candid-marten-36112h ago

Parking lot blind corner crash — other driver was on the wrong side of the aisle. Who's at fault?

So this happened to me last week and I'm still wrapping my head around it. I was in a busy shopping center parking lot, slowly creeping out from behind a concrete pillar at one of those uncontrolled T-intersections inside the lot. I'm talking barely moving — foot barely off the brake — because I've been through that lot a hundred times and I know you can't see anything until your hood is basically in the lane.

I finally nudge out enough to see left (clear) and start checking right — and out of nowhere a pickup truck is RIGHT there. Like, inches from my driver-side front corner.

Here's the thing that's driving me crazy: the truck wasn't even in the right half of the aisle. He was riding the center line — actually more to his left, which put him directly in the path of anyone pulling out from my side. There's zero reason for him to be over there. The aisle was empty behind him.

Damage on my end: whole front corner — bumper, fender, probably something structural underneath. Airbags didn't deploy but my neck has been stiff ever since and I went to urgent care the next day.

His insurance is already calling me. I haven't called them back yet. My gut says don't, but I genuinely don't know how fault gets divided in a parking lot situation like this — especially when he was on the wrong side.

Has anyone dealt with a shared-fault parking lot claim before? Did the other driver's lane position matter to the adjuster? Any insight would be huge right now.

9 replies

Most helpful first

patient-badger-87012h ago
Do not call his insurance back without talking to someone in your corner first. I cannot stress this enough. They are going to ask you leading questions designed to get you to say something like 'I should have seen him sooner' and that goes straight into the file against you. They're friendly on the phone for a reason.
- warm-heron-82612h ago
  I spent years handling exactly these kinds of parking lot files. Here's what actually happens: adjusters default to splitting fault in lot accidents because they're 'uncontrolled' — but that's not the full picture. If you can document that the other driver was out of his lane, that changes the math. Photos of the damage angles, skid marks if any, and the exact position of both vehicles relative to the aisle centerline are gold. Get someone to take measurements before anything moves or gets repaired. The lane position argument is legitimate and adjusters do consider it, but only if you give them something to look at.
genuine-badger-84012h ago
Please don't brush off the neck stiffness. Post-collision soft tissue stuff can feel manageable for days and then get significantly worse around the one-week mark as inflammation peaks. Make sure urgent care documented exactly what you told them and go back — or see your own doctor — if anything changes. Having a consistent medical record from day one matters a lot down the road.
- calm-tern-89012h ago
  A few practical things worth knowing: parking lots are governed by basic negligence principles in most states, not specific traffic statutes — but a driver's obligation to stay in their lane and travel predictably still applies. The fact that he was positioned abnormally in the aisle could be characterized as negligent lane use. If you pursue a claim, having photos, any witness info (did anyone see it happen?), and consistent medical documentation will all matter. Also, your own insurance company may go to bat for you in subrogation even if you file through them — that's worth asking about.
bold-elk-62312h ago
Almost the exact same thing happened to me at a warehouse store lot. The other driver was drifting wide on a turn and clipped my front end. His insurance tried to say I was 50% at fault for 'pulling into traffic.' I pushed back hard with the photos showing where his tires had tracked across the center of the aisle. Eventually they dropped my portion to 20%. Not perfect but way better than the opening offer. Document everything you can remember right now while it's fresh.
calm-owl-20512h ago
Three things: (1) Don't give a recorded statement to his insurer. (2) Get your car looked at by a shop you trust, not one they recommend. (3) If your neck is still bothering you in 48 hours, go back to a doctor — don't wait. Everything else can be figured out, but gaps in your medical timeline and gaps in your documentation will both hurt you later.
keen-kestrel-09912h ago
I'm not doubting you, but I'm curious — was there any kind of security camera coverage in that part of the lot? A lot of shopping centers have cameras on light poles or the building exterior facing the lot. That footage could either back up your account of his lane position completely or complicate things. Worth finding out fast because that stuff usually gets overwritten within days.
keen-elk-59712h ago
Honestly just reading this made my heart rate go up. I'm so sorry you're dealing with this on top of the physical stuff. The fact that you were barely moving and he was on the wrong side of the aisle seems so clearly not your fault — but I know insurance doesn't always work on logic. Please take care of yourself first and don't let them pressure you into anything before you're ready.
spry-sparrow-64512h ago
Not legal advice, but the lane position issue you're describing is a real factor in comparative fault analysis — it's not just 'two cars in a parking lot, split it.' The relative positions at impact, the geometry of the aisle, and each driver's ability to see and react all go into the picture. A lot of personal injury attorneys will do a free consult for exactly this kind of situation, and honestly even one conversation before you engage with his insurer could clarify a lot for you.