Whether you’re picking up groceries at your local supermarket, catching the LIRR to work, or just grabbing dinner at a popular downtown spot like Northport, parking lots are an inescapable part of everyday life on Long Island. And because we spend so much time driving through them, it’s easy to assume they’re relatively safe.

However, according to the National Safety Council, one in every five car crashes occurs in a parking lot or parking garage. Meanwhile, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Crash Records Center reports that 79,976 accidents occurred in Nassau and Suffolk Counties in 2024. Based on national trends, that translates to nearly 16,000 crashes in parking lots or parking garages on Long Island alone.

And despite some parking lot collisions happening at lower speeds than crashes on regular roadways, these accidents can still leave victims with expensive vehicle damage, serious injuries, and complex liability questions. 

Crashes in parking lots or parking garages can occur practically anywhere cars and pedestrians share the same, heavily trafficked space. Still, there are certain higher risk areas than others.

Some of the most common locations for collisions include bustling shopping mall lots, like Roosevelt Field in Garden City, Walt Whitman Shops in Huntington Station, and the Tanger Outlets in Deer Park. Moreover, grocery store lots, Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) station parking lots and garages, medical office and hospital parking facilities, school and university campuses, apartment complexes, and busy municipal lots that serve downtown areas like Huntington, Northport, and Port Jefferson all see numerous vehicles and pedestrians every single day.

In these environments, drivers are frequently circling as they search for parking spaces, backing out of spots, navigating tight lanes, and sharing limited travel space with pedestrians crossing the aisles. With so much happening in such a confined area, even a moment of distraction could cause an accident. 

Unlike crashes on typical roadways, collisions in parking lots occur where people, cars, shopping carts, and other obstacles are all competing for limited room. That’s why these accidents can happen in a variety of ways, and determining who’s responsible isn’t always that straightforward.

Two-Vehicle Collisions

Most similar to a common roadway accident is a two-vehicle collision. Drivers entering or exiting aisles, turning corners, or failing to yield at stop signs might collide with another car. These crashes typically occur when drivers are more focused on finding an open parking space than paying attention to surrounding traffic or lose focus due to other distractions, like texting.



In these scenarios, determining fault usually comes down to which driver had the right-of-way and whether traffic signs were followed.

Backing-Up Accidents

Next, one of the more common parking lot crash types involves vehicles backing out of parking spaces. Things such as limited visibility, blind spots, and driver distraction can all contribute to these collisions.

Pedestrian Accidents

And of course, parking lots aren’t just filled with cars; they’re also packed with people walking to and from businesses. So, drivers who don’t check for pedestrians crossing behind their vehicle or traveling outside of marked crosswalks can inadvertently cause severe injuries.

Children and older adults are particularly vulnerable, too. Kids are shorter, making them easier to miss in blind spots, while seniors can be more at risk due to slower walking speeds. 

In the wake of any car accident, one of the first questions that comes to mind is always, “Who’s responsible?” And that answer is entirely dependent upon how the crash transpired.

If one driver’s reckless actions caused the collision, whether that be due to speeding, failure to yield, backing up without looking, or driving while distracted, they may be found responsible for any resulting injuries and property damage. Or, if unsafe property conditions contribute to an accident, it’s possible for the owner or operator of the lot or garage to also be held liable.

Under New York premises liability law, commercial property owners have a duty to keep their parking lots and garages in a reasonably safe condition. This means they have to conduct regular inspections, address hazardous conditions, and warn visitors of any known dangers. Failure to address certain hazards like large potholes, poor signage, or inadequate lighting in commercial lots could lead to the property owner being held responsible if those conditions contributed to the accident. 

Unfortunately, many accidents aren’t always clear-cut. So it’s not uncommon for both parties to argue over fault, especially in cases of two-vehicle collisions and backing-up accidents.

Under New York’s recently enacted auto tort reform legislation, these disputes could now carry greater consequences for Long Island personal injury cases. New York State previously followed a “pure comparative” negligence system, in which individuals injured in car crashes could still recover some compensation even if they were found to be primarily at fault for their accident.

But as of May 2026, auto tort reform legislation signed by Governor Kathy Hochul switched New York State to a modified comparative negligence standard. This means that, if an injured person is found to be more responsible (or over 50% at fault) for a crash, then they cannot recover damages for pain and suffering.

This latest legislative shift makes preserving evidence and securing experienced legal counsel to help handle conversations with insurance companies more important than ever. 

While parking lot and garage accidents may happen at slower speeds, they’re often much more complicated than they appear. Questions over who had the right-of-way, the new modified comparative negligence standard, whether premises liability comes into play, and how to deal with insurance adjusters can all become overwhelming quickly.

But at Langella & Langella, we’ve spent more than four decades guiding victims across Nassau County and Suffolk County through their personal injury claims with confidence. Our team will investigate your accident, preserve critical evidence like surveillance footage, medical records, and property damage reports, and help you determine who can be held liable.

We’re committed to advocating for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a Free Consultation at (631) 348-9500. 

Boating accident claims can get complicated quickly, especially when multiple vessels, operators, rental companies, or insurance policies are involved. Fortunately, you don’t have to navigate the process alone.

At Langella & Langella, we know how overwhelming the aftermath of a boating accident on Long Island can be. While you focus on recovering, our team will handle the investigation, gather evidence, and identify all potentially liable parties.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a boating accident on Long Island, allow us to fight for you. Contact us at (631) 348-9500 for a Free Consultation.