What Is the Most Common Cause of a Backover Accident?

Backover accidents are some of the most tragic accidents, and to make things even more devastating, they are often preventable, and the victims are often children or elderly people. When a backover accident occurs, there are often fatal injuries. Any car accident can be terrible for both the driver and the victim, but in this case, it's still very important to determine liability and understand what can cause an accident like this.

Tom Fowler Law is a leading personal injury firm in Des Moines, IA. The legal team is fully committed to representing the victims of backup accidents with care. They have a strong understanding of local traffic laws, and they have experience in knowing the most common causes of backover incidents, who might be liable, and how to prevent accidents like this from happening in the first place. They can also help file a personal injury lawsuit on behalf of victims. They can also share insight on how many people are involved in a backover accident each year.

What Is a Backover Accident?

Before understanding how to avoid backup accidents, its important to understand what defines them. Most backover accidents happen in a driveway, parking lot, or residential area. The victims of backover accidents are often children, who are playing behind a car, or pedestrians, who are walking behind a reversing vehicle. These accidents also often occur on construction sites.

Backover accidents are especially dangerous because drivers usually have limited visibility when reversing. In many cases, the victims are in a blind spot, and the driver doesn't even realize that someone is behind them until its too late.

According to backover accident statistics from the National Highways Traffic Safety Administration, each year, there are around 300 deaths and 18,000 injuries due to backover accidents.

What Is the Most Common Cause of a Backover Accident?

The most common cause of backover accidents is distracted driving/driver inattention. This is especially the case when backing out of a parking space or driveway. Drivers might be distracted by their phone, by failing to check mirrors, or simply have a moment of carelessness.

Here are some of the contributing factors to backover crashes:

1. Driver Inattention

Many incidents occur due the driver being distracted. The driver might be changing the radio, checking their phone, reaching for something in the vehicle, or simply rushing because they are running late. In residential areas, drivers sometimes assume that the area behind the vehicle is clear. They also may become complacent because this is a task they do each day, so they aren't paying attention like they should be. Finally, things like pedal confusion can also lead to these accidents.

2. Lack of Visibility

All vehicles have blind spots, which are areas where it's difficult, if not impossible, to see what's around the vehicle. Drivers of SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans often have poor visibility due to the size of the vehicles. A child or adult bending over may not be visible to the driver as they are backing out, specifically if they are not using their mirrors, back up cameras, or physically looking around the car. They also might not be able to see past the driver's seat.

Though backup alarms or cameras can help eliminate this, driver responsibility is to ensure the area is clear before reversing.

3. Failure to Check Surroundings Before Reversing

Speaking of making sure the area is clear, the driver should look beyond the area directly behind the vehicle. Best practice is to walk around the vehicle every time and then checking all mirrors and cameras before reversing. If drivers do not do this, it could lead to car accidents that cause life altering injuries. These accidents often occur in school zones, in parking lots, and in apartment complexes.

4. Children and Pets in Driveways

It has already been mentioned that children are often victims of this type of car accident, but pets are also often frequently involved. Children often get severe injuries from these accidents due to their small size and because they often follow parents out to the driveways or play with toys behind parked vehicles.

There are child safety laws and parental awareness campaigns in Iowa that help to prevent backover accidents. However, they still happen, and it's often due to a momentary lapse of judgement and driver error.

5. Environmental Factors

Many backover accidents occur during times when lighting is poor, such as in the morning or evening. Weather factors can also come into play, as rain, fog, and snow can affect visibility. In the winter, ice may also play a factor as it's difficult to stop or slow on icy surfaces.

Who Is Liable in a Backover Accident in Iowa?

In most backover accident cases, if a driver hits a victim, the driver is liable. This is especially the case if they did not check their rearview and side mirrors, or if they were distracted. That said, however, liability can be based on other circumstances, too:

• Driver Negligence - If the driver doesn't exercise reasonable care, they can he found to be fully responsible.

• Vehicle Owner Liability - If a person allowed an unlicensed or careless driver to use their vehicle, and that driver caused serious injury in a backover accident, the vehicle owner may hold legal liability even if they were not driving.

• Property Owner Liability - In some cases, a poorly designed parking lot can greatly contribute to an accident. If it, for instance, doesn't have adequate mirrors, or if there are obstructed lines of sight, the victim could seek compensation from the owner of the parking lot.

• Product Liability - If a backup camera or sensor doesn't work correctly, and it contributes to a backup accident, the manufacturer of the vehicle, or even a repair shop, could be partially at fault.

Victims are encouraged to contact backover accident attorneys following an incident, especially if serious injuries are present. It is the right of the victim to file a personal injury claim. It may be beneficial to hire a car accident attorney in Des Moines following an accident.

What to Do After a Backover Accident in Des Moines

If someone has suffered injuries following a backup accident, it is extremely important to do the following:

• First, always call 911 to get medical help. This is especially the case if the victim has sustained a severe injury.

• Try to document the scene. Though police officers will do this, too, if there are no police on the scene, anyone available should try to take photos of the vehicle, injuries of the victim, and location of the accident.

• Talk to witnesses and get their contact information.

• No one should admit fault or make an assumption about who is to blame.

• Once medical care has been administered, the victim should reach out to a personal injury attorney to recover compensation.

Compensation for Backover Accident Victims

Victims of backover accidents may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical bills (ambulance costs, emergency care, hospital bills, rehab, surgery, etc.)

• Lost wages (both current and future wages can be included)

• Pain and suffering (including mental anguish)

• Wrongful death damages (if death was the outcome of the accident)

Firms like Tom Fowler Law works with victims of accidents to build up a strong case. The experienced attorneys will thoroughly investigate, consult with experts, and negotiate with insurance companies to ensure clients get the compensation they deserve.

Preventing Backover Accidents in Des Moines

While its very important to ensure that drivers operating reversing vehicles are held liable, understanding how to avoid backover accidents is equally as important. Here are some of the ways drivers and families can reduce the risk of these accidents.

For Drivers:

• Drivers should always check behind the vehicle before reversing

• Mirrors and backup cameras should always be used, especially in larger vehicles

• Moving vehicles should be driven slowly when in residential areas, in parking lots, or on construction sites where people could be walking around a parked car or truck.

• Remove any distractions, like phones, before backing up

• If reversing in a crowded area, honk or signal that a car is backing up

For Parents and Caregivers:

• Parents and caregivers should teach children to not play behind or around parked vehicles, especially large vehicles

• Make the driveway a toy-free zone

• Adults should always supervise children playing near vehicles

• Consider installing driveway motion sensors or mirrors

For Property Managers:

• Ensure the parking lot and driveways have clear visibility

• Add speed bumps and signage to slow traffic

• Ensure that there is adequate lighting

Why Choose Tom Fowler Law for a Backover Injury Case?

At Tom Fowler Law, a client will get much more than simple legal representation. They get the personalized and compassionate care from a team that understands how devastating these accidents can be.

Clients can get a free consultation from Tom Fowler Law, and they can expect the best representation as they navigate the legal process.

Victims need to understand their legal options following a back up accident, whether they received injuries like broken bones or if they were killed. A driver backing up has a responsibility, and if they don't take that responsibility seriously, there is a heightened risk of injuries.

Reach out to Tom Fowler Law, today, for a free case evaluation.