Injured in a Backover Car Accident in Massachusetts? Call an Experienced Backover Accident Attorney. Call Parker Scheer LLP.
Each year, an alarming number of accidents resulting in serious injury or death is caused by a person backing into a person on foot or on a bicycle behind their vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has cited that an average of 228 deaths in addition to 17,000 injuries occurs each year from these types of accidents across the United States. Up to 35% of those injured or killed are children under 5 years, while, on the other end of the age spectrum, more than 40% of victims are over the age of 70. These classes of backover accident victims represent the most vulnerable and thus, can result in devastating injuries, including death, broken bones, and traumatic head injuries. Tragically, the vehicle operator often knows those injured or killed in this type of accident. This is because these accidents often occur while backing out of a driveway, and, consequently, there is a higher likelihood that the victim will be known by, or even related to the vehicle operator.
In addition, many of these types of accidents also occur in parking lots where vehicles are entering and exiting parking spaces. This is due to the high amount of commotion and traffic occurring in these places that can block the driver’s line of vision and act as distractions. Again, a slower elderly person or an unseen small child is the most likely to be the victim of these accidents.
The incidence of these types of accidents has been greatly reduced since rearview cameras have become a common feature in utility vehicles and cars. However, the incidence of these accidents could be further reduced and all but eliminated, if a law was enacted to require that all new vehicles and SUVs be equipped with such a camera. Currently, older models of cars, as well as new cars without this feature, keep the risk of backover accidents present for most drivers.
While the incidence of these accidents can be most easily reduced with the installation of a rearview camera, there are other easy precautions to take that will reduce the risk. One of these is always using due care when backing out of a driveway or parking space. It is very important in reducing these types of injuries. There are many other reasonable precautions you can take as a driver, such as walking around a vehicle before operating it, and understanding that operators of higher trucks and SUVs can have more difficulty seeing behind their vehicle. In addition, teaching your children the dangers of a parked vehicle and never letting them play around these vehicles, as well as knowing where all children are and keep them in full view when backing up can also help prevent backover car accidents. In addition, it is possible to add rearview cameras to older car models, decreasing the risk of this type of car accident as well. The cost of the installation can be well worth it, especially for those with or living near small children.
Do You Need A Backover Accident Lawyer in Massachusetts? Find out if you have a case.
If you have suffered an injury in a backover auto accident in Massachusetts due to the other car driver’s negligence, contact our car accident attorneys for a free confidential case review and receive a response within hours, or call (617) 886-0500. If you need a lawyer outside of Massachusetts, contact us for a referral.
