Were You Injured In A Backover Accident?

Backover accidents occur when a driver who is reversing, mistakenly strikes someone who is walking, standing, or riding a bicycle behind the vehicle. These kinds of crashes can occur anywhere that vehicles commonly reverse, but most take place in parking lots and driveways. While they typically occur at relatively low speeds, backover accidents can still have lethal consequences for pedestrians and cyclists alike, causing devastating injuries.

Where Do Most Backover Accidents Occur? 

The majority of backover accidents occur in locations away from public roadways, like driveways and parking lots, although they can also happen on side streets when a driver is attempting to parallel park. In fact, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), almost 40 percent of backover fatalities occur in residential areas, like driveways and parking lots in apartment complexes. These kinds of accidents account for more than 15,000 injuries a year, nearly 300 of which prove to be fatal. Most of those who were injured in backover accidents are children or elderly individuals. Unfortunately, this also means that the injuries sustained in these kinds of accidents are usually severe.

What Causes Backover Accidents? 

Larger vehicles like trucks and SUVs are more likely to be involved in backover accidents due to their larger blind zones and being higher off the ground, all of which make it a lot harder for drivers to see things immediately behind them. This problem is often exacerbated by:

• Driver fatigue or impairment;
• Driver distraction, resulting in a failure to check blind spots;
• The malfunctioning of a vehicle’s backup alarm or camera; or
• Attempting to reverse out of a parking spot too quickly.

This type of negligence can have devastating consequences for anyone unfortunate enough to be standing, walking, or riding behind a careless driver. Fortunately, injured parties who can prove that a driver was on his or her phone, was under the influence, or was generally failing to pay attention at the time of a crash can recover compensation for their accident-related losses. Recoverable damages include reimbursement for medical bills, lost income, disability, property damage, pain and suffering, and wrongful death. Proving that a driver was negligent can, however, be complicated, especially without the help of an attorney, so if your or a loved one were hurt in a backover accident, consider reaching out to an experienced lawyer for an explanation of your legal options.

Were You Hurt in a Backover Accident? 

Careless driving can have devastating consequences, even when it happens at low speeds in a parking lot or driveway. Drivers who fail to use proper care when reversing can and should be held liable when that failure results in someone else’s injury. To speak with one of our dedicated and compassionate Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys about pursuing compensation after a backover crash, feel free to call Boone & Davis at 954-566-9919 today. You can also set up a meeting by reaching out to our office via online message. A member of our legal team is standing by and eager to get started on your case.

Sources: 

iihs.org/topics/child-safety#backover-crashes

regulations.gov/document?D=NHTSA-2010-0162-0255