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Parking lot accidents are the most underestimated source of personal injury claims in California — they account for nearly 20% of all collision claims, and most occur on private property where insurance fault rules differ from public roadways. Whether you were rear-ended in a stopped row, T-boned in an aisle, or hit while walking through a lot, California Vehicle Code §§22106 (unsafe backing) and 22107 (lane change) still apply on private property under CVC §21001. Settlements range from $5,000 for minor scrapes to $1,000,000+ for serious pedestrian-strike or shopping cart-injury cases. Under California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1 you have 2 years to file. Call Sky Law Group 24/7 at (844) 475-9529. Hablamos Español. Who Is at Fault in a Parking Lot Accident? Parking lot fault analysis follows familiar rules with one twist: police often won’t write a report because it’s private property. Common scenarios: Backing collisions (CVC §22106) — Driver backing out is almost always at fault. Vehicle in the through-lane has the right of way Two cars backing simultaneously — Shared fault, typically 50/50 Pulling out of a parking spot into through traffic — Driver exiting the spot is at fault Lane / aisle violations — Driver violating directional arrows or pavement markings is at fault Stop sign / yield sign violations at internal lot intersections Pedestrian strikes — Driver almost always at fault; pedestrians have right of way in marked and unmarked lot crosswalks Shopping cart impacts — Store may bear fault for failing to retrieve carts […]