Four people were recently injured in Towson  when a silver Lexus SUV with a handicapped tag smashed into a Starbucks coffee shop after apparently jumping a curb in the shop’s parking lot. The accident, which took place on York Road around 10 a.m. on March 21, caused only minor injuries to shop patrons, and the occupants of the vehicles were not injured in the incident.

While there was no structural damage to the building, a tow truck operator had to remove the vehicle from the store, forcing it to be closed until it could be properly inspected for safety. Authorities did not identify the driver, but did say that she was a woman in her 70s.

Parking lot crashes are common

While police were not immediately able to determine what caused the accident, accidents such as these frequently involve elderly drivers. In many parking lot crashes, the driver accidentally hits the accelerator pedal when they mean to step on the brakes. That kind of mistake is more likely among drivers whose reflexes are not as quick as they used to be or who are impaired by medical conditions that more commonly affect seniors.

These types of accidents often cause injuries to those inside of stores and buildings as well as pedestrians, drivers and the car passengers themselves. Luckily, most of these crashes occur at a relatively low speed, but the injuries sustained by those unlucky enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time can still be severe.

It is important to always be aware of your surroundings in parking lots and to never let your guard down while parking your vehicle. Drivers in parking lots should be as careful and focused in as they are on the highway.

If you have been injured in an auto accident in Charles County or the surrounding areas, consult the experienced La Plata personal injury lawyers at Mudd, Mudd & Fitzgerald, P.A.