Holiday Shopping Wrecks: What to Do If You’re Hit in a Parking Lot
Between Christmas shopping crowds and tight parking spaces, December is the #1 month for parking lot wrecks. If someone hits you, these steps can save your claim.
December turns every shopping center in Dallas–Fort Worth into a packed maze of cars, pedestrians, and rushed holiday errands. With crowded parking lots at malls, grocery stores, and big-box stores, accidents spike significantly this time of year, especially low-speed collisions that people assume “don’t matter.”
But parking lot crashes can still lead to real injuries, costly repairs, and complicated insurance disputes.
Here’s what you need to know if you’re hit while holiday shopping this season.
1. Who’s at fault in a parking lot accident?
Parking lots follow right-of-way rules, even though they’re private property.
Common fault scenarios:
- A driver backing out without looking
- A driver cutting across lanes to grab a parking spot
- A driver speeding through the main travel lane
- A driver not yielding at stop signs inside the lot
Texas law still applies:
The driver who fails to yield or acts carelessly is usually at fault, even in low-speed collisions.
Why this matters:
Insurers often try to argue shared fault in parking lot crashes, which lowers the payout. Clear evidence helps protect your case.
2. What if it’s a hit-and-run? (Happens all the time in December)
Holiday hit-and-runs spike every December for one reason:
People panic.
If you return to your car and find damage with no note left behind:
Immediately do the following:
- Take photos of every side of your vehicle
- Look for paint transfer, debris, or tire marks
- Ask nearby stores for surveillance footage
- Write down the time you were inside the store
- File a police report
If the other driver flees, your UM/UIM coverage or collision coverage may apply but only if you can show proof the wreck happened.
The key: Document it well and report it immediately.
3. Surveillance footage is your best friend
Most holiday shopping centers have cameras pointed at:
- Entrances
- Parking rows
- Cart corrals
- Storefronts
But here’s the catch:
Many stores delete footage within 24–72 hours.
That’s why you should:
- Request the footage the same day
- Ask for the exact camera number
- Get the manager’s name
- Keep a record of your request
If we represent you, we send a formal preservation letter so the footage isn’t erased.
4. Low-speed impact doesn’t mean “no injury”
Parking lot crashes often seem minor, but the body reacts differently.
Even at low speeds, drivers commonly experience:
- Neck strain
- Back strain
- Shoulder injuries
- Headaches
- Delayed-onset pain
During the holidays, many people ignore pain because they’re busy, then insurers later argue the injuries must have come from something else.
The truth:
Your body absorbs the force even when the bumper doesn’t show major damage.
Getting checked within 24–48 hours protects both your health and your claim.
5. Why insurance companies call these “low-impact cases”
The phrase “low-impact” is the industry’s way of:
- Undervaluing your injuries
- Minimizing medical treatment
- Offering low settlements
- Claiming the damage “wasn’t enough” to hurt you
This is one of the most common tactics we see in December claims.
But injuries are based on biomechanics, not body shop estimates.
With the right documentation, these cases can absolutely be won.
What to Do Immediately After a Parking Lot Wreck
Here’s your quick step-by-step guide:
- Take photos (vehicles, damage, plates, lot layout, skid marks, debris).
- Ask for surveillance footage right away.
- Call the police, even in private lots.
- Exchange information with the other driver.
- Get medical care within 24–48 hours.
- Avoid posting online about the wreck or your injuries.
- Call an attorney early, before giving any statements.
Final Thought: Don’t Let a Holiday Parking Lot Wreck Ruin Your Season
You can’t control distracted shoppers, congested lots, or rushed drivers but you can protect yourself after a collision.
And you don’t have to navigate the insurance process alone.
At Garcia Legal Group, we help families across DFW get clarity, care, and the compensation they deserve after holiday-season accidents.
If you’ve been hit in a parking lot this December, call us today.
Atalia Garcia. Machell Williams
People, Not Case Numbers.
