How Many People Are Involved in a Backover Accident Each Year?

Backover accidents are very tragic, but they are often preventable. Most often, the victim of a backover accident is a child or elderly person struck by a vehicle, and most backover accidents occur in a driveway or parking space. While a backover accident might seem rare, they are actually quite common.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, publishes backover accident statistics. They show that approximately 18,000 people are injured in backup accidents, and just under 300 are killed every year.

Sadly, the most common injury victims are under the age of 5. Personal injury attorneys like those at the Powell Law Firm, hear stories all of the time in their office about the devastation that comes to families following a backover accident. Understanding the causes and knowing how to avoid backup accidents are two important steps to prevent them. Our team can also answer questions such as what is the most common age for backover accident victims?

Looking at Numbers: Backover Accident Statistics

According to the NHTSA and KidsAndCars.org, backover accidents are more common than most people believe. Here are some statistics from these sites:

• In the US, more than 200 people are killed in backover accidents every year

• Around 18,000 people are injured in backover accidents, including children, the elderly, bicyclists, and those on construction sites

• Each week, around 50 kids a week are backed over in their own driveways or neighborhoods, and some of these lead to death

• In 70% of these cases, the driver that fails to notice if a child is behind a car is the parent or relative of the child

Most of these accidents involve large cars like SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans, which have large blind zones and high rear profiles

Who is Most at Risk in a Backover Accident?

Small Children

The most common victim in a backover accident is a child. In general, children under 5 years old are tragically affected the most by backover accidents. Children are small, they have unpredictable movements, and they often play behind parked vehicles. Most of these accidents happen in residential driveways, garages, or parking lots, and they often get hit without anyone even realizing they were behind the car.

Elderly People

The second most common group to become victims of backover accidents are elderly people. Older adults are more at risk than others, particularly when walking through parking lots or areas with a lot of moving vehicles. These people often have slower reaction times and reduced mobility, so the dangers are heightened. They also tend to have conditions like osteoporosis, which can lead to broken bones and other injuries.

Pedestrians

Pedestrians are also at risk, especially in parking lots. Cars are backing out from every angle, and pedestrians don't often pay attention. Just a simple error of judgement can cause a serious injury in a matter of moments.

The Most Common Causes of Backover Accidents

While every accident is different, there are several common causes of backover accidents:

• Limited Visibility - this is especially the case with large vehicles like trucks or vans, which have larger blind zones that partially block objects and line of sight

• Distracted Driving - if a driver is distracted by their phone or radio, it's more likely to cause an accident

• Intoxicated Driving - drivers who drink and then get behind the wheel are much more likely to cause accidents

• Failure to Check Rearview and Side Mirrors - drivers who don't check their mirrors or backup cameras can cause a backover accident

• Rushing - drivers who are in a rush usually don't pay attention to who is around or what might be behind them

Even with warnings from sensors or reverse cameras, backover accidents continue to happen. This is why it's so important to remain aware when pulling out of a parking space.

Can Backover Accidents be Preventable?

Yes, in many cases, it's totally possible to prevent a backover accident. Prevention comes from safe driving habits, awareness of driver surroundings, and proper technology use.

Here are some prevention tips for drivers:

• Walk around the vehicle before moving it and getting behind the wheel

• Always check blind spots, mirrors, and backup cameras

• Drive slowly when pulling in and out of parking spaces

• Avoid distractions like a phone, radio, or other people

• Don't get on the road if under the influence or fatigued

• Teach children to play in areas that are not near vehicles and to never sit behind a parked car

• If a car doesn't have a rearview camera or sensor, install one

Who is Responsible in a Backover Accident?

Missouri has a comparative fault system in place, which means more than one person can be held responsible in a backover accident. If both the driver and the victim hold blame, damages are reduced by the percentage of fault the victim has.

Even with this system in place, the driver of the car is usually the party who holds the most blame. However, the police report and insurance adjusters will determine liability.

Some of the factors that determine liability include:

• Determining if the driver was negligent or distracted

• Finding out if the victim was visible to the driver or if they were in a blind spot

• Examining the accident scene to determine if it was well-lit or conditions were poor

• Checking for safety features like alarms or rearview cameras

How to Handle a Backover Accident

For those involved in a backover accident, it's imperative to take action immediately following the incident.

The first thing that anyone should do is call 911 and report the incident and events that lead up to it. This will set into motion the medical assistance that is often necessary. The driver and any witnesses should stay with the victim until help arrives.

When police and medical responders come to the scene, it's important that everyone cooperates. The parties should exchange names and insurance information, and even though police officers will document the scene, our car accident lawyers in St Louis also suggest that victims and their family document the scene, too, if they are able.

As soon as possible, after medical intervention has occurred, the victim should reach out to a personal injury law firm to determine what the next steps are.

How Can a Personal Injury Attorney Help?

When someone has been injured in a backover accident, or if they are the loved one of someone who was killed in an accident, the person at fault must take responsibility. A personal injury lawyer is committed to helping their clients, and in a majority of cases, there are no fees or costs unless they win the case.

A personal injury firm can investigate the accident, determine who is liable, gather evidence, deal with insurance companies, and take on the job of pursuing compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and more. They also know insight on questions like what is the most common cause of a backover accident?

Final Thoughts

So, how many people are involved in a backover accident each year? Sadly, hundreds of lives are lost and thousands are injured annually, many of them children or elderly individuals. These tragedies are often preventable and can result in life-altering consequences for families.

Those involved in a backover accident should reach out to Powell Law Firm for help. The firm provides compassionate, experienced representation to help victims recover physically, emotionally, and financially.

Contact Powell Law Firm today for a free consultation.