AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, car parks are places of motorised chaos, and not much better for the rest of the year either! They are also high risk zones, with distracted pedestrians, frustrated drivers, errant shopping trolleys and, inevitably, collisions occur.
You may be surprised to learn that car parks are not officially classified as “roads” and this can be where many problems arise. Because they aren’t roads, there are technically no intersections. However, if two vehicles approach each other at the end of a row, each must comply with any give way or stop signs. Where there are no signs, each driver is required to exercise due care.
Trying to enforce what you may think is your “right of way” may result in you paying damages if a collision ensues, because the damage may be attributed to your actions and intent.
The most common cause of damage in car parks is caused by drivers backing out of parking spaces and hitting another vehicle travelling down the row behind them. Because the onus is on the driver reversing to make sure the lane is clear before proceeding, he or she will be held entirely responsible.
Drivers ignoring lane markings or directional signs will also find themselves in a spot of bother. While not official, in the case of a collision, drivers who have disregarded signposted instructions will be held more liable than the other driver who was obeying the instructions.
As with any collision, if damage is estimated to exceed $1000 or involves any personal injury, the incident must be reported to police.
seniordriveraus.com recommends seeking legal advice before taking action. Information contained in this article is for guidance only.