Every year, the typical shopping rush for holiday gifts comes on Black Friday, also known as the day after Thanksgiving, when stores offer consumers lower prices on many or all of their products. Along with the droves of shoppers come more than enough miami car insurance claims.According to Progressive Insurance’s data, this particular day of the year incurs more accidents in parking situations than any other day. The incidents can range from a fender bender to something more serious like a break-in.
For 2011’s Black Friday, Progressive has the following data:
- When compared to the Friday two weeks prior to Black Friday and the second Friday after, parking-related claims were 36.5% greater in occurrence
- From 2010 to 2011, the number of parking claims doubled
- Parking situations accounted for 25% of the year’s accident claims
- 13% of auto claims arose from one person rear-ending another driver
- Coming in at 11% were drivers bumping into unmoving, parked cars
- Lastly, at 8%, were claims caused by drivers backing into someone else’s car
A Progressive claims customer service process leader, Maria Cashy, advised that “protecting your car can be as easy as parking it a little further back in the parking lot, away from the commotion of the store. That extra one hundred feet could save your car some serious damage. Of course, if it’s dark outside, park wherever you feel safest, like a well-lit area.” For people that like to be the first to purchase something this may not be the easiest advice to follow but it could help with avoiding headaches with your car.
Cashy also recommends practicing caution as you maneuver your car through full/busy parking lots by using your eyes, ears and mirrors to be fully aware of your surroundings. If you are not alone, ask your passenger(s) for their assistance with keeping an eye out for situations such as a car backing out of a parking space or people randomly popping out from between cars to keep from colliding with either car or pedestrian.
One more piece of advice is to drive slower. Some parking lots may post speed limit signs but doing so on your own could help you avoid a collision with a car that is going too fast, cutting across a part of the parking lot, or doing something else that could be considered reckless.
Black Friday has come and gone for 2012 but the holidays are not over and many people still have a lot of shopping to do. The number of drivers may not be the same but it would still be wise to be careful. Should you have any questions about how much coverage you have and what you are or are not covered for if/when you find yourself involved in a parking lot accident, please give us a call at 305-270-2100.
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At Filer Insurance, Inc., we have been serving Miami and South Florida since 1919. We specialize in miami car insurance as well as miami home insurance, miami life insurance and miami business insurance. Please give us a call, visit our website or come by our office for a free miami car insurance quote.
