Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving when the holiday-shopping rush begins, brings droves of people to stores and plenty of claims for auto insurers, says Progressive Insurance.

The Mayfield Village, Ohio-based auto insurer says that, according to its claims data, the day yields an increase in accidents that occur in parking situations. Claims range from fender benders to break-ins.

Progressive says that in 2011:

• Parking-related claims increased 36.5 percent when compared to Fridays two weeks before and after Black Friday.
• The increase in Black Friday parking claims doubled from 2010 to 2011.
• Nearly 25 percent of Black Friday accident claims occurred in parking situations.
• Rear-ending someone or getting rear-ended, accounting for 13 percent of claims
• Hitting a parked car or having your parked car struck, totaling 11 percent of claims.
• Backing into another car or having your car backed into, accounting for 8 percent of claims.

"Protecting your car can be as easy as parking it a little further back in the parking lot, away from the commotion of the store," says Maria Cashy, the claims customer service process leader at Progressive in a statement. "That extra one-hundred feet could save your car some serious damage. Of course if it's dark outside, park wherever you feel safest, like a well-lit area."