Car Accidents in the Drive-Thru: Why “Convenience” Can Turn Dangerous

Drive-thru lanes are everywhere, at restaurants, pharmacies, banks, coffee shops, and for many people they’re the epitome of convenience: no parking, quick service, and the ability to stay warm or keep a sleeping child buckled in. That convenience, however, comes with risks that are often overlooked. Car accidents that happen in drive-thru lanes are usually low-speed and nonfatal, but they can cause significant injuries, property damage, and complicated liability questions. Drive-thru collisions are frequently lumped in with parking-lot and driveway crashes in national data, which means the scale of the problem is underestimated and victims can be surprised by how messy recovery can become.

“Drive-thru collisions might look small from the outside, but they can leave people with lasting injuries and medical bills. We investigate every angle: driver actions, lane design, and whether the business met its duty to customers, so our clients don’t get shortchanged.” — John J. Malm, Naperville car accident lawyer

How Common are Drive-Thru and Parking Lot Accidents?

National traffic reports focus on roadway crashes, but tens of thousands of collisions also happen off the road in parking lots, driveways, and drive-thru lanes each year. The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates “tens of thousands” of crashes occur in parking lots and parking structures annually, resulting in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries. Researchers and public-health reports show a substantial share of non-traffic pedestrian injuries to children happen at non-roadway locations such as driveways and parking areas. Because drive-thru collisions are usually grouped with parking-lot incidents or not reported at all, there isn’t a single neat federal statistic tracking only drive-thru crashes, but the off-road crash problem is real and persistent.

What Causes Drive-Thru Crashes?

Drive-thru collisions typically happen at low speeds, but several recurring factors raise the risk:

Driver distraction and hurry: fumbling for a wallet, tapping a phone to pay, or trying to hold a child or hot drink while maneuvering.
Tight or poorly designed lanes: narrow aisles, sharp turns, and tight clearances around islands and curbs increase the chance of sideswipes, mirror strikes, or rollovers of small vehicles.
Two-way traffic and queues: some drive-thru lanes cross parking aisles or force vehicles to back up when lines get long, creating conflict points.
Visibility problems: poorly placed signage, foliage, or structural features can block sightlines for drivers and pedestrians.
Pedestrian interactions: customers, employees, and delivery workers walking between cars, to the order window, or across lanes.
Mechanical issues and driver error: unexpected stalls, failing to hold the brake, or mis-shifting can cause low-speed collisions or run-overs.

Because many of these factors are design or management problems, responsibility for a drive-thru crash sometimes extends beyond the driver and may involve the business that designed, maintained, or operated the facility.

Typical Injuries in Drive-Thru Accidents

Even at low speeds, drive-thru and parking-lot crashes can cause:

Whiplash, soft-tissue neck and back injuries
Head injuries and concussions from sudden stops or impact with interior surfaces
Fractures from direct impact or being struck as a pedestrian
Crush and run-over injuries, particularly to children and older people
Emotional trauma and chronic pain conditions that require long-term care

Children are especially vulnerable: studies and news reports repeatedly note large numbers of children hit in nonroadway settings (driveways, parking lots, and similar spaces), with one frequently-cited figure reporting roughly 110 children are struck by vehicles in driveways and parking lots each week in the U.S.

Who Can be at Fault in a Drive-Thru Crash?

Liability in a drive-thru collision often follows the same negligence framework as other traffic accidents, but the practical landscape can widen the pool of potentially responsible parties:

The driver: if negligence (distracted driving, intoxication, reckless maneuvering) caused the crash, the driver is typically first on the hook.
The business/property owner: a restaurant or retailer can be liable under premises liability or negligent design/maintenance theories if the drive-thru layout was dangerous, signage was missing/illegible, paving was defective, lighting was inadequate, or employees created unsafe conditions.
A vehicle manufacturer or mechanic: if a mechanical defect or poor maintenance contributed (unintended acceleration, brake failure), product liability or negligence claims against manufacturers or repair shops may apply.
Third parties: other drivers, delivery services, or even local governments (if a public roadway or intersection design contributed) can appear in claims depending on the facts.

