I hope that you had a safe, happy Halloween! One big holiday down and two more to go until we get to 2014... we're right in the middle of the holiday season! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it's a time where we reflect on the things we are most thankful for... our families, health, friends, loved ones, and much more. Right after Thanksgiving, we have one of the biggest retail holidays of the year, Black Friday. While it is one of the biggest, it's also one of the most dangerous, especially in recent years.
We are only a few weeks away from the biggest shopping day of the year and if you are headed out in search of discounts there is a good chance you could be involved in an accident. Last year more than 35 million Americans visited retail stores on Black Friday, which means jam-packed parking lots. We need to be as safe as we can and drive carefully to avoid being involved in a car accident. That is one thing I would not be thankful for the day after Thanksgiving!
20% of all car accidents occur in parking lots and those numbers climb even higher during the holiday shopping season, so it pays to be careful. Statistics show that rear end collisions are the cost common. T-bone accidents occur as people back out of parking spots.
While the majority of parking lot accidents tend to be low speed collisions, they can still result in expensive damage and possibly push up your insurance rates. Here are a few tips on how to keep you and your car safe during the holiday shopping season, especially on the mother of all shopping days, Black Friday:
- Look carefully when backing out of a parking spot. Pay close attention to other cars as well as pedestrians.
- Keep an eye out for cars driving diagonally across the park lot.
- Get your Christmas cards in the mail early, as post office parking lots are a zoo during the holiday season.
- Shopping online means you can avoid the crowds as well as crowded parking lots.
- If your car is equipped with a back-up camera, be sure to use it.
- Lock your car and cover all visible packages, thieves love the holiday shopping season too.
Simply being aware and taking your time when driving during the holiday shopping season can keep you out of an accident. If you have any questions about your car insurance or have the bad luck to be involved in a fender bender this holiday season, give us a call. We are here to help!