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Every day, pedestrians are struck by vehicles in Arizona parking lots — at grocery stores, shopping malls, restaurants, and apartment complexes. If you've been hit by a car in a parking lot in Arizona, you may be wondering whether you have the same rights as someone injured on a public street. The short answer is yes — and in some ways, you may have even more legal options. Here's what our Pedestrian Accidents attorneys at Sher Law Group want you to know.

Parking Lots Are More Dangerous Than People Realize

It's easy to assume that low-speed parking lot environments are relatively safe. But the National Safety Council reports that tens of thousands of crashes occur in parking lots and garages every year, resulting in hundreds of fatalities and many more serious injuries. In Arizona's busy metro areas — Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa — packed parking lots create constant hazards: drivers distracted by phones, vehicles reversing without warning, poor sight lines, and pedestrians walking in unmarked areas.

Unlike intersections or crosswalks on public roads, parking lots often lack clear traffic control signals, making it harder to assign right-of-way at a glance. That confusion can work against you if a driver (or their insurance company) tries to argue you were at fault for the crash.

Do Arizona Pedestrian Laws Apply in Private Parking Lots?

This is one of the most common questions we hear. Arizona's pedestrian protection statutes — particularly ARS § 28-792 — require drivers to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. But most parking lots are private property, so those specific crosswalk rules don't always apply in the same way.

What does apply is the general duty of care every driver owes to other people. Under Arizona law, all drivers must operate their vehicles with reasonable care to avoid injuring others, regardless of whether they're on a public road or a private lot. A driver who speeds through a parking lot, fails to check their mirrors before reversing, or is distracted by a phone has likely breached that duty — and can be held liable for your injuries.

Additionally, ARS § 28-791 requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in any marked crosswalk. Many larger parking lots do have marked pedestrian crossings near storefronts and building entrances. If a driver struck you in one of those areas, the legal analysis becomes even more straightforward.

Who Can Be Held Liable When You're Hit in a Parking Lot?

One of the advantages of a parking lot accident claim is that liability may extend beyond just the driver who hit you. Depending on the circumstances, potentially responsible parties can include:

• The driver — for failing to exercise reasonable care while operating their vehicle
• The property owner or manager — if poor lot design, missing signage, inadequate lighting, or lack of pedestrian markings contributed to the accident
• A business tenant — if a delivery vehicle, employee, or business operation created the hazard
• A third-party contractor — such as a parking lot maintenance company responsible for striping and signage

Our car accident attorneys carefully investigate every angle of a parking lot collision to make sure all responsible parties are identified. Settling too quickly with just one party could leave significant compensation on the table.

Arizona's Comparative Fault Rules and How They Affect Your Claim

Arizona follows a pure comparative fault system under ARS § 12-2505. This means that even if you're found partially responsible for the accident — say, you were walking in an area without marked pedestrian lanes — you can still recover compensation. Your award is simply reduced by your percentage of fault.

Insurance adjusters know this and will often try to assign you a portion of the blame to reduce what they owe you. Having an experienced attorney in your corner makes a real difference here. We know how to push back against unfair fault allocations and present evidence that supports your version of events. You can learn more about how this works in our post on Arizona Comparative Negligence Law Explained.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

If you were hit by a car in a parking lot in Arizona, you may be entitled to recover damages for:

• Medical expenses — emergency care, surgery, physical therapy, future treatment
• Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and mental anguish
• Property damage (e.g., a damaged phone, bag, or mobility device)
• Permanent disability or disfigurement

The value of your claim depends heavily on the severity of your injuries, how clearly liability can be established, and the insurance coverage available. Parking lot accidents often involve drivers with standard auto liability policies, but property owner liability may be covered under a commercial general liability (CGL) policy — potentially opening up additional sources of recovery.

Steps to Take After Being Hit by a Car in a Parking Lot

What you do in the hours and days after a parking lot accident can significantly affect your claim. Here's what we recommend:

• Call 911. Even in a private lot, police can document the scene and file a report.
• Get medical attention immediately — even if you feel okay. Some serious injuries, like traumatic brain injuries or internal bleeding, don't show symptoms right away.
• Document everything. Take photos of your injuries, the vehicles involved, skid marks, the layout of the lot, signage (or the lack of it), and any security cameras you spot.
• Gather witness information. Bystanders can be crucial witnesses, and memories fade quickly.
• Do not give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver's insurance company without speaking to an attorney first.
• Contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Arizona's statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally two years under ARS § 12-542, but evidence can disappear — including parking lot security footage — within days.

Why Sher Law Group?

At Sher Law Group PLLC, we represent injured pedestrians throughout the Phoenix and Scottsdale area, and we understand exactly how insurance companies approach parking lot accident claims. We handle every case on a contingency fee basis — meaning you pay nothing unless we win for you. There's no upfront cost and no risk to getting started.

If you or someone you love was hit by a car in a parking lot in Arizona, don't assume the case isn't worth pursuing just because it happened on private property. Your rights as a pedestrian don't disappear when you step onto a parking lot. Our personal injury lawyers are ready to review your case for free and help you understand all of your options.

Call us today at 480-418-7437 for your free, no-obligation consultation. We're here to help.