Because drive-thru collisions often involve multiple players, drivers, employees, and the business that designed and operates the lane, an experienced Illinois car accident lawyer will investigate beyond the two-car paradigm to identify every possible source of compensation.

Practical Steps to Take after a Drive-Thru Crash

If you’re involved in a drive-thru accident, take these steps to protect yourself physically and legally:

Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt. Don’t assume “it was slow” means “it was safe.”
Move to safety if possible and get vehicles out of active lanes; if you can’t, turn on hazard lights.
Document the scene with photos of vehicle positions, damage, skid marks, signage, lane design, lighting, and any visible injuries.
Get witness information: employees, other customers, and passersby can give key statements.
Exchange information with other drivers but avoid admitting fault or making broad statements about what happened.
Preserve receipts and orders: a copy of the drive-thru receipt, an app order, or surveillance timestamp can help recreate the sequence of events.
Ask the business for incident reports and surveillance video: many businesses have cameras covering the drive-thru and may preserve footage automatically; make a written request.
Seek medical care quickly even for minor symptoms; delayed treatment can harm recovery and an injury claim.
Talk to an Illinois injury lawyer before giving recorded statements to insurers or signing any releases; insurance adjusters may try to minimize claims.

Preventing Drive-Thru Accidents

For customers/drivers there are a couple of simple things you can do to prevent an accident in the drive-thru:

Put phones away and use hands-free payment options if available.
Keep children buckled and avoid letting them exit vehicles in lanes.
Don’t attempt risky maneuvers to cut a queue or back up across traffic.
If in doubt about a vehicle’s capability (tight turn or steep curb), exit and park.

Why a Drive-Thru Accident Claim Can be Different From a Roadway Crash

Drive-thru collisions often involve difficult proof issues because many incidents occur on private property, and surveillance footage or incident reports may be controlled by the business. Insurance coverage lines can be more complex (commercial liability policies for the business, personal auto policies for drivers), and comparative negligence (shared fault) is common. Additionally, because injuries can be dismissed as “minor” after a low-speed impact, claimants sometimes face aggressive denials or low settlement offers, which is why documentation, timely medical care, and legal counsel matter.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Drive-Thru Accidents

Q: Are drive-thru crashes covered by auto insurance?
A: Typically yes. Your personal auto policy usually covers collisions you’re involved in, even on private property. However, if the business’s negligence contributed, you may also have a claim against the property owner’s commercial insurer. Coverage facts depend on policy terms and the crash circumstances.

Q: My child was injured in a drive-thru and the restaurant says it’s not their fault. What can I do?
A: Don’t accept a quick denial. Document injuries and the scene, preserve receipts and ask for any video. An attorney can investigate whether poor design, lack of warnings, employee actions, or inadequate maintenance played a role.

Q: The damage looks minor, is it worth hiring a lawyer?
A: Even low-speed collisions can cause soft-tissue injuries that become chronic. If you have medical treatment, substantial repair bills, lost wages, or questions about fault (especially if a business’s layout or operations may have contributed), consult an Illinois car accident lawyer to evaluate your options.

Q: How long do I have to file a claim in Illinois?
A: Statutes of limitation vary by state and type of claim. In Illinois, personal injury claims generally must be filed within two years of the injury (there are exceptions), but evidence and witness memory degrade fast, so act promptly.

Q: Can a restaurant be held liable for a crash if an intoxicated customer caused it?
A: Possibly. If the business overserved alcohol or otherwise contributed to the dangerous situation (and that conduct is a proximate cause of the crash), then a dram shop claim could arise alongside claims against the intoxicated driver.

Contact the 5-Star Rated Illinois Car Accident Attorneys at John J. Malm & Associates

If you or a loved one has been injured in a drive-thru accident, don’t let insurance companies or corporations downplay your claim simply because it happened at “low speed.” These crashes can leave victims with serious injuries, medical bills, and long-term challenges. At John J. Malm & Associates, our experienced Illinois car crash injury attorneys know how to investigate drive-thru collisions, hold negligent drivers and businesses accountable, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Call our office today at (630) 527-4177 or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation. Let us put our knowledge, experience, and proven record of results to work for you.