Who has the right of way in a parking lot?

Twice this weekend I was almost t-boned in two different parking lots.
If one car is driving in the perimeter (in the parking lot but not within the rows of parked cars) and another car is coming out of an aisle of parked cars, who has the right of way?
This happens often especially in one of these lots because there is a traffic light directly from the parking lot onto a very busy street and cars just race through there to be the first in line for that light for some reason. It makes me especially nervous because if there is a collision in a parking lot it's private property so the police can't do anything about it.

FYI, a friend of mine was hit by a commercial vehicle who was speeding through the parking lot with his two little kids unbuckled and w/o car seats. The police were called to the scene and the driver wasn't hit with any violations because the parking lot belonged to the owner of the building (a strip mall) and it wasn't a public street.

Gabriel

Police can write tickets on private property (in parking lots).

In your friends incident the officer was just being lazy and didn't want to write up a report. The officer probably couldn't prove who was at fault and didn't want to spend time writing a report that was inconclusive.

In answer to your first question. The vehicle on the "through street" has the right of way, but remember: not getting into an accident is better than getting into an accident that isn't your fault.

Another situation that is common in a parking lot is when two through streets intersect with no pavement markings or signs for yielding right of way. In this scenario the vehicle on the right has the right of way.

terrified by spiders

Remember that scene in the Stephen King movie where the actress named something Bates challenged another driver for a parking space, and would up ramming the other car. The other driver asked something like "how can you do that?" and Bates yells, "Because I have better insurance than you do."

jommik

Bigest car

Child of God

I had an accident in a parking lot once the guy wasn't paying attention and he ran into me. He was not given a ticket because it is considered private property but was cooperative and had his insurance fix my vehicle. So parking lot or not always be sure to get the other party contact info, insurance info, license plate # etc for your safety and records.

logicalgal

Bottom line here..............you never have "THE RIGHT OF WAY", unless it's given to you.........who needs the inconvenience, the resulting damage, injury, time off work, and costs.......
You can't control what others do while driving, but you CAN control what you can do to prevent a crash........in parking lots......park further from the mall/store entrance where there are fewer vehicles parked and traffic isn't so congested.
Be aware of the vehicles around you at all times, and never assume anything. Parking lots cause a lot of frustration for a lot of drivers. They zig, they zag to find their desired space.....they back up and others back up at the same time......they are preoccupied with their next destination and time factor............we are dealing with the issues of "BEING HUMAN"................go shopping early in the day, get it done and get out of there before the masses arrive is my solution to reduce the stress.
Where I live there are City Bylaws governing the speeds in Parking Lots, or there is a posted speed when you enter that parking lot.

Charles Scalera

I parked in a parking stall in front of a store and turn off my car. I looked next to me before getting out and there was no vehicle in the stall. I open my car door and stepped out of my car and a truck pulled in very fast and hit my car door and almost hit me. The only reason I did not get hit was because I stepped backwards. My insurance company thought it wise that I go to arbitration. They felt from the pictures taken of the damages to both cars that I was not at fault. The person who hit me first may the statement that he was parked and I open my door into his car. But after talking to his insurance company he changed his statement because what he said could have not possibly happened due to the fact his damages were to the front of his truck and the way the parking stall are setup on a slant if he was parked I would have hit the back rear of the truck with my door. (The law supposed to be based on the integrity of the person and their statements). Anyhow it went to arbitration and they found me 50% at fault and my insurance company will have to pay for his damages. I don’t get it I was parked in a parking stall at store, engine turn off and out of my car and he pulled into the stall next to me and runs into my car. Arbitrator found me 50% at fault and issued payment to the one who hit me???????????? Well I am going to get this posted all over to show the injustice and incompetence of this arbitrator. If anyone knows where I can post, call or get help in this matter please let me know. Where I am from the law states that : Ref. Pg. 69 126. When you approach a vehicle that has just stopped in a parked position, you should: 1. Assume that the driver will open the door as you approach. (This the correct answer and this is not in a parking stall this is in a street. Yet the oncoming driver needs to be cautious. Again this is not dealing with someone parked in a parking stall) 2. Speed up. 3. Slam on your brakes. 4. Assume that the driver will wait till you pass before opening his door.

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