Where Do Most Backover Accidents Occur?

Backover accidents are some of the most tragic and preventable accidents. Such accidents occur when a driver unintentionally backs a vehicle into another person. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that there are approximately 183 fatalities each year from backover accidents.

Typically, backover incidents involve children or elderly adults who find themselves in the driver's blind spot. While a backover accident can happen almost anywhere, some locations are more dangerous than others.

Those who are victims of backover accidents should contact a personal injury law firm as soon as possible, especially if severe injuries have occurred. They can also help advise on how to avoid a backing accident.

Common Locations Where Backover Accidents Occur

Home Driveways

The most common place for a backover accident to occur is a residential driveway. This is especially the case when young children are involved.

Children under the age of 5 are the most common victims of these accidents, and in many cases, the driver responsible is a parent, relative, or neighbor of the child. Unfortunately, they don't see the child, and when they back up, they run over or hit the child.

Driveways are so dangerous because children often play outside, and they may not think twice about playing behind a car where they can't be seen.

Drivers might also be in a hurry or be distracted, which cause them to not look before backing out. Also, many large trucks and SUVs have larger blind zones, and they may not have safety systems like backup alarms to warn anyone in the area.

Parking Lots

Another common place for backover accidents to occur is a parking lot. There is a mix of both vehicles and pedestrians in parking lots, and this causes limited visibility. Additionally, there are a lot of people moving around a parking space, which further adds to the risk.

Some of the common causes of backover accidents in parking lots include pedestrians walking behind a car that is reversing, poor lighting or obstructed views, and drivers not checking blind spots.

Apartment Complexes with Shared Garage Spaces

Apartment complexes that have shared garage spaces are also common places for backover accidents to occur. These spaces often have blind spots and tight corners, which create risky spaces for accidents.

Garages also often have tight turns without a full view of what's in front of or behind the car. There might also be children playing around the garage and noise distractions, which make it harder for pedestrians to hear the sound of a vehicle moving towards them.

Construction Sites

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration shared some information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics; around 70 workers were killed in backover accidents in 2011 on construction sites.

Since then, construction site employers have done a lot of work in training employees to look for hazards on site, and for heavy equipment operators to be more aware of hazards in order to lower the rate of fatalities from backover accidents.

Who Is Most at Risk of Being a Victim of a Backover Accident

Though anyone can be the victim of a backover accident, some people are much more likely than others.

Children, for instance, especially those under the age of 5, are the most common victims. They are small and unpredictable, which makes them difficult to spot. Older adults are also common victims. They move slowly, and they may have limited vision or hearing, which means they might not hear or see a car coming. Finally, those with disabilities may take a longer time to move behind vehicles, and drivers might not realize someone is behind them.

Causes of Backover Accidents

Every case is unique, but there are some common causes of backover accidents. These include:

• Vehicle blind spots - If a person has a large vehicle model, it's likely that they have larger blind zones.

• Driver distractions - A driver who is texting while driving, talking, or running late can cause them to skip important safety measures, like checking behind the car, which can help prevent backover accidents.

• Lack of sensors or backup cameras - Many modern vehicles have backup cameras or sensors, but not all vehicles do.

• Environmental distractions - Many time, driveways are filled with toys, sports equipment, or other vehicles, which make it more difficult to see behind a car.

• Poor visibility - At night and in times of inclement weather, it can be difficult to see behind a car, truck, or van.

Preventing Backover Accidents

Many times, backover accidents are fully preventable. Here are some ways drivers can avoid these accidents:

• Check the area around the vehicle for any children, elderly people, pedestrians, or animals.

• Install backup cameras or sensors and pay attention when reversing

• Check mirrors and put the parking brake on when the car is parked

• Trim landscaping that might be overgrown to get a clear view of the area

• Teach children to stay away from cars

• Look up and down the road to ensure there is not a person walking, a bicyclist, or anyone else close to the vehicle

• Watch for toys, clutter, or bikes that might be in the driveway

What to Do if a Backover Accident Occurs

It doesn't matter if a backover accident occurs on public or private property, there are things that must happen immediately.

Call 911 Immediately

The first thing to do is to call 911. Even if no one seems to be severely injured, it's important for everyone involved to be checked out by a medical professional.

Stay at the Scene

Everyone involved in the accident, as well as anyone who witnessed the accident, must stay at the scene. If someone leaves, it could result in criminal charges. It's also important to cooperate with law enforcement and emergency responders.

Document the Scene

Though police or insurance adjusters might be around taking photos or videos of the scene as part of the investigation, if victims or their families are able, they should, too. It's important to document the scene with photos and videos, note any factors that could cause the accident, get contact information for witnesses, and gather evidence that might help build a case.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

Victims of a backover accident should reach out to a personal injury lawyer to see if they might have a case. Many lawyers offer a free consultation, and frequently can help victims get compensation to cover medical bills and other expenses incurred due to the accident. Moreover, this vehicle accident lawyer in St Louis may be able to help.

How a Law Firm Can Help After a Backover Accident

Powell Law Firm can help victims following a backover accident. The team, lead by Kenneth Powell, has the ability to improve the lives of those who were injured in a backover accident or struck by a vehicle as it was backing up.

Victims can get a free consultation by calling the office.