Five Things You Can Do When You Park To Avoid Dents

A significant portion of fender benders occurs in parking lots. In fact, statistics show that one in five accidents occurs in a parking lot. Unfortunately, it's not always as easy as it should be for other drivers out there to avoid hitting your parked car.

When you leave your car parked in a parking lot, it is perhaps at its most susceptible to dents. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to minimize the chances that you'll get a dent when parked. Keep the following tips in mind:

Don't park close to other cars when you can avoid it.

When you're surrounded by other vehicles, you're obviously more likely to experience a dent. Though parking a little farther away may mean you have to walk more, it is a good tactic for avoiding dents.

Don't park around loose objects, especially on a windy day.

Loose objects like signage, shopping carts, and roadway debris can easily strike your car and cause a dent. There's nothing protecting your vehicle from windblown objects when it's parked and you're not there.

If you see a loose shopping cart or other object in a parking lot, don't leave it there to potentially strike your car. Also, you should secure any objects in your garage or driveway to avoid dents when you're parked at home.  

Take your time when loading and unloading your vehicle.

A lot of dents happen simply because motorists are in a hurry. Take the time to slowly open your car doors so you don't strike neighboring cars or put a dent in your own door. Also, avoid carrying heavy and bulky loads around your car all by yourself. You'll be more likely to damage your vehicle's body if you're hurrying to handle a big loading or unloading job all by yourself. 

Leave enough space between your car and other vehicles.

If you're parking in a very crowded lot, choosing a tight parking space is sometimes unavoidable. However, many of us are guilty of very shoddy parking jobs when we're in a hurry. 

When possible, you should avoid parking very close to the vehicle on either side of you. You should also take the time to ensure that you're parking straight and you're not obstructing anyone else in the lot. Other drivers are not going to feel guilty about dinging your vehicle when opening their doors if you haven't left them enough space to get in their own vehicles. Contact a repair shop, like Ming Auto Beauty Center, if you do get a dent.


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