and your insurer instead of fleeing the site.

Best of luck with your future driving endeavours